VAN VOORHIS FAMILY BLOG

our taxi comes in a few minutes and we’re heading off for another multi-day hike. 6 days, 5 nights – we’re doing the “Grand Traverse” which is the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks combined. 46+ miles in 5 days of official hiking. We’re going through “Ultimate Hikes” so you can check out their web site if you want.

I’m sure we’ll have some amazing pictures and stories to tell. If you think of it – pray for good weather – at least for not freezing cold when we’re up in the mountains.

Take care – we’ll post when we get back. J

Quotable moment from Anna as she was eating a chocolate chip muffin and was told that she just ate a burger made out of beef and lamb. She is not one to eat lamb, or venison, or anything which began it’s life as something she deems cute. The first time she had lamb we snuck it into spaghetti sauce, this time it was the burger version. No complaints as it was being consumed, so we count it as a good effort at eating new food. Ethan ate lamb chops on our last hike like a cave man. I guess 13 miles of hiking in one day will work up a good appetite, and when pizza or chicken nuggets aren’t readily available, lamb chops will do.

We’re praying for good (ie., not freezing rain or exceptionally windy) weather next week as we hike. We leave on Wednesday (Tuesday in America) for another long hike. 75 km or 46 miles (& I promise this is the last time I ask Sam how long it is) and pretty much 5 days of hiking. It’s a 6 day trek, but we have one day of “rest” in the middle. That day we have options of other hikes or activities. Sam wants to climb a mountain alone, I’m thinking a nice, quiet boat paddle and some journaling – but we’ll see. If you want to check out what we’re doing – look up www.ultimatehikes.com and check out the “Grand Traverse”. It’s a combo of the Routeburn and Greenstone Tracks.

In the meantime, we’ve got school and tennis for the next few days – as well as prepping our backpacks once again for all the necessities (otherwise known as “mom obsessing for hours about making sure we have everything”).

Thanks for tuning in – we’ll obviously be out of touch for the 6 days we’re gone. Our last day of hiking is actually Sam’s 42nd birthday – so the “celebration” dinner at the end with our hiking group will have an additional celebration. Sam & I also celebrate our 15th anniversary in a few weeks (March 5) so we’re happy to celebrate that accomplishment.

Thanks for tuning in!!

We haven’t posted much recently aside from pictures. I’m sitting here on a Sunday morning looking out to a somewhat soggy, but still beautiful Queenstown. We’ll be heading off to church in a few, but thought I’d post a note. Pretty calm week for us. Back into the swing of home school things. The kids worked hard this week and I continued to have a great appreciation for what their teachers do back home. I’m doing all right with teaching, but there are times I wish I was more organized with the whole process. We’ve found a fun assignment – writing mad libs.
Sam & I had 2 social league tennis matches this week, and did well with that. Enjoying our tennis here.
And then there was the bungy. Anna had to mentally psyche herself up for it in advance, but once we got out on the bridge, she was fearless. On our way to the bungy, we passed our one of our friends from church, so he and 5 of his kids came out to cheer us on. Nice to have a fan club. We’ve got great video of the jumps – but I’m still trying to get the computer to upload them to youtube or to my facebook page. The jump itself was over too quickly – it was sort of like when you see a car wreck portrayed in a movie. Bridge, water, sky – all in quick succesion – and lots of spinning. Pretty much from the time I jumped to the time I was in the boat was only about a minute and a half. Anna was amazing to watch – she got out on the ledge, smiled and waved – and jumped off like a champ. What a trooper. Like mother, like daughter with her love for the adrenaline rush. We’re now looking at the Nevis high wire bungy here in Q-town – but the one we did (Kawarau) was only 43 meters, the Nevis is over 130 – yikes!
O well – off to church in a few and I need to make myself somewhat presentable. We’ll try to post more in the next few days. On Wednesday we’re off for another multi-day hike (Wed – Tuesday) we do the “Grand Traverse” – both the Routeburn and the Greenstone Tracks combined. Should be fun. We just hope it doesn’t rain the whole time!
Talk soon! J