Mt Taranaki Easter trip

Just back in Auckland after a weekend with friends climbing Mt Taranaki. The weather was perfect and with a drop of snow and little wind we hiked up to the summit successfully... See these views. Fell in love with the 'naki' and I'm already planning my next hike around the mountain this winter. We discovered the fastest way down was sliding on our arses, bliss. We made a whole day of it, eating some cafe style lunch in the sheltered basin near the summit. If you get the chance to do this trek then do it! Is dangerous in icy or adverse conditions though so play your cards right and go fully prepared.

Falling at 200km per hour

Yesterday I scored a deal and took to the skies over Taupo in a miniature plane. I did a sky dive from 15000 feet and it was one of the most exhilarating yet peaceful experiences of my life. 60 seconds of freefall that seemed to go so fast yet so slow. It was the most beautiful day with only a few clouds so I could see from Mt Taranaki to Mt Ruapehu to Napier on the East coast... incredible! Lake Taupo was shimmering in all her glory and the skydive instructor I was strapped to gave me the reigns of the parachute for a few twists and turns at around 4000 feet.

I would recommend the jump for any thrill seeker, Taupo gives amazing scenery and the team at Taupo Tandem Skydiving were a good bunch.


This photo isn't me but its all the same view!

medals for the kiwis

I must say I got a bit of a suprise this morning when I looked at the medals per capita table in the NZ Herald. NZ is ranked 2nd behind Slovenia! Now, I'm guessing Slovenia is one of those countries to rake them in with some tiny gymnast girls that look half their age but thats still impressive for Slovenia. We have 9 medals all up at this stage and a few more prospectives...

I will be watching the last days of the Olympics from the living room of my parents in the Netherlands. Be expecting plenty photos of my travels to follow here.

Peace out.

swimming in circles

After a few injuries setting me back in my running ambitions I decided to take up swimming and a couple of weeks ago I thought the Auckland harbour swim would be a great little challenge. I didn't think it was such a great idea as I got into the water at Stanley bay but I gave it a go anyway! I swam in large zigzags across the harbour (it was meant to be straight but i was slightly disorientated) along with 1200 other swimmers. Great event which I would love to do again, perhaps swimming a bit more direct to the shore. I just got sent a charming photo of me running up with finishing ramp, I was swaying like a drunken sailor after jumping out of the water!

a bit of rock hugging... and climbing

Saturday I hitched a ride with a few friends down to Wharepapa South for some climbing. I'm new to the rock climbing scene as I'm usually at indoor walls so it was fun to learn the ropes, haha im sorry, of setting up a climb outside. We climbed a few crags at Froggatt Edge and Bayleys Road. I'm busting to get back there and learn how to lead climb.

Goodbyes

I hate goodbyes. On Saturday I drove out to the airport to say goodbye to Cameron who flew to Japan to live and travel with his girlfriend, Michelle. I know they are going to have the time of their life travelling around Europe and elsewhere together. Here's a few photos of Cam I just uploaded...

- Cameron going for a 'surf', read on for the full story...
- Dave and Cameron
- Cameron playing on the chessboard he made (did you take that heavy thing on the plane?)

Over a month ago we decided we would go for a pre-work surf on a tuesday morning and Cameron could use his new board. We left at some crazy hour (4.30am) and headed out to Piha. It was windy as hell and the rain was thundering down on the van, we kept driving! We got there to discover that it was still pitch black and a real storm had been whipped up, so we decided to wait till there was some light. Once we got out to the surf well, there wasn't any! Its the flattest I've ever seen Piha ever! I went for a swim in the rain and didn't even bother taking my board out... it was all worth it though just for the randomness of it all!

The life and times

Ahh, to be a student. I rewarded myself with a wee sleep in this morning. What for? Err. I've made it to Tuesday, thats a feat in itself surely? I'm really not that lazy!

I spent the weekend at the Navy base in Devonport watching JOIST (Junior Officers Inter Service Tournament)- I think thats what it stands for anyways. It was great to catch up with my fellow officer cadets from Waiouru training and I even played a quarter of netball (my first game in 15years!). Saturday night I enjoyed the priviledge of cheap drinks at the bar, where a night out costs a quarter the price of a night out in Auckland (go Government subsidies).

I watch Tsotsi last night as I've been meaning to for a while. I'd give it ***** top ratings, It's got some wicked music to it and the story really brings you in to it. It's about a South African boy who lives in the slums and gets himself into more trouble than he knows what to do with... see the trailer now It's won a tonne of foreign festival awards now and well deserved too. If you've seen it tell me what you thought.

My new fad

For some of you this comes as no shock at all yet I think I have managed to suprise myself somehow in my enthusiasm for my new fad: running. I've always convinced myself that I'm not a distance runner (and i still don't think that) so I've always done the 15minute run then given up more out of boredom than exhaustion but things are changing and with the help of some running partners I'm challenging myself to go longer and faster... what I really meant to blog about was this cool site I just found compliments of my running shoes shop - http://www.mapmyrun.com - if you run or cycle or walk or travel in your own special way this site tells you how far you have travelled as you point around the map where you run - it's kinda fun and I started making up new running routes.... so much better than measuring with my fingers on a blurry google earth screen!

Winter Sunset

I forgot it was cold as the sun claimed the blue sky and I drove out to Muriwai with Michelle for a taste of the perfect swell. My personal photographer took a bunch of amazing photos in the setting sun. It's evenings like these that I feel alive and that little bit more in touch with the creator of this wonderland...