Monthly Archives: December 2012

Made it back home today with a couple smooth flights on southwest.  Glad to be back, looking forward to some fishing and surfing this weekend.

Finally back in the states, so we can start uploading some of our video footage from the kiwi adventure. Finally able to use our electronics to their fullest. Lest we forget how lucky we are in the USA (fuel isn’t $8/gallon, slow wifi isn’t data capped and $10 for an hour, a small pizza doesn’t cost $20)

First sampling is the skydiving video from Abel Tasman. Still gets me excited watching the scene falling out of the plane.

Skydiving Abel Tasman in New Zealand from Chris Schaul on Vimeo.

Well, finally made it back to the USA today at 1pm.  Did the usual customs procedures.  Amazes me that they have only 3 lines for residents but have about 15 for visitors.  Seems like it should be the other way around like in other countries we have visited, where locals get preferential treatment.  Anyways, we made it thru with no hassles, then off to another terminal at LAX to check what southwest could do for us since we missed our flight.

Gentleman helping us lived up to the hype about southwest: friendly and helpful.  Said our best bet was to stay the night in LA and go standby for first flight out at 645am.  Booked a nearby hotel on hoteltonight , which is a top notch app for booking last minute hotels, refer us and we both get $25 in credits 🙂

Likely hit up some quality mexican food nearby tonight, then maybe Ralph’s for ingredients for an evening of caucasian drinks and big lebowski movie on the laptop.

Got a later start than we originally planned for Wednesday.  Had hoped to make it over to moorea on the ferry, but the schedules would only allow about 3 hours before having to return to papeete.   Got packed up around 10 and checked out of the hotel, putting our luggage in their storage.  Took the bus into papeete, only 3 bux a person instead of 30 bux for a cab.
Walked around downtown for most of the day, checking out the market, pearl museum, harbor and local brew pub for a couple cold ones and late lunch.  Rained a bit, but sorta like our afternoon showers in florida.  It’s the rainy season here now, so can definitely tell that things seem quieter with fewer tourists.  Waited for our return bus at the supposed bus terminal, but never did see the right one for us.  Started walking west towards our hotel, figured we would see one along the way.  Well, we walked quite a ways til we got one.  By that time the evening rush hour had started.  Finally made it back to the hotel around 6pm.  Took a swim in the pool with a cold happy hour cocktail and enjoyed our last sunset on this trip.
Headed back to the front desk to get our bags to change clothes, they ended up having a great transit room to use with couches, bathrooms and showers.  Washed up, drank our remaining hinanos and wine, reserved a cab for 930pm, then walked over to dinner.  Loaded up in the taxi and headed over to the airport to discover the flight was delayed from 1150pm until 230am, uhoh…
Had booked our return flight from LA to Orlando on southwest with only 3 hours to spare from the original arrival time, so we arent gonna make that one.  Hopefully get thru customs and check in to make a flight sometime this afternoon and verify this great southwest customer service they promote.  if not, then we’ll be spending some time in LA until we can get a flight to florida.

Really enjoyed our time in tahiti and worked out well as a 3 day break to relax after a campervan trip.  Much more grateful for a big bed, bathroom and hot shower.  Looking forward to getting back to see everyone and jalapeno!

Left the hotel on Monday morning and walked to the nearby grocery store.  Prices for meals and drinks at the hotels are outrageous.  Picked up an interesting combination breakfast of banana smoothie, baguette, swiss cheese and seaweed salad.  Then took a lengthy walk down the beach just outside the hotel and stopped at a park to enjoy our food along the shore under a tree.  Ended up walking down to the nicest white sand beach on the island.  Crystal clear water and mid-eighty degree temperature!  Swam around for a bit, then walked back along the street towards the hotel.  Stopped back at the market to grab some lunch, but they had sold out of the poisson cru (aka ceviche), so we had a panini and a some seafood spring rolls instead.  Got back to the hotel and hung out at the pool with a Hinano six pack.

Met a nice couple from washington, we had seen them on our plane from NZ, they had been doing a tramping trip for a couple weeks in abel tasman and milford sound tracks.  Talked with them for a few hours til the rain started, so we headed back to shower up for dinner.  Decided to try the pizza place next door, which was a good choice.  The same couple ended up there too, so we had dinner together.

Woke up tuesday and decided to rent a car for some island exploration.  We never did see anything outside of Papeete the last time.  Picked up the ultra-compact Kia around 11 and started on our way around the island.  Had a map of spots to check out.  First stop we enjoyed our ceviche lunch, which might have been the best ever and definitely reminded me of our last visit. Saw some cool stuff: waterfalls, gardens with amazing flowers, gnarly shore pound waves, Teahuapoo (famous surf break), blowholes and an island traffic jam.

an excellent ceviche lunch near the marae

tahitian marae is a an area for religious activities

i love waterfalls!

another famous surf break on a bad weather day..

chose the wrong time to head back thru papeete

toyota tacoma fans - diesel tacomas do exist everywhere but the USA, theyre called a toyota hilux

Made it safely to papeete on sunday afternoon after a 5 hour flight on air new zealand from auckland.  What a great airline with nice seats, friendly staff, good food (never had ice cream on a plane before, excellent NZ ice cream as well) and good entertainment choices.  Passed thru customs with no issues and off in a taxi to our hotel nearby on the west coast of the island.  We have a nice view from our room to Moorea, which we’ll hopefully visit in this short visit.

Thoroughly impressed with the room, especially after living in a van for 3 weeks.  For example, was able to get up in the middle of the night and use the toilet without hassle of opening a van door, putting on shoes and finding a place to go.

Enjoyed a couple tasty happy hour cocktails at the pool bar, then grabbed a light meal at the hotel restaurant.  Called it a night back at the room.  Up early today and we get to repeat our monday, due to the international date line crossing yesterday.  Off to explore the island and hopefully line up some surfing and diving.

Our spectacular adventure covering 6,000 kilometers in new zealand has come to an end.  We spent our last night at a campervan park right near the airport.  For $29 you get a warm shower, kitchen facilities and power hookup.  All automated to book online and open the gate with a credit card.  Seem to be much more automated and improved usage of the internet capabilities as compared to the US.  Cooked our last meals in the van for dinner and breakfast and left our non-perishables in the kitchen, so hopefully another camper will get to use.

Planned on dropping cindy at the airport with bags, then i would return the van and jog back the 2.5 kilometers.  The wind and rain this morning changed that plan.  Brought the van back to the rental shop, then planned to call a taxi since they weren’t open yet.  Another friendly and helpful kiwi offered to take us to the airport.  Really cannot say enough about the friendly locals here in NZ.

Awaiting our boarding here at the gate, then should be landing in tahiti in about 5 hours.  More to come from warmer waters…

Making our way back towards auckland today for our flight to tahiti on monday morning.  We leave monday at 10am and arrive in tahiti at 4pm on sunday, gotta love time travelling!

Stopped in town near our campsite to do laundry, since we had become the “smelly people”.  Continued on towards Raglan, taking the scenic route (unpaved roads which rattle your bones).  Took a quick detour to check out bridal veil falls.  Very impressive sight, even in the rain.  55 meter drop to the bottom.  Ended up busting my ass about half way down on the slick stairs, luckily just bumps and bruises.

Made it to raglan to see the world’s longest left point break at manu bay, but conditions were quite sloppy.  Guess we’ll have to travel back to NZ at some point to surf it.

Stopped for a beverage in raglan town centre, then driving into auckland to spend the night.

Awoke early this morning at our free camp spot, after a good night’s rest.  We parked right near the small river, so i decided to check it for any signs of fish.  Nothing seen on my first pass away from the van, but on the return I noticed a trout sneak out from a rock and eat something flowing down the river.  Noted the spot and quickly back to the van to grab my fishing rod!

Hadn’t lucked out with the lure i had attached, plus the advice i had received earlier was to use the wet fly early and late in the day, so changed it over swiftly.  Maybe too swiftly…  The setup is a small bobber you fill with some water to provide weight for casting distance, then a 3 ft leader attached to the fly.  Basically gives a spin caster the ability to throw flies like using a fly rod.

Walked back to the spot just upriver from the van.  First cast, upstream, not quite far enough across the stream, no fish seen, reel back in.  Second cast a bit further, maybe not far enough, bobber and fly float back down river, trout exits his hiding spot and gulps the fly, bobber goes down a bit and accelerates downstream, count a few seconds, set the hook!  FISH ON!

Appears to be a wily brown trout and a decent fight on light tackle trying to work his way back to a rock on the side of the river.  About 30 seconds into it, he makes a run down river and hear the famous “pop” sound which is dreadful to any fisherman.  Another insufficient knot tying effort by this guy just a few minutes earlier.  The knot tied to the bobber came undone, so now the fish has the lure and bobber attached.  I follow the bobber for a bit and see it’s hanging around the other edge.

Quickly tie on the previous metal lure in hopes of finding the bobber and snagging it.  Walk up and down the bank a few times, not seeing it yet.  Almost give up, but then see it float back to the surface nearby, appears the fish took cover under another rock on the other bank.  Cast a couple times to try snagging the line attached to the bobber.  Success on the third try, fish back on!

Fish is still green and fighting well, about 10 seconds go by and he decides to try a tarpon-like leap.  Once again, pop!  This time the bobber broke off from the rest of the line and the fish took off.  At least the fish should have a better chance of survival without a plastic bobber in tow.  Last day in NZ, glad to finally hook up a trout 🙂

One of these days I will learn to slow down and tie a proper knot…

Awoke to a beautiful morning with some warmer weather after our 4th night camping at Ahu Ahu near Oakura.  The surf was looking promising and the winds were light.  We decided to wait for the tide to push in a little more before paddling out, so we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast.  The forecast predicted that the winds wouldn’t pick up until later in the afternoon. Unfortunately that forecast was wrong, and the onshores started blowing pretty strong by the time we were done eating.  Decided to try some fishing instead and Chris found some information about a place called Stoney River nearby.  We drove to the river and, thinking we wouldn’t have to go far for a spot, we didn’t change our shoes.  Ended up hiking through the forest in flip flops but still couldn’t find easy access to the river.  As we were crossing the bridge, some kids noticed Chris’s fishing pole and offered some advice as to good fishing spots.  Turns out we weren’t at Stoney River, it was about 1K away, “across the paddock” according to the kids.  They ended up showing us the way and we found some good spots to fish.  Took a walk in the paddock along the river which turned out to be the trail we were supposed to be on.  Had to cross a few fences, and based on my previous experience getting electrocuted by a fence, I took precautions not to let it happen again.  Unfortunately, still didn’t catch any fish, but it was a fun adventure anyway.  Afterward, we decided to head back to Opunaki to try some surfing before we had to return the boards we rented later in the afternoon.  Opunaki Beach
was a little protected from the winds and we paddled out.  Chris caught his wave on the fish, surf’s up NZ!  Colder water and heavier waves than what we are used to in Florida!  Surf sessions don’t last as long.  We returned the boards at the surf shop and decided to start making our way to Raglan, home of the world’s longest left-hand break (for all the goofy-footers like Chris!).  Along the way, Chris found a nice free camping spot about an hour away from Raglan.  We made dinner and chatted with a nice older couple who were camping here as well.  Now it’s time for bed, so goodnight and sleep tight! 

Fishing Stoney River

Crossing the fence

Stop, drop, and roll!

Free camping!

Preparing dinner