To the South!

Life is crazy.  It’s amazing how small the Earth truly is…  While in the Corner Cupboard in Gunnison one day, I was talking about going to New Zealand with John.  The girl I talked to pointed me to Sheila Northover, who lives in New Zealand for 3 months of the year.  We got to talking, and she gave me her card and told me to give her a call when we got to the South Island.  I did and BOY!  What a great thing!  Sheila invited us to her house in Takaka.  It’s in Golden Bay on the north side of the island near Abel Tasman National Park.

After a busy morning getting the car to the ferry, turning it in, getting on the ferry for a 10:30 departure, a 3 hour ride across the straits, and into Picton, we finally got our 2^nd rental car and headed into the south.  The mountains are taller and greener and the valleys much bigger.  My goodness, there are things growing everywhere.  We saw vineyard after vineyard, and orchard after orchard.  We stopped and bought some local wine, beer, and cherries and then headed to Sheila and Greg’s place.  Needless to say, it’s jaw dropping!  We came off of Takaka Hill and the valley is green and broad leading to views of Golden Bay.  We lucked out and ran into Greg’s parents, Jo and Pax, on the way in and they led us to the house.  Sheila fed us a wonderful seafood dish and we talked and asked lots of questions.  Afterward, Sheila took us to the “love shack” where she and Greg used to live before they built their house on the hill.  This is truly heaven.  We have a little kitchen, a couple of beds, shower and just the best place ever.  John doesn’t want to leave!  

Pictures