Before we begin filling you in on our time in Los Angeles so far we need to quickly mention the two weeks we had chilling in Napier with Matt’s Mum and Dad. Apart from the minor setback of Poppy (Glenys’ puppy) defecating our bed numerous times it was the perfect way to start our trip. The two weeks gave us the time to organise last minute travel plans and apply for visas. It also allowed us to say goodbye to everyone properly and we even had a pre Christmas Christmas dinner with Matt’s family.

While in Napier we also took advantage of the opportunity to visit Cape Kidnappers and see the gannet colony. Unfortunately the chicks were a little late coming out so all we saw was some romantic exchanging of sea weed and some preening. Best part of the trip was the tractor trailer ride along the shore from Clifton to the Cape. The cliffs formations are truly amazing and the bumpy ride over the rocks just added to the fun. We were stuck in the back of the trailer with a group of girls from Hastings High who giggled their heads off every time we hit a rock but were still able to appreciate the beautiful surroundings.

Repacking our bags to strategically accommodate 30kgs of kite surfing equipment has easily been the most stressful part of our journey so far and the closest Matt and I have come to parting ways! Thankfully we managed to get the gear all the way to Los Angeles for only $30 extra. We’ll keep you informed of how we get on on the next leg of the trip.

Big thanks to Glenys and Brian for having us. Also thanks to Craig, Kath, Emma, and Zac and Matt’s wider family and friends for making our last two weeks in NZ so memorable.