Driving on the Wrong Side of the Road

Who ever invented driving on the right side of the car on the left hand side of the road was obviously drunk. We picked up our campervan and were thrown right into the wacky New Zealand way of driving, everything opposite of what we are used to. Micah did a great job though, but with those round abouts, throw in poring down rain, sheesh, pretty scary. You definitely need two people to get you through those, one to drive and one to direct.

Our first stop was in the Bay of Islands. We stayed along a river edge at the base of Haruru Falls in a cool little campsite with a trampoline and a little bar and restaurant. We took a kayak over to the fals and rowed our way down the river a ways. We took a ferry over to a little town called Russell. The water was crystal clear there and it reminded us a bit of Mendocino in Northern California.

The weather has been ok. Today is the first day we have had so far without rain, but the day isn't over yet. We have arrived in Doubtless Bay and are staying on a beach campsite called Whauhuihui. It is tropical looking but still a little bit cool. It is warming up though the farther north we drive.

Auckland, New Zealand

So we made it. We are in Auckland, New Zealand. It's a really cool city, it sort of reminds us of a low-key NYC, not as much hustle and bustle.

We went to the best museum ever. NZ Maritime Museum, very hands on experience. You could touch everything, even go aboard a few of the old ships that were on display. I wanted to steal a boat but it was too heavy.

Later that day we cruised over to the tallest building in the Southren Hemi, The Sky Tower. We rode the elevator 60 stories up to the tippy top. Saw somenot so smart people bunjee jump off of the building, yikes. During our visit to the tower we got punched in the face by jet lag. Instantly sending us into a sort of walking coma. We barley made it back to our hotel.

Until next time.

Micah & Brooke

More toe injuries & Charger victories

Well, we won the opening game, but I lost my battle with toe saftey.

LT rushed for a TD and threw for a TD, (reciever Antonio Gates). But I managed to rip off my ring finger toenail....just 24 hours after I fractured my pinky toe.....WTF??

Hopefully I will not hurt me feets anymore.

Love,

Micah

Big Bertha

So, we have booked a campervan for the New Zealand portion of our trip. Check out the pics, it looks so friggin' cool! And I get my wish of a shower in the campervan. Well, almost. It's an outdoor shower, but a shower it is. We have a TV with a DVD player and everything, I know super tech, right? Hahahahah. It has a stove, a fridge, a closet, storage, etc. And no, the horse does not come with the campervan, shucks! (See last pic)

This will be the last few days we have in our place too. Gonna move all weekend (we've been doing a little bit every day so it's not too overwhelming) and we have Monday to clean then it's off to mommy and daddy's place. We'll be gone before we know it!

xo, Brooke

Three Countries and a Baby

We went to the hospital this morning to visit the Heits and little baby Campbell. He is too perfect, as the pics show. He was a whopping 5lbs. 14oz. and 19". Enjoy the pics.

On a different topic, we are going to let everybody know our travel schedule so if you so happen to be in the same country that we are at the same time we are, we can meet up! Also, if you all have friends in any of the counries we are going to, or even friends of friends, please let us know. We have found that it is the best way to meet people and see the country in a different way. We met up with a friend's cousin when we were in Chile and had a great time . . . So, back to the itinerary . . .

-Leave LAX on Sept. 18th, arrive in Auckland, New Zealand on Sept. 20th. We'll rent a campervan and drive the whole North Island and then hop on a ferry and drive as much of the South Island as time allows.

-Arrive in Syndey, Australia on October 6th. We will rent a campervan there too and drive the East Coast al the way up to Cairns. The we take a flight from Cairns to Ayers Rock on October 23rd. Then it's back to Sydney on October 25th. That night we'l meet up with our friend Greg Fernandez and party it up one last night in Oz.

-Arrive in Densapar, Bali on October 26th. There we will meet up with Brendan and live like royalty for ten measly dollars a day!

-Leave Bali on November 12th and get back home on November 13th. But who knows, maybe we'll stay longer!

A New Addition

Congrats to our dear friends Justin and Elizabeth Heit on the birth of their baby boy, Campbell! Now Jadyn has a little brother, we have no doubt that she will be a great big sis. We'll post some pics of him as soon as we get them. The pic above is just the three of them, awaiting a new family photo with little Campbell.

On a totally different note, we went to the Padre game last night and had a blast. Although Micah and I got separated at the end of the game. Since he has no cell phone, I was about to start posting missing signs with his picture on it all over PetCo Park. I even went as far as going into the men's bathroom yelling "Micaaaahhhhh, Micaaahhhhh". I ended up leaving and taking the trolley over to the coaster station and guess who was sitting there on the coaster, yep, Micah. Apparantley we had just missed each other and he sprinted to the coaster station since he didn't have a trolley ticket.

And for those San Diego sports fans, how excited are you that the Pads and Chargers play at home tonight?!? It's going to be a great night of TV and cheering, hopefully I'll get my voice back by tonight so I can lose it all over again.

xo, Brooke

Yeah for Brendan Ranch, I mean Raasch

We couldn't be more thrilled . . . just found out our good friend Dr. Brendan Raasch (Micah and my mate, Micah's bandmate, iced-tea enthusiast, etc.) will be coming to Bali/ Lombok and staying the same dates that we are!!!! F*@k yeah! Now Micah will have a surfing buddy and we'll have another person to experience all the coolness that Bali has to offer. Yipee, we're so happy!