Australia was great but too dry.  Now in the green green land of South Island, New Zealand.  Pastures full of sheep and beef.  Snow covered mountains to the west, glacial lakes all about.  Gives one a burst of energy toward the end of a long pilgrimage.  

Yesterday we made the long and harrowing drive over and through the mountains to the dock on the fiord.  The boat took us to the sea past mile high rocks sticking up out of the water.  Wow and more wow!  Saw penguins too, Fiordland Crested Penguins to be precise.  

Wearing all of our clothes here.  Some change from when we started our touring in the tropics.  Still, it is spring here with trees leafing out and daffodils in the garden out front.  Days are becoming long.  Will be a rude surprise when we come home to find autumn and fleeting daylight.  Oh, but how can we complain.  All continues to go well despite the occasional travel crisis.  Our next magic trick will be in three days when we must change accommodations, return and take out a rental car, and take two flights to reach Auckland on the North Island where we undertake the last leg of our magical mystery tour.

We are well and starting to think of home.