I'm Leaving :(

My last few weeks in New Zealand have been wonderful! My friend Alasdair and I drove up the west coast of the south island, stopping to do day hikes, see waterfalls and visit glaciers. We then traversed Arthur's Pass, a windy, steep road through the mountains; I was glad I was the passenger. My friend Nigel's flat was the stopoff point for the weekend and we all had a great time going out in Christchurch, visiting the Antarctic museum and going to Nigel's family farm. My next destination was Northland; the very top of the North island. I flew up to the small town of Kaitaia where the locals gave me a ride from the airport and recommended a tour. The next day I met a small tour group and we went up ninety mile beach to the very tip of the island where the Tasman Sea meets the Pacific. It was a great tour and even included sand toboganing which is like sledding but harder work and it is much nicer being hit in the face with snow. The following day an Australian couple from my tour gave me a lift down to the town of Paihia; the central location in the Bay of Islands. I took a ferry across the bay to the town of Russell, a quaint historic town that was once the capital of New Zealand. I hiked around the peninsula and spend the day in a private cove I discovered during low tide. The best part of the Bay of Islands was the overnight backpacker boat trip where over a dozen of us went out on a boat for 24 hours and were entertained by the crew with activities such as kayaking, astronomy lessons, fishing, target shooting, beach walks, and snorkeling for mussels which the beautiful fish would eat straight from our hands. It was hard to leave the fun and sun of Paihia for the rain clouds of Auckland last weekend but it has been really nice to catch up with my friends here and I think it will make my transition home a bit easier. I am leaving this evening at 730 to travel across the ocean and arrive in Boston at 1030 tonight; just an easy three hour trip (the time zones and date lines are so fascinating). It is really sad to leave but I am looking forward to being home for the holidays: will somebody please order some snow :)