Shotover Jet

If there is one thing I would recommend if you ever go to New Zealand, it is to do the Shotover Jet. It is an awesome experience. On a beautiful, chilly spring day, Val and I took a bus up to the canyon. The river is about the size of the Colorado river, and about the same temperature as well. We get into a jet boat that holds about 12 people. The "captain" of the boat takes you up canyon walls going 80 kph, which I had to convert in my mind to miles per hour, but it's fast. And the captain is very brazen, taking the boat within inches of canyon walls, and making 360 degree turns in shallow water.
We got soaked, remember how I said it was a chilly spring day? I was frozen, and we had to get on a plane within two hours. I was so cold. Just glad I dried out on the 4 hour plane ride to Sydney.

Australia/New Zealand Videos

From: Valerie
Date: Thu, Sep 24, 2009 at 8:59 PM
Subject: Australia/New Zealand Videos

Hi all,

I'm still recovering a lot from the jet lag, and to pass my time, I'm
re-living the trip to Australia and New Zealand.  In case you are
interested, we have a ton of our videos on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/vclynn
They're all less than a minute, so if you're curious to see what kind
of drivers we are, or maybe how the ocean looks in Cairns, have a
peek!

Rockhampton

Sent: Tuesday, September 15, 2009 10:11 PM
Subject: Rockhampton

Finally, In a location where there is free internet. We survived the
very remote "Fraser Island" rainforest and sand island after we were
in Sydney. Every location we've been is insanely different from any
of the other spots we've been. Rockhampton is the Nebraska cowtown of
the outback - Cow statues when we drove into town. I cannot drive
over here. Cindy, Valerie are doing it all. In the Rockhampton
airport, flying to the Whitsunday Islands... OMG.

Love Patty

Spring ski at Cardrona Ski Resort in NZed

From: Patty
Date: Thu, Sep 10, 2009 at 11:57 AM
Subject: Spring ski at Cardrona Ski Resort in NZed

Yep, we did it!  Definitely spring conditions, but we did it and even
"left it all" on the slope when it was said and done.  Every one of us
had to get a few runs in to start our ski engines, we really improved
quickly.  Eric need more challenge, so he took his snowboard to get
the whole mountain in, really good.  Zero pine trees there, just scrub
and rocks and killer views.  I found a mogul field that was just right
for me, and I said "this is everything I could have possibly dreamed
up".  White out conditions and the snow was slushing up.  Find the way
back.  A green trail swung around the back of the mountain no human as
far as I could see, a vast view.  Felt verrry lonely there, was so
happy to see people come into view when they did, a tear was rising
up.
Thought about ski trips with everyone and how weird it was that you
weren't with us.  Sking this winter at the New Year's gathering is
going to be a blast, and we're a jump ahead of our first ski for the
winter.
Last night we had Hell Pizza.  That's the name of the company, ha.  It
was good but hardly fed, us it was so small.  Thought we would get an
extra pizza in the "snack" column - smallest personal pizza we ever
saw.  We were laughing but worried we would still be hungry.
Eric and Valerie did our laundry last night.  Leaving for Sydney today
at 4pm.  Hopefully we can email again soon.
Patty

At Queenstown, NZ

I wish you all were here to see the extreme beauty.       Spelling
correction from previous mssg:  seep is sheep.    Today is a big day.
HELITOUR day!   Then shopping, Cindy's luggage bag ripped and she
needs another one before we leave to Sydney on      yes, September 11.
Subject: Re: At Queenstown, NZ

Thanks for forwarding that Steve. Thanks for the great details Patty.
Now I want to go.
Carol

HI!  Super gorgeous here, a little Norway, a little Colorado.  This is
a ski town, how about that?  The "Remarkables" are a mountain range so
outstanding in the landscape.  We have Lake Wakapitu just steps away
from the hotel, took a bike ride today for almost 2 hrs to see a bit
of it.  When we went this afternoon up a goldola - wow we could see
just how huge it is and it's endless.  Very clear water.  Very
friendly town, easy to walk anywhere.  Talk about steep streets,
yikes.  Like San Francisco.  Lots of seep on the island.  Wish I could
go ski here.  Had a great Korean meal last night and had hot wine
drinks across the street from that later.

Haven't seemed to have jet lag after not having a bed for 24 hrs.  The
flight from San Francisco was rough - 12+ hrs.  It could have been
13.5, wind was our friend.  It's not that cold here during the day,
mornings start a bit chilly.

Enjoy the weekend.

Patty

emailing from the www.novotelqueenslandlakeside.com

Summer Trip to Winter Park 2009

• VERY nice condo's
• Choo-Choo train serenade
• Several bike rides ( No Wrecks !)
• Fraiser train
• St Luis creek
• Rubbing elbows with downhill champion Eric
• A TON of good food
• Activities galore
• mini-golf
• bungee tramps
• alpine slide (no road rash!)
• Insane two seated spinny thing
• Maze
• Sick bike tricks with huge air (only as a spectator of course)
  

Copper Mountain New Years 2008 trip

So many memories:

• -Snow tunnels
• -Night sledding
• -Hot Chocolate
• -Fire works
• -Skiing
• -Wii Ski jumping
• -Ice skating
• -Falling Ice!
• -Jokes
• -Conversations
• -Mid-night texting to Devin
• -Taking Vince off the cornice in Copper Bowl ( he lived, so now he has a great story)
• -Early morning fire alarms
• -A ton of food!

Pick one of these topics, or add another one, and tell us what you remember.