Souly Positive

So besides the beautiful scenery in New Zealand, evidently they also have laws that they expect even the tourist to abide by….who knew? Well probably everyone:) More on that later. I am conquering the South Island, kind of:) I won’t go on and on about the scenery because I know it’s boring…I mean really how many times can one say stunning, beautiful, amazing etc…seems like I use those words a lot. Now it’s true I am one that leans toward the smiley faces and superlatives (really did y’all think I didn’t know that?) It really is true for New Zealand though. Mother Nature has done her best work here…some major hormones going on for her when she worked her magic here. Incredible!

I have been driving the South Island and the last stop was Queenstown where I met up with my Fiji friend Sophia! We had a great dinner and then she had booked several things already so two days later we meet in Te Anau and she goes off kayaking in Milford Sound and I of course take the less strenuous boat ride:) We decide she will drive back to Queenstown with me, saving her $50 and I will crash at her awesome air bnb that she is staying in for the week with an incredible view of the lake:) We call that a win win:) Not only did I get the most comfortable bed so far I also got to wash clothes. That’s right, I’m almost stink free at this moment:)

Milford Sound (not really a sound but a Fjord). Beautiful and cold:) Saw seals and penguins…Woot! Lots of waterfalls etc. But here is the fun part. Driving myself along the secluded roads back to Queenstown, chatting away with my Swedish friend, guess what happens? Yep, there is an officer waving me down. At first I thought it was just another of New Zealand’s friendly ways. Thinking possibly he wanted to chat, I pull over, smiling, and roll down my window. The next thing I know I have a very friendly officer asking me if I know the speed limit. DUH…stupid question…of course I don’t:) What made it even stranger is there was this big blond bearded burly guy filming the whole thing (Think Garrett but bigger:) We had a nice chat and then I finally asked the guy why he was filming me (Cid, there was the film crew you asked about earlier). Evidently they have a show here called something like Highway Cops and he told me it was the 4th biggest show in New Zealand…I know, crazy, right? Anyway it’s all very nice and we’re chatting away and the policeman looks at my license and comments about how nice Coloradoan’s are etc. and then says, “at least you’re not from Texas.” “WHAT?”, I say, “uh sir, I was born and raised in Texas”…then he jokes that that will double my ticket:) What does the world have against Texas anyway? And then, when I told him I was a Realtor he made a similar comment. Then he did my driver’s license check, held up a little thing and asked me to count to ten. I said, “What is that?” And he told me it checked for alcohol. I said, “Don’t you blow into those?” Anyway, believe it or not, my first sobriety test ever and thank you Lord, for once, I had really not been drinking. All was good:) Oh, except that I did receive a ticket for going 112, an expensive lesson learned, but also possible future stardom. Could be my best $80 NZ dollars spent…NOT!

There have been many highlights so far in New Zealand…catching up with my Swedish friend Sophia, definitely one. Well believe it or not, the cop for sure:). Sheep blocking the road. Yesterday to stay awake I picked up two sets of hitchhikers, Queenstown, Milford Sound, Te Anau and the Glow worm Caves (beautiful little lights until you get back in the light of day and realize, well, they’re worms. Franz Josef Glacier and my 1 1/2 hour hike to see it at just the right time of day!. Sleeping with two guys (in a hostel:). I didn’t even know it was a mixed dorm:) (seriously, not a highlight but just sounds funny to me:) There are more, but I am too tired to remember…just know I’m safe and happy…contrary to what you are thinking about this paragraph:)
Anyway, I am driving like crazy. I have to concentrate so hard, so it’s really exhausting. I’m sleeping usually one night in each place so I can get to the next spot. Very tiring but I don’t want to miss a thing and feel I am already missing so much. I will need to slow down soon. These old bones can’t keep up with this pace. As my sister Stephanie emailed me, I have to learn the 3 C’s and the one R…See, See and See and rest on the fourth day.

I am happy, having fun and definitely missing all of you. Your thoughts, words, love and encouragement keep me going. Thank you one and all. Love you to pieces!

From Franz Josef Glacier…Slow down and smell the lupine..or get a fricken ticket!