TravelStream™ news feed for member marshallmatters on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/marshallmatters en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:32:00 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214568000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214568000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214568000/tpod.html Tue, 02 Sep 2008 09:32:00 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Rotherham, England, United Kingdom

And so..here we are.  The final entry of our blog.  The final entry from our trip.  I feel like I want to write something poetic, deep and meaningful.....but I am not sure I have it in me!!We boarded our flight from Belfast on Friday evening.....scheduled to arrive at Doncaster airport at 7.30pm.  Landing at Donny airport was very important to us as it meant that we completed the full circle.  On June 15th 2007 we departed from this airport to head for country number one, and on June 27th 2008 we arrived after visiting fourteen different countries. Fourteen different countries in fifty four weeks sounds a lot, and it is a lot particularly when you consider that we spent two months in China, four and a half months in Oz and nearly two months in New Zealand.  However, we definitely didn't want to 'fly' through countries just to get the stamp in the passport - it was important for us to spend some time in each place and get a feel of life there and not just see it in 'holiday' mode.  This website has a little travel calculator on each of the pages that calculates the percentage of the world traveled - according to this we have only seen six percent of the world!! Six percent!! That really brings it home to me just how big the world is and just how much there is to see and experience (expect future blogs from future round the world trips.....only kidding mum, I am going nowhere!!).We have been asked many times since returning where was number one place and it really is a difficult question to answer as each country offered something different.  Where would I up sticks and emigrate to?  New Zealand without a doubt.  The only problem with NZ is that it is miles away.  If someone airlifted NZ to say, next to Ireland, then I would move there tomorrow.  But then again so would everyone else.  I would also move to San Francisco at the drop of a hat if I was that way inclined.Number one destination in terms of experiences has to be China.  It is the most amazing place I have ever visited and the time we spent in Sichuan ranks up there as top places seen; the bike ride and Emei Shan experiences were just amazing.  And to walk on the Great Wall of China is just fantastic - to stand on the wall and remind yourself where you are and the history and enormity of it all is something I would recommend to everyone.  The whole of South East Asia impressed us and captivated us, but by the end of the 5 months there, we were ready to leave.  Without any planning the trip essentially became a trip of two halves.  The first six months were in culturally diverse countries in Asia, and the last six months were in 'familiar' territory.  Oz, NZ, USA and Canada were all unique and special in their own ways but culturally very similar to what we know.However, despite of all this talk of relocating, both Nic and I have come back feeling very very settled. I have always had this desire to emigrate at some point in my life yet I now find myself feeling like there is no place like home.  England has it faults, the climate being the biggest bug bear for me, but there are also countless things that no other country has.  You really have to take yourself away for a long period of time to appreciate this.  I know many people will disagree with this sentiment but this is how both Nic and I feel.  Without sounding too soppy, no country has your family and friends like home.  We have some very good friends in many different countries and it has been wonderful to catch up with them and get to spend time with them, but home is home.  At first we thought that this settled frame of mind would wear off after a couple of weeks but we have now been back over two months (yes it really has been that long, and yes we really have been that slow at updating the blog) and we still feel the same way.  However, I do always put a get out clause with anything I say, come the first sign of winter, no doubt I will be on the first plane to sunnier climes waving farewell to my dear friends and family.Although we are settled back home, my thirst and want to travel has not waned.  If anything, I want to do more.  I don't think either of us will do a trip of this length again but we have lots of ideas for future trips and have a long long list of places to go.  Europe and the UK is top at the moment as this has been overlooked by both of us, and then there is the whole of Africa and South America which we bypassed on this trip.Since being back we don't seem to have stopped.  The first few weeks were spent seeing friends and family, enjoying time with them.  We then moved into our apartment and then it has been all about looking for work.  August has to be the worst time to look for work for both of us.  For Nic, as a teacher, it is fairly obvious why August is a bad time as all the schools are shut, and for me, any decision makers tend to be on holiday and therefore nothing happens.  Hindsight is a wonderful thing and something we would all benefit from.  Now it's September, things have started to happen.  Nic has interviews lined up and I have a number of opportunities waiting to be finalised.  We are confident that within the next couple of weeks we will be back into the work lifestyle again (and no doubt dreaming of far away places).  To be honest, we cannot wait to get back to work for both financial and sanity reasons.So, that is it.  End of the trip.  All the planning, all the worry, all the laughs, all the tears, all the experiences, all the memories, done and dusted, for this trip at least.  I would recommend anyone, if there are able, to do something like this.  It was worth every single feeling of anxiety and believe me when I say there were plenty.  It was worth selling up home, possessions and giving up jobs.  People said we were giving up everything. Not a chance.  We gave up very little to experience everything.  We had the most amazing time and will spend many many many years looking at photos and reliving the memories.  However, this trip was not a one off, never to be repeated, experience.  It was the first of many future expeditions of various sorts.  Watch this space...................We hope you enjoyed reading our blog and sharing in our travels. We have been blown away by the feedback and response from people.  We have been amazed how many people have taken the time to look at the blog.  We realise that lots of the entries are very long and understand that not everyone wants to read them, so we hope you at least enjoyed the photos.  We have had several people, strangers, email us asking to be sent the blog.  We have also had people that are planning their own round the world trip contact us, asking for pointers or commenting on how they have found our updates useful in their own planning.  We have even been contacted by a journalist wanting to publish our story....ha ha.  Seriously.  Unfortunately it came to nothing as we didn't have enough scare stories in there and they actually commented that due to the level of interest we have had on the blog, they feel that they won't have the exclusivity on the story!!! Amazing!!Thank you for taking the time to read this.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214395200/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214395200/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214395200/tpod.html Wed, 20 Aug 2008 12:15:05 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Before we landed on English soil, it was time for a whistle stop tour to Belfast and to attend June and Tris wedding.  We heard of their wedding plans whilst on the trip and the timing couldn't have been more perfect as it meant we could drop in on the way home.  We took another stupid o'clock flight - this time an over night flight leaving Noo Yoik at half nine at night, arriving in Dublin at 9am the following morning.  No sleep on the plane as usual and then it was a two hour coach journey from Dublin up to Belfast.  We arrived at the B&B feeling in the need of a good sleep which is exactly what we got.  Following morning and it was time to get ready for the big day.  We popped into Belfast city to purchase those items that Nic had managed to do without for the last year....makeup, hair products and deodorant (OK, so last of these wasn't true!).  I even managed to treat myself to a new pair of pants...the one pair I had used for the last year were starting to get a bit tatty.  If you can't treat yourself to a new pair of pants for a wedding, when can you?At 2pm, looking all smart and groomed for the first time in a very long time, we headed up to the beautiful venue of Malone House, location for the wedding.  It was a very special day for a very special couple and we are so glad we were able to make it.  One of the down sides of being away for a year is that we missed out on a number of weddings (including a stint as a best man in Spain) and births.  This was very tough for the pair of us as we wanted to attend them all (the weddings, not the births.  Not sure how welcome we would be at friend's births - stood there with our backpacks on and a big cheesy grin!!) but unfortunately we had to say no.However, we considered ourselves lucky to be here and to be with friends again.  It now started to dawn on us that we were pretty much home and the end of the trip was soon upon us.  We stayed another night in Belfast after the wedding and got ourselves prepared, physically and mentally, to pack the backpack for one last time and head home on Friday 27th June...the final flight and final day of this amazing trip.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214049600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214049600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1214049600/tpod.html Tue, 19 Aug 2008 12:10:02 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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New York City, New York, United States

New York New York, so good they named it twice, even though it is actually called Manhattan!....I digress.  You can spot people who have never been to New York before, they are the ones walking round , mouths wide open, looking straight up without any awareness of others around them, traffic lights, cars etc...Good job Pat had been before as Nic might not have been long for this world. Once the initial awe of the place had settled Nic was able to observe her previous actions in the behaviour of other newcomers. Very amusing.Our whistle stop tour of Manhattan was made all the more fun as we met up again with none other than Scott from San Fran. He was there on business, so as he and Pat had extensive knowledge of the place, Nic was in for a good time. As we were heading back via a wedding in Belfast, our now tatty wardrobe of travel beaten clothes would not be suitable for presenting to the wedding couple. So with this well thought out excuse, Nic managed to get a two day shopping trip out of Pat and he wasn't allowed to complain....this was further negotiated by the fact that Nic had partaken in three bike rides, (one of which she had incurred scars) out of which three she did not want to do!! Shopping done and it was time for some sight seeing...First up...The Empire State building, not quite to the top but just as good. The queues were colossal but worth it. We shuffled along twisting roped corridors, occasionally Baa- ing to keep up amusement levels before eventually popping out into the hazy and lofty view of all of Manhattan......WOW, even through the haze this was totally awe inspiring and unfortunately the camera does not do it justice. Next off to Time Square, saved until the sun went down,  allowing the full spectacle of lights, steam rising from manholes, traffic, people and smells to infuse your every sense. This place is madness accelerated, but soooo good. You begin to feel almost drunk on the energy of the city and it fills you with endless bounds of energy spurning you on into the wee hours. On our way back to the hotel we walked through Grand Central Station, this was truly magical, just like you see on the movies. The police that were guarding the place however, do not like their pics taking (for security reasons) and were spoil sports, so if you go don't bother asking cos you wont get anywhere, boooo... even at one ish in the morning the station was full of people and buzzing with activity....past the station and in the distance the magnificent beacon that was the empire state building shone through the fog that had now begun to roll in... It really is a city that doesn't sleep. Our final day and a trip on the free Staten Island ferry past the Statue of Liberty, unfortunately time was running out and we missed the last tourist ferry to take us directly to the island, but the passenger ferry was just as good. Just time for a quick pic stop for five dollars with a man dressed as the Statue of Liberty hanging around the harbour...cheesy? Yes, but fun all the same.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213704000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213704000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213704000/tpod.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 08:31:39 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

The plan on arrival at Vancouver bus station was to meet up with Warren and head over to his house.  However, due to a miss communication this did not quite happen.  We thought we were meeting Wazza at a predetermined time and he thought that we were phoning him when we arrived.  This would have not been a problem, except for one crucial thing.  Of all the places in the world that we have so far traveled, we have had absolutely no problems withdrawing cash from any ATM's.  (TRAVEL TIP: If you are going on holiday or going abroad for whatever reason, get yourself a Nationwide account as they are the only UK bank that don't charge you to withdraw money from foreign cash machines.  Every other bank charges a percentage and this soon mounts up).  Anyway, we had no probs anywhere except for Canada. For some reason we could only use one bank's ATM and this particular bank was not a particular widespread one. So this limited our accessibility to funds.  We therefore turned up in Vancouver with no money on us - not even a single cent; I kid you not.  Therefore, we were not able to call Warren from a pay phone and tell him we had arrived.  So, off I went in search of a cash machine.  Unfortunately, for me, Vancouver bus station is in the roughest part of town, and it was starting to get dark and it was a Tuesday night which I found out later is significant as it is the day before Welfare Wednesday so all the junkies are a bit charged as they are desperate for a fix and have to wait until they get their money the next day.  As a result, my wander around looking for cash machines, was fraught with danger and much looking over the shoulder.  It has to be said, and I mean this 100%, that I have never ever seen so many dodgy, unstable people in one place.  I was unable to find a cash machine so decided to take a cab before it got too dark and they all turned into zombies, a la Michael Jackson, Thriller video.  The cab took us via a cash machine and to a safe place to phone Wazza and arrange to meet up.  After such an adventurous and trouser browning experience, I enjoyed one too many beers in the obligatory Irish bar before heading back to Wazza's house.Next day and another bike ride, much to Nicola's delight (NOT!!!).  Warren is a mad keen cyclist and, like me, agrees that it is the best way to navigate a city.  We headed for Stanley Park where we enjoyed a game of frisbee and a play on the kids playground.  Great fun and very chilled.  I love days like that - just hanging out in a park, playing frisbee, not doing very much, taking in the sights, enjoying the company.After a chilled couple of hours we met up with a friend of Warren's and headed over to his place for a barbie and a couple of cheeky beers.  Today our plan was to head over to Capilona Suspension Bridge on the outskirts of town and then go up Grouse Mountain.  As Warren had done these excursions a number of times he decided not to come with us.  So off we set with good intentions, but never got any further than a good coffee shop next to a fantastic bookshop, which is basically where we ended up spending the whole day!!! We just got comfortable with a nice mocca frappucino cappucino smoothie skinny latte, and a good book and before we knew it, it was approaching evening.  Another day spent relaxing and just hanging out.  We love traveling, and I mean love traveling, but every now and then you just want to hang out and do something 'normal'.  Sight seeing just does not grab you sometimes and this was one of those days.  Friday, and the first day of the Vancouver Jazz Festival on Granville Island.  Jazz hands at the ready everyone.  Granville Island is right in the centre of Vancouver, and is an island (funnily enough) that houses lots of shops, markets, galleries and even has it's own brewery.  We headed down there (on bikes again), and parked ourselves in the square and listened to an excellent female singer whose name I forget but she was so good we bought one of her Cd's.  She wasn't strictly jazz but who cares - she was very good.  Following this, it was time to move on and catch some 'Abstract Jazz'.  Now I like to think I am very open minded when it comes to music, and I also appreciate that not everything is to my taste but abstract jazz, and I feel confident in saying this, is absolute garbage.  It is horrendous - that is the only way I can describe it.  We listened for over an hour and honestly it sounded like a warm up session...... a warm up session of people that have never touched an instrument before in their life. There was no rhythm, no beat, no sense to the noise. And that is all it was....noise.  It sounded like they were all playing a different tune as nothing was together.  Best bit was all the beardy woolly jumper wearing jazz heads bobbing their head along like they were following it.  It was rubbish - OFFICIAL!!!After an overdose of Abstract Jazz we headed over to the west beaches of Vancouver to watch Wazza play volleyball with his chums.  Unfortunately we had to leave early as it was yet another early night as the next day we would be catching yet another 'stupid o'clock' flight to NEW YORK, NEW YORK!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213444800/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213444800/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213444800/tpod.html Tue, 29 Jul 2008 06:37:09 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Comox, British Columbia, Canada

I never thought I would use the words 'burnt out' when talking about traveling, but unfortunately I think that is exactly what Nic and I experienced when leaving San Francisco and heading for Canada.  We were very aware of becoming travel weary but thought maybe that had passed us by leaving Asia but unfortunately we turned up in Vancouver feeling totally totally exhausted and in the need of a good rest and a comfortable bed.Thankfully for us that is exactly what was awaiting us in Comox, Vancouver Island.  Cathy is a life long friend of my family and is a native Vancouverian (is that what you call them?).  She came over to the UK for a visit about two weeks before we left and it was there that we promised if our path took us to Canada then we would pop in for a coffee.  What Cathy didn't realise is that our 'pop in for a coffee' involved three nights stay at her apartment.Again to get the cheapest price we went for the 'stupid o'clock' flight, leaving San Francisco at 6am.  This meant a 3am start not only for us but also for Scott who had very kindly offered to take us to the airport.  The day didn't start well.  United Airlines, God bless them, have come up with an 'automated' check in system that absolutely beggars belief.  You queue up for an age to then go through an automated process on a screen that asks you for name, passport number, etc etc.  This is now fairly normal, particularly on budget flights.  What then happens is that you are left standing like a lemon as the system doesn't bother to inform you that a baggage ticket has been printed off out of sight and that you must wait for the one man, who is covering check in gates 1 to 879, to come along and stick the ticket on your bag.  Understandably, said man is not a happy bunny and you get the feeling that given the chance he would happily stick the ticket somewhere else.Once you have said ticket stuck on said bag, you then have to queue up again and get your boarding pass.  Why they can't issue you with a boarding pass at the same time like every other airline, I do not know.  Unfortunately, you are not informed that this is what you are supposed to do so you are left standing again looking like a lemon.  Nic went up to a 'customer service representative' and asked, in a very polite manner, what the hell we should do and was totally ignored. I am not talking about someone pretending to not listen here. I am talking someone stopping, looking Nicola straight in the face, waiting for her to finish and then walking off.  It was so bad and so farcical, it was hilarious.  Thankfully everyone else was feeling the same.  Couple this with a 3am start and there were some frayed tempers.  Hilarious.  Oh, and then, walking through customs I got randomly selected to be treated like a terrorist suspect and put in a booth with no information on what would happen. I was left to stand there for a couple of minutes wondering whether they were going to carry out a controlled explosion on me, when of all a sudden blasts of air came from all angles, scaring the absolute life out of me.  The officials all thought this was hilarious and then asked me to move on and have my personal belongings scrutinised by a wannabe leader of the Gestapo.  GOD LOVE AMERICA and their absolute paranoia about everything!!.  OK, rant over.  I don't know you wait weeks for a blog and all you get is moan moan moan.  Anyone that has flown, particularly in the States will understand exactly where I am coming from.  Airports are zero fun and certainly not at 4am in the morning!!Thankfully, the day and the next few days got better and better. We arrived in Vancouver at 9am and Cathy was waiting with camera in hand and big smile on face. I cannot tell you how much we loved seeing a friendly face at an airport.  It really makes your arrival a whole more pleasant knowing you don't have to go looking for cabs, buses, working out who was ripping you off etc etc (my god, we really are travel weary aren't we? What happened to the fresh faced approach of accepting the world and all it's foibles with a big smile?).So after a cuppa and a muffin we headed off to catch the ferry to Vancouver Island. Now it has to be said that we had absolutely no knowledge of Vancouver Island. Our decision to go there was very much last minute so we did zero reading up and knew nothing - we put our fate and time there in the hands of God (well, Cathy to be more precise).  So, when we were told that it was a two and half hour ferry crossing over to the island, followed by a two hour drive to Comox we were a little discombobulated to say the very least.  I had it in my head that the island was just off the coast of the mainland and was a small place.  Turns out it is HUGE and has nothing to do with Vancouver itself other than share a name - it is not part of the mainland and is a separate entity all together.  The provincial capital of B.C, Victoria, is on the island and the regional parliament is there.  So, needless to say we were not expecting such distances - next time we'll be a little more prepared.We were absolute zero company for Cathy on the way over as all we did was sleep, but by the time we got to her apartment we were feeling in a lot more buoyant mood, especially when we saw the HUGE comfy double bed in our own room awaiting us.  You have never seen two people get so excited over a bed before. Quick shower and change of clothes and we headed out for a beautiful meal at a bistro in Comox, with spectacular mountain views.  The food was fantastic, the drinks went down far too well and we were in great company. Cathy talked to us about what she had planned for the coming days and we went to bed that night feeling very relaxed and looking forward to our time there.We planned a steady start the next day and had a leisurely breakfast and then took a walk to Comox Marina.  Comox really is a beautiful place, on the waters edge and surrounded by snow capped peaks.  It has such a nice feel to it and everything seemed very relaxed.  Down at the Marina there was a local seafood festival so we got to have a look at some of the local produce.  One of the less appealing was a Geedong (I suspect I have got that name wrong).  Basically a huge brown long slippy disgusting thing that looked like something from a science fiction film.  This was on sale to sample should anyone be brave enough... we were not.After a ponder around and a spot of lunch (not Geedong) we set off up Mount Washington, which in the winter is the local ski / snowboard mecca and in the summer it is transformed into mountain biking heaven.  Needless to say, every second up there was agony for me as I was itching to have a go, particularly on the custom built bike park.  Another time - that is what I have promised myself.  We had coffee up there and took in more spectacular alpine views - this is exactly how I imagined this part of Canada to look.  Snow capped mountains, acres and acres of forest and lots of crystal clear blue waters.  All that was missing was a brown bear catching salmon as they jumped up the stream.  After a wander around it was back to Comox for dinner and an early night ready for a big day out over to the other side of the island.Today we would be heading for Tofino and Long Beach - a good three to four hour drive from Comox (I told you this island was huge).  En route we took in more views and enjoyed the drive through mountain passes alongside rivers and even stopped at Cathedral Grove, home of several huge, and I mean huge, Douglas Fir Trees.  These things are massive, none of the photos we took do the enormity any justice.  It was here we met a couple of German women, aged seventy plus, who were climbing on trees without any shoes like ten year old kids.  They had us in stitches with their antics - give them credit they were very very agile and nimble, but it did have our hearts in our mouths a few times.  After a quick stop at Tofino and Long Beach, we headed for a coastal town by the name of Ucluelet.  One thing I have not mentioned so far about Vancouver Island is the number of bald eagles swirling around - and being a bird lover (twitcher to give me my proper title) this filled me with many hours of enjoyment watching these magnificent birds soaring hundreds of feet above us.  At Ucluelet there seemed to be more than anywhere else and as we walked down to the waters edge a huge eagle came flying past only a few feet above us - WOW!! And then it parked itself atop a lamppost and just sat there.  Absolutely amazing - those sort of experiences money cannot buy.  He just sat there, preening himself, watching what was going on around and every now and then, when another bird was above he would let out a piercing screech.  I could happily have sat there all day and watched the goings on.  Unfortunately, we needed to head back as Cathy had a very long drive ahead of her and it was getting late.17th June and this was our last day with Cathy and on Vancouver Island. The plan was to head to Victoria, spend the morning and from there Nic and I would catch a bus and ferry to Vancouver mainland.  Another early start and another long drive for Cathy.  We stopped off at Chemainus along the way, home of several murals depicting life in the region in former years.  Some of them were very good and made for an interesting visit.  We also stopped off at the university near Victoria, which is the home of Hatley House.  For anyone that has seen the X-Men films would have recognised Hatley House as the school were the mutants attended.  And then before not too long we arrived in Victoria, provincial capital and home of the local government.  Victoria feels more British than Britain and therefore felt very homely.  We really liked Victoria, particularly around the harbour.  We stopped for a spot of lunch at the harbour and before we knew it, it was time to say farewell to Cathy and board our ferry to the mainland.We had a very relaxing time with Cathy and cannot thank her enough for taking time out to show us around.  She took us to places that we would never have considered going and as a result we got to see lots of the island.  We arrived feeling totally exhausted and left feeling totally recharged.  The journey over to the mainland would take us four hours plus, and we had arranged to meet up with Warren who, if you remember, we had met at Mount Cook in New Zealand. 
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213185600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213185600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1213185600/tpod.html Sat, 05 Jul 2008 09:04:53 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Grand Canyon Village, Arizona, United States

After three days in Vegas, it was time to head out and get some normality back into our life.  There is only so much you can take of flashing lights, endless noise and mindless hedonism.  So, we decided on the fourth day to hire a car for a couple of days and head off to see some of the beautiful natural sights surrounding the area.In my dreams Nic and I were driving down the highway in a high speed two seater convertible the wind rushing through our hair, but unfortunately our limited budget would only stretch to a low speed four seater family saloon, but it was a set of wheels and that is all that mattered.  Day one of our mini road trip would take us to the Hoover Dam, and Death Valley!!! Excellent.  Thankfully for us, and our marriage, Scott had loaned us his sat-nav Tom Tom GPRS thingy that told us in no uncertain terms where we should and shouldn't go.  After spending the first hour trying to understand why it wasn't working we realised that it was necessary to take it out of the glove box (when was the last time anyone put any gloves in the glove box - they really should come up with a new name for it) so that it could seek out a satellite and locate us.  We inputted our required destination and off we went, directed into the wilderness by a woman we had only just met.  We made the decision - much to the irritation of the voice from the box - to take a slight detour via Lake Mead and I am glad we did.  What a beautiful and stunning place.  Crystal clear blue waters surrounded by desert.  It really is the antithesis of Las Vegas.  Here you get to feel like you are in Nevada 'proper' - you could be a million miles away from the glitz of Vegas.Without too much hassle we soon arrived at Hoover Dam.  Another ambition fulfilled for Pat as this was the location for the first ever Superman film back in the day and it was great to relive the images of young Jimmy Olsen clinging by his finger tips on the edge of the dam only to be rescued by Superman.  Oh, and of course, it is an amazing feat of engineering that is impressive even now and even more so when you consider it was built in the 1930's.  Unfortunately, the best views of the dam (for photographic purposes) are from the visitors centre which incurs a cost which we couldn't afford, but the best views in terms of experience are from walking across it, which we did cos it was free. It's pretty intense when you walk across and stare down the sheer wall into the canyon below - it makes your legs go a bit wobbly.  On one side you have the lake and the feed towers then hundreds of feet below on the other side is the canyon and the river.  Also, and I never knew this, the dam is separated by states and therefore time zones (at certain times of the year).  When you walk across the dam you start of in Nevada and finish up in Arizona.  After walking around for some time and after several discussions of whether you would survive if you dived into the river from the top (I still reckon you would survive but Nic disagreed) we decided to head off to Death Valley.Now what Mrs clever Tom Tom woman never told us was that going from Hoover Dam to Death Valley involves going back on yourself and also means crossing into California - oh well, what else would we be doing with ourselves.  Three states in one day - not bad.  So, after driving back past Vegas and into more desert (is arid land  mass desert or dessert?  I don't want to confuse people into thinking that we drove into more pudding when what I mean is drove into more arid landscape with little rainfall.....anyway I digress) we stopped at the beginning of Death Valley and it soon becomes apparent as to where it gets its name from.  There is no way anything could survive here for any length of time.  We arrived at 5pm and it was unbelievably hot so god knows how hot it is in the middle of the day - apparently according to all the blurb the second highest temperature was recorded here at something like 56 degrees Celsius, which is 134 Fahrenheit (I have no idea where the hottest ever temperature recorded is and how high but Death Valley breaks all average temperature records).  It is something to do with the fact that it is way below sea level and all the heat gets trapped in - whatever the reason it is hot and barren and not a place you would want your car to breakdown.  We had a drive around as the car was air conditioned and therefore a lot more bearable than walking around by foot.  Even though it was late afternoon it must have been 40 plus degrees Celsius (around the 100 Fahrenheit mark).  We did get out and walk around but before long it was time to head back to Las Vegas and we had a good few miles in front of us. We knew that the west rim of the Grand Canyon was not so far away but we had done a bit of research and learnt that the south rim was perhaps the more spectacular part but unfortunately it is 250 miles away from Vegas.  So we set off at 8.30, had breakfast on the road and made our way.  Whilst driving along we decided that we would stop off at the new Skywalk on the west rim - this is a horseshoe bridge with a glass floor that juts out some distance from the canyon wall giving spectacular and hair raising views straight down to the canyon.  Unfortunately it is 30 miles down a dirt track road that is limited to 5mph speed limits and it costs a fortune to go on it.  So we turned around and continued our journey to the south rim.  We saw signs saying that the Grand Canyon National Park was only a few miles away but ahead of us all we saw was barren desert landscape - for some reason we were expecting to see something either jutting out or up or something but we forgot we were driving on a huge plateau and the canyon (by definition) goes down so you don't see anything until you are stood on the edge.  We paid the $20 entrance fee to the park, parked up and walked to the edge of the canyon.  There are no words, and I mean no words, that can describe the view that presents itself to you.  I am not going to even try, all I will say is that no photo, no video, will ever do justice to what is before your eyes.  It is another sight that you see a million times on TV but it can only be really experienced by standing in front of it.  We just stood open mouthed at the enormity and scale and tried to take it all in.  Facts for you - it is a mile, yes a mile deep, in parts of the canyon, it is ten miles across at the widest point, but to get to the other side you would have to drive something like 300 miles, and it is by far one of the most spectacular sights I have ever seen in my life.  Also, it is where Superman Three was shot with Richard Prior and involved him walking down the side on a donkey.  Unfortunately, we didn't have time to spend too long there as we didn't arrive until 4.30pm due to the long long drive and we left at 8pm - but we made a promise to each other that we would definitely return and spend time there, possibly go down into the canyon and do some water rafting on the Colorado River.  You can just see the river from the top of the canyon, and it is only then do you get a real scale of the depth of the gorge.  We even saw about twelve eagles circling around below us - we were a few hundred feet above them and they must have been some distance from the canyon floor.  It was with sadness that we left as we really wanted to get out and explore more - there is so much to see and so many places to walk.  The thing that amazed us is how close you can get to the canyon edge - there are no barriers and the ground is full of gravel so one wrong step and you are history. But this does give you the chance to take a close look and get some of those photographs that make your legs go wobbly.The next day and it was time to leave the oasis in the desert (or is it dessert?) and head back to SF.  A quick stopover there to catch up on washing and then head up to Canada for a very quick visit to Vancouver.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1212840000/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1212840000/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1212840000/tpod.html Thu, 03 Jul 2008 12:42:11 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Las Vegas, Nevada, United States

Clutching the seat in front and praying to a god that we don't even believe in, we thankfully land safely after a very turbulent flight. As per usual the seat belt light clicks off and instantly the cabin explodes with people hanging out of overhead lockers, clambering over each other and scrambling to get to the door first, which hasn't even been opened!! So being the proud Brits that we are we just stayed in our seat and tutted. Stepping in to the arrivals lounge we are greeted by......... yes you've guessed it, slot machines, hundreds of them. We resist the flashing lights and promises of wealth and head off on the shuttle bus to our home for the next 5 days...... Circus Circus, the strip, Las Vegas baby.This luxurious palace (by backpacker standards) was surprisingly cheap; this we quickly came to realise is because they want you to stay in their hotel and spend all your money gambling at their tables. They also use other tricks to keep you there. The hotels are like large towns and the only windows to the outside world are located in your hotel room and the exit signs are small and confusingly placed. So after checking in to our room it took us a full two hours to figure out how to get out through the maze of slot machines, flashing lights and tables, not to mention the hordes of people meandering between slot machines. You can see why people don't leave the building .....it's too much like hard work! We would have left a trail of breadcrumbs but they would more than likely have been eaten.Now for the veteran gamblers, the hotel provides all you could need under one roof, from free drinks while you are gambling, every conceivable gambling machine and game, to all you can eat buffets, this place is unreal. The people here are a different breed. Now I apologise in advance to any Americans reading, but this is the truth.....these lifeless people are huge, due to the endless amounts of food that they shovel in to their mouths, coupled with hours of sitting still and allowing the calories consumed to set up camp mainly in the bottom region (thus providing a more comfortable seat whilst gambling) while the colour drains from their zombie like faces as a result of weeks of being subjected to artificial lighting and air conditioning (mixed with liberal amounts of oxygen to keep you awake and of course gambling for longer). One particular evening we sat down to our evening meal to hear an over sized family on the next table ordering their meals. "I'll have a steak sandwich with fries, a cheese burger and the rack of ribs....oh and a diet coke" !!!! That was just for one person, not the table, but I suppose it was OK as she did order a diet coke.As very poor backpackers we decided to walk the strip and take in the free delights that Vegas has to offer. This is best done at night as it is cooler and the ambiance created by thousands of bright lights and fireworks is much more appealing. Firstly we came across the pirate ship outside Treasure Island. This was fun to watch, if you like scantily clad busty women and half naked muscular blokes then this is the show for you. If you are a child however, then its fun on a different level, due to the big moving pirate ship that also sinks and the thought that these men are actually real pirates! Next stop was the Bellagio. This was Nic's favourite. Romantic fountains danced and exploded to classical music like nothing else, rendering onlookers breathless, however this was probably not the thought of one little duckling that was separated from its family when the fountains began. The poor panic stricken duckling managed to escape the fountains as if it had just been launched from a cannon. Finally we found a rest area for our tired and weary feet, where we could continue to watch the fountains every ten minutes whilst sipping on G&T's at $7 a glass!!!! A lot of money is needed to have a real knees up here but we think it is worth it just the once.Vegas is home to many weird and wonderful things.... and we thought to mark coming towards the end of a fabulous honeymoon we would renew our wedding vows. But not just in any fashion, this would be done in style,  real  Vegas style......by the one and only......king of rock and roll........Elvis Presley ladies and gentlemen!This has got  to have been the single most funniest experience of our lives, its like a roller coaster, you want it to stop but it just keeps going and you have no control. He began by walking Nic down the aisle whilst playing a guitar and  singing 'can't help falling in love...' he even changed the lyrics to include our names. The ceremony swiftly moved on to renewing our vows with quite ordinary verses whilst Elvis paused occasionally with animated features for photographs before continuing. As both Pat and Nic had no idea what to expect, look akin to startled yet excited rabbits. Vows renewed (first set) Elvis jumps to a special set of vows which has Pat promising never to leave Nic at heartbreak hotel and Nic promising never to let Pat have a pair of blue suede shoes! The music cranks up, Nic and Pat try to control their laughter and this time armed with a microphone Elvis bursts into 'Viva Las Vegas' as he spins us round and dances us back up the aisle to then turn us round at the top and have us leg swinging back down in a New York New York style......Thank you very much. A few photos later and we were back on the pavement outside where we had started only 15 minutes earlier, the fastest wedding ever!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1212321600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1212321600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1212321600/tpod.html Fri, 27 Jun 2008 09:41:31 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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San Francisco, California, United States

Let's start this entry with a quiz - a quiz question that I cannot understand or get my head around.&nbsp; A quiz question that left me feeling confused and bemused for some time.A man arises at 9am on a Sunday morning, spends a full day relaxing (as everyone should on a Sunday) and then leaves to return a campervan to it's original location. He then makes his way to the airport, boards a flight at 7pm and settles in for the 12 hour non-stop journey ahead of him.&nbsp; 12 hours later, he arrives at his destination only to discover that he has hit a time vortex somewhere along the way and it is now 12 noon on the same Sunday and he still has a full day ahead of him although he has been awake 22 hours!!! How is this possible??Answers, on a postcard, to Is Time Travel Possible? International Date Line.&nbsp; Answers to reach us no later than July 1st - or is it June 30th or would it in fact be August 15th 2020?You can probably guess from this that I have struggled, and continue to struggle with the concept of crossing the international time line.&nbsp; It really has to be the strangest thing I have ever experienced but Nicola assures me it is not really that complicated and I need to move on.So, moving on, we made the trip back up north and into the correct seasons and land of water going down the plughole the right way.&nbsp; It had been six months since we went to the southern hemisphere, and that amount of time being upside down is no good for anyone.&nbsp; We were met at the airport by Scott, an ex-colleague and friend of ours who lives and works in SF.&nbsp; He had kindly offered us a bed at his place right in the heart of town and best of all he had taken some time off work and would be hanging out with us for the week.&nbsp;First job was to make sure enough caffeine was drunk to get us through to evening SF time and therefore shock the body into sleeping at the right time.&nbsp; Nine coffees later and we were tripping (literally) through the streets taking in a street fair with live music and excellent street food.&nbsp; I (Pat) first came to SF about seven years ago and absolutely fell in love with the place - this impression did not change as we walked around the streets taking in the atmosphere and the sights.After an absolutely superb nights sleep, we woke up at the normal time of 9am and ventured out to the Golden Gate bridge.&nbsp;It never fails to impress to see this iconic landmark stretched across the bay.&nbsp;&nbsp;Like so many of the sights, you see them a million times&nbsp;on TV or in books, but nothing ever takes away the feeling of seeing them in the flesh.&nbsp; &nbsp;After a quick walk half way across and many photos later we took the bus over to Fisherman's Wharf and wandered around the million or two touristy shops and then went to watch the seals. It is amazing how many seals are down there and what is more amazing is the pungent smell that comes from them - they stink - and the noise they make.&nbsp; But they are interesting to watch especially when one of the really big male seals gets annoyed and turns ugly. Following Fisherman's Wharf is was time to head to the place that offers the best vantage point in any major city&nbsp;- a McKinsey office.&nbsp; It is true that my old company seem to have offices in the best possible places and as a tourist are unrivaled.&nbsp; So we headed up to the top of the McKinsey building and got spectacular views across the bay, the Golden Gate bridge and Alcatraz.&nbsp; It really is a great (and cheap) way to get a perspective on a city.Unfortunately, the next day jet lag kicked in and it was 2.30am before we felt even remotely tired.&nbsp; However, we forced ourselves to get up at a reasonable time (is 10am reasonable?) and head to the best cafe in town.&nbsp; Pat's cafe is where I went seven years ago and got myself a commemorative Pat's cafe mug.&nbsp; Unfortunately the writing has worn off&nbsp;so it was time to get a replacement mug - and being a Pat in Pat's cafe you get a free Bucks Fizz.&nbsp; Result!! Thanks Ma and Pa for calling me Pat(rick) as had you not I would not have had a free glass of bubbly.Today was only going to get better as we had heard that up in Union Square the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing contest was taking place and the ten time champion was making an appearance - although he has since retired from the game.&nbsp; The only way to arrive at the 46th Annual Cable Car Bell Ringing contest was obviously by cable car so we took the historic trip up through SF and arrived just in time to hear mayor Gavin 'Nice Hair and twinkly Smile' Newsome (not the bloke of That's Life as I first thought) give his welcoming and opening speech.&nbsp; Let the bell ringing begin.&nbsp; First of all it was the 'amateur' round where local celebs (when I say celebs I am talking 'the bell boy from the Hyatt hotel' or the 'librarian from the city library'.&nbsp; We were hoping Governor Schwarzenegger would make a last minute surprise appearance but apparently the Governator is not a competent bell ringer and didn't want to humiliate himself).The amateur sections were hilarious and very entertaining - but before long it was time for the pro's.&nbsp; There were approx ten ringers in the pro's section and they were good - genuinely really good.&nbsp; They had the full thing going on - showmanship, tuneful bell ringing, everything.&nbsp; In fact we came away with a new appreciation and respect for cable car bell ringers across the world!!&nbsp; I don't know the name of the guy who won it but (sorry about this) his face rang a bell.&nbsp; To end the day nicely we headed off to the San Francisco&nbsp;baseball park to watch&nbsp;the Giants take on the New York Mets.&nbsp; What an experience that was!! Nine innings of glorified rounders that was very very entertaining.&nbsp; A few Brits have told me that baseball is boring - no way!! It is great fun - even if just from a people watchers perspective.&nbsp; The evening seems to be more about the food than the game as you can buy every single food type from every corner of the world in one ball park.&nbsp; It is amazing.&nbsp; A guy in front of us ate and drank the following during one two hour game - nachos, burger, hot dog, garlic fries, ice-cream, a long chewy sweet thing, a cinnamon stick, three pints of beer and a Pepsi.&nbsp; Oh and probably some nuts as well.&nbsp; That was one guy during one game!!! Best of all he only weighed about 8 stone. One family to the side of us - with a combine weight equaling that of&nbsp;a small battleship - ate double that amount each.&nbsp; I was in awe at the eating prowess.&nbsp; Screw the game - they should have an eating contest in the middle of the field.&nbsp; First to explode, wins!! It was a great evening's entertainment even though the Giants lost 9-6.&nbsp;A new day and a visit to the&nbsp;prison-sur-le-mar&nbsp;&nbsp;- Alcatraz.&nbsp; A return visit for Pat but a first time visit for Nic and probably the 20th visit for Scott.&nbsp; A short ferry ride across the water to the island and off we went for a wander around the prison and what remains.&nbsp; Nothing has changed in the seven years since I last went and many of the outer buildings still remain in a run down state - it seemed a shame to me then and it seems a shame now that these have not be renovated or turned into some sort of tourist information place. However, a couple of days after we visited, there was an article in the paper reporting that plans were in place to have a hotel on Alcatraz - what a great idea!! The newspaper article was ridiculing the idea and the US National Park service were quick to assure readers that it would under no circumstances be a themed hotel - WHY NOT!!! How cool would it be to stay in your own cell on Alcatraz? I think they are missing out on a wonderful opportunity here - you could get different sized cells based on price and the real budget option would be solitary confinement - no windows and a hole in the floor for your toilet.&nbsp; They could set it up that you have to dig your way out of the room to go for breakfast.&nbsp; They could even provide stripey pyjamas!! Seems a wasted opportunity to me - I know I'd go and stay!!While we there a former inmate was on the island signing his new book - the author I think must have been in his late 70s and didn't look like he would hurt a fly.&nbsp; It surprised me to discover he was once an armed robber and was one of the last inmates at Alcatraz.&nbsp; He was there when it was shut down in 1963.&nbsp; Contrary to popular belief, Alcatraz was not&nbsp;a hard line prison - according to former inmates it was one of the more relaxed prisons - it just happened to hold some of the more dangerous prisoners of the time.&nbsp; It's a great place to visit and re-visit.Our final day with Scott was spent cruising around in his very nice soft top BMW, taking in some of the last lot of sights.&nbsp; First stop, Lombard Street and the famous windy, crookedy street.&nbsp; I have no idea why this street exists as Lombard Street pretty much cuts through the whole of SF in one straight line but for some reason, in the middle it, it is all squiggly.&nbsp; (actually, I just wikipedia'ed it and here is the reason for those that are interested - <i>The switchbacks design, first suggested by property owner Carl Henry and instituted in 1922,was born out of necessity in order to reduce the hill's natural 27% grade, which was too steep for most vehicles to climb and a serious hazard to pedestrians used to a more reasonable sixteen-degree incline' Now you know!!)Roof down, and off we went winding our way down the 'swithbacks'.&nbsp; Once at the bottom, we turned around and had another go.&nbsp;Next it was time to drive over the Golden Gate bridge to see what is on the 'other side'.&nbsp; Sausalito - Nuclear Free Zone is what greats you there, plus more spectacular views of the bridge.&nbsp; I really liked the views from this side as you get to see the bridge and the whole city in one vista.&nbsp; After stopping for many many photos we drove to Sausalito proper and had a wander around and had lunch&nbsp;there - very nice place and even nicer is that they offer free ice-cream to any serving military personnel, and rightly so.&nbsp; After a couple of hours in 'little sausage' we headed back over to SF city and headed for Haight - hippy commune of the 60s!!&nbsp; If you ever want to see the effects of LSD and other chemically manufactured drugs then head to Haight - it is not a pretty sight!! There are so many insane people that all happen to be in their 50s and 60s - plus there is a ratio of four homeless people per street corner.&nbsp; I found it quite depressing but I am sure for those that grew up in the swinging 60's it conjures up images of whatever things went off during that time - free love, world peace, drugs, etc etc.&nbsp; Haight is considered 'Bohemian' and it is therefore one of those trendy places everyone wants to live - personally I wouldn't want to spend too much time there.&nbsp; In saying all of that, it was very interesting and another great people watching place.&nbsp; We did see a group of tourists being given a tour by an obviously ex-hippie who used the words 'Groovy' and 'Far Out' far too excessively.And with that, our jam packed week in SF was over.&nbsp; We really saw a lot (hence the length of this blog) and have Scott to thank for providing us with a fantastic week.&nbsp; First of all it was good of him to provide us with a bed for the week, but more so, it was great to see all the places of interests and get to hang out with him too.&nbsp;Feeling exhausted, and ready for some chill out time, we decided to head for the calm, peaceful, tranquil haven of ........LAS VEGAS!!!!!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1211457600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1211457600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/marshallmatters/rtw_-_2007/1211457600/tpod.html Mon, 23 Jun 2008 23:34:45 -0400 CLICK HERE TO ENTER OUR TRAVEL BLOG - inside you will find lots of photos along with tales of our adventures!! Plus you get to tell us all your news! See you inside!!

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Auckland, North Island, New Zealand

Our final week in NZ was soon upon us, so the decision was made to spend that time in Auckland and exploring the Northlands (the area north of Auckland right up to Cape Reinga, the most northerly point in NZ).First stop Auckland and a fun packed weekend with Victoria (of Victoria and Miriam fame) and her fella Grant. The bus from Tongariro to Auckland was very late arriving but as we had arranged to meet V&amp;G in the pub, we knew there wouldn't be too much complaining on their behalf.&nbsp; After a few drinks, and a catch up, we headed over to V's place in Newmarket, which was absolutely stunning.&nbsp; It was very nice to be staying in a proper house, and not be sharing the bathroom with&nbsp;twenty others or running the risk of a bad nights sleep.Our first full day there was a Friday so unfortunately V&amp;G had to go to work, so Nic and I spent the day meandering around Auckland, taking in the sights and&nbsp;asking around about hiring a campervan for the following week.Campervan sourced, first sight was the formidable Sky Tower.&nbsp; As with most of the towers in major cities you can go up, have a nosey around and take in the view of the city.&nbsp; However, this being NZ, there is an element of 'extremeness'.&nbsp; First thing, glass bottom lift that shoots you up to the top.&nbsp; Nice to see 50 floors of lift shaft whizzing below you into a chasm of darkness.&nbsp; Next, walking around the edge of the tower......on the outside.&nbsp; Yup, as well as the option to be in the safety of the tower, behind solid glass (my preferred method), there is the option to walk on the edge outside.&nbsp; No thank you.&nbsp; Finally, and most scarily, is the jumping from the tower option.&nbsp; Strapped to a series of wire ropes, you are flung down the tower to the floor.&nbsp; No thank you again - but thanks for asking.&nbsp; It was at this moment of watching idiots - I mean brave souls - hurtle at 400 miles an hour to the floor that I realised my adrenalin days are behind me.&nbsp; I'll stick to activities on the ground thank you very much.Saturday and the chance to spend the day with V&amp;G.&nbsp; After a very relaxing start we caught the ferry to Davenport and enjoyed brunch and coffee in this very nice, and very relaxed part of town.&nbsp; However, it was soon back to Auckland proper as the Super 14 rugby semi's were on and it was a North island verses South island rival game.&nbsp; Grant is a proud south islander and some of V's friends were visiting from the south so we had plenty of inter island rivalry in our group as there were plenty of northerners too.&nbsp; Earlier that day, Grant had talked me into having a wee bet on the game and knowing nothing about rugby I decided to have a ridiculously stupid bet that in horsing terms would be the equivalent of backing a three legged blind horse that could only run backwards.&nbsp; Needless to say, my bet came to nothing and I went home empty handed.&nbsp; However, one week later and the final, I had a much more calculated bet (involving a pin, a list and my eyes closed) and I won!! Yep,&nbsp;second &nbsp;time I have bet in 10 years and I won.&nbsp; $5 bet won me $110.&nbsp; Nice.Sunday was spent recovering from the previous night's celebrations (the south island team won by the way) and a nice Sunday home cooked dinner was prepared and served by Nic.&nbsp; Yum!! The weekend went by far too quickly - as is always the case when you are with good company and having fun - and it was soon Monday morning.&nbsp; Which unfortunately, for V&amp;G meant work, but for N&amp;P it meant another road trip. We did try and get V&amp;G to throw a sickie for the week but they were very&nbsp;grown up and went off to work.&nbsp; First stop on the road trip, Matamata.&nbsp; Not strictly in the Northlands as it's to the east of Auckland but we couldn't come to NZ and not go to Matamata.&nbsp; Why? I hear you enquire.&nbsp; Well, it happens to be the home of the hobbits - Hobbiton no less from the Lord of the Rings trilogy.&nbsp; We turned up just in time for the last, and very very very overpriced tour of the day.&nbsp; Our guide (who looked a lot like a Hobbit funnily enough) guided us to the farm where it was filmed and gave us some very interesting insights.&nbsp; You get all the behind the scenes info on what went on, what camera tricks were used and you also get to understand just how much of a perfectionist Peter Jackson (LOTR director) is. Some of the things our guide told us, beggars belief.&nbsp; Things like, leaves being imported from Taiwan and hand tied to trees.&nbsp; Things like the great Oak tree that is behind Bilbo Baggins house and what effort was made to get that just right.&nbsp; And finally the security that was in place to keep the location a secret.&nbsp; It made for an interesting trip.After the tour, it was time to make our way north and head for Russel, gateway to the&nbsp;Bay of Islands, via the scenic route - which was very scenic.&nbsp; First job, book a cruise for the next morning with the option to swim with dolphins should they be in town.&nbsp; The cruise left first thing in the morning and set off around the B of I.&nbsp;&nbsp; It is alleged that if they were a few kilometres north and therefore had better climate, then they would rival the Whitsunday Islands.&nbsp; They were pretty beautiful to us and we enjoyed the morning cruise around.&nbsp; Unfortunately, the dolphins were out of town so we didn't get the chance to swim, which judging by the cold weather it was probably a blessing in disguise.After the cruise it was a drive up to Cape Reinga and the most northernly point of NZ.&nbsp; It was a fairly decent drive for the first part and then it was a hard slog for the last couple of hours on a dirt track.&nbsp; However, once we got there, it was definitely worth it.&nbsp; To be stood on the extremity of any country is a great feeling, whether it's the highest, lowest, most easterly, whatever.&nbsp; At Cape Reinga you look over to where the Tasman Sea and the Pacific Ocean collide.&nbsp; It was pretty cool to be stood at one of the most westerly points of the Pacific, knowing that in a couple of days we would be in San Francisco and at the easterly end of the Pacific.&nbsp; The hunt for a campsite, and a place to eat was not so pleasurable as everything in that area seemed to be shut as winter season kicked in, and it was now after 6pm.&nbsp; But we soon found a place&nbsp;and got settled in for the night.Friday was spent heading back towards Auckland with a stop off at the To Waipoua Forest to see Tane Mahuta (aka the largest kauri tree) which is over 2000 years old - it was pretty darn impressive.&nbsp; We also took a diversion to 90 mile beach and took a drive down to the beach - it is permitted to do this.&nbsp; Unfortunately, a Chinese family followed suit but went into the deep sand and got stuck.&nbsp; The rest of the morning was spent digging them out!!Our final day of the final road trip was to end at Mahurangi, about an hour north of Auckland, where V's folks have a weekend home.&nbsp; We had arranged to meet V&amp;G at a buzzing little place called Matakana.&nbsp; This town was absolutely alive, with lots happening.&nbsp; One of the first people we saw was Daniel Beddingfield (popstar from a few years ago - brother of Natasha Beddingfield).&nbsp; We then saw a group of approximately 30, sixty-somethings all dressed as school girls!! Anyway, it got better - there was a very very nice farmers market and there we bumped into Angus, the guy who gave us a lift from Mount Cook to Clyde for the bike ride.&nbsp; Fairly coincidental that we should bump into the only person we know in NZ (other than V&amp;G).&nbsp; We spent a couple of hours at Matakata then headed over to V's folk 'bach' (as they call weekend homes) which was very nice.&nbsp; We enjoyed a tasty home cooked meal, a couple of bottles of wine and settled in for the rugby (which as you now know I won a bet on).&nbsp; An early night was in order as the next day would involve a trip back in time as we flew from Auckland to San Francisco and therefore crossed the international date line!!!
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Kaitaia, North Island, New Zealand

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