![Kia Ora! We landed in Christchurch. not knowing what day it was, and took a walk in the Botanic Gardens](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651924.lSAIaOzt.jpg) Kia Ora! We landed in Christchurch. not knowing what day it was, and took a walk in the Botanic Gardens |
![The beebalm was in full bloom....](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651927.VZTR1JI1.jpg) The beebalm was in full bloom.... |
![...and so were the hydrangeas](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651931.NQ9olOxc.jpg) ...and so were the hydrangeas |
![And a jet lagged Susan with huge dahlias (must be the sheep poop)](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651942.1jxUQ248.jpg) And a jet lagged Susan with huge dahlias (must be the sheep poop) |
![The gardens has many tree species as well as flowers....](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651945.8HX25IEL.jpg) The gardens has many tree species as well as flowers.... |
![A rose garden in full bloom, in February!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651991.pyVIokv3.jpg) A rose garden in full bloom, in February! |
![Incredible variety of plants...](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651992.Cigc7TaT.jpg) Incredible variety of plants... |
![A kiwi bee](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651994.Dwb4cYEI.jpg) A kiwi bee |
![Ah, I can't believe we made it to NEW ZEALAND!!!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651993.lajNs5hP.jpg) Ah, I can't believe we made it to NEW ZEALAND!!! |
![First day - warm up ride around the Banks peninsula](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651995.WFnBwRv1.jpg) First day - warm up ride around the Banks peninsula |
![View from a hill overlooking Lyttleton Harbor- where the first white settlers came](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93651996.F9JBJua3.jpg) View from a hill overlooking Lyttleton Harbor- where the first white settlers came |
![End of the warmup ride](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652043.iRkvDYEo.jpg) End of the warmup ride |
![Wiggling our toes in the blue South Pacific!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652047.64MiWFOm.jpg) Wiggling our toes in the blue South Pacific! |
![Susan in her Frenz of the Enz t-shirt - and we're gonna miss the darn concert!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652057.7E5DxHfY.jpg) Susan in her Frenz of the Enz t-shirt - and we're gonna miss the darn concert! |
![Leaving Christchurch, and on through the Canterbury Plains - wine and sheep country](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652063.X9syqLEk.jpg) Leaving Christchurch, and on through the Canterbury Plains - wine and sheep country |
![Susan, suffering severe jet lag, fails to unclip quickly enough in front of the van..notice the driver!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652066.oNHIaGtm.jpg) Susan, suffering severe jet lag, fails to unclip quickly enough in front of the van..notice the driver! |
![And now for something completely different....](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652069.VTKp1xhB.jpg) And now for something completely different.... |
![uh, just a little off the top, mate,](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652079.DBoFSITf.jpg) "uh, just a little off the top, mate," |
![hey, mate, I said....oh ... never mind.](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652119.cIFT4Kij.jpg) "hey, mate, I said....oh ... never mind." |
![Susan has a go ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652130.FThMrT9r.jpg) Susan has a go ... |
![...not sure what the sheep thinks of this....](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652135.zVToNRa0.jpg) ...not sure what the sheep thinks of this.... |
![...oh be gentle ... no nicks please!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652142.9TItLsIl.jpg) ..."oh be gentle ... no nicks please!" |
![Mitch thinking hmmm, maybe I'll do this when I'm retired...](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652148.TaV70Tdq.jpg) Mitch thinking "hmmm, maybe I'll do this when I'm retired..." |
![Historic lunch stop, and our first taste of Monteith's Ale - Yum!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652154.NziFxWCO.jpg) Historic lunch stop, and our first taste of Monteith's Ale - Yum! |
![Above Hanmer Springs, what a view!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652159.m1ZeRjWM.jpg) Above Hanmer Springs, what a view! |
![That's where we're headed tomorrow- westward ho!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652165.yBVxwZ6B.jpg) That's where we're headed tomorrow- westward ho! |
![Hanmer Springs, where we had a nice relaxing soak](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652281.6uCr7uMz.jpg) Hanmer Springs, where we had a nice relaxing soak |
![Getting ready for the next day's ride over Lewis Pass](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652283.j4J3xXTN.jpg) Getting ready for the next day's ride over Lewis Pass |
![Biking in the beautiful northern Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri O Te Moana)](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652285.3oAW5wOM.jpg) Biking in the beautiful northern Southern Alps (Ka Tiritiri O Te Moana) |
![Reaching the flats after zipping down the mountain](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652287.MWDEI0KG.jpg) Reaching the flats after zipping down the mountain |
![Our guide, Brandon](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652289.xUjySRWB.jpg) Our guide, Brandon |
![Ah, this is sweet!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652308.NhcMLH9P.jpg) Ah, this is sweet! |
![A swing bridge - a common way to walk across NZ's rivers](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652310.RRcTOeBl.jpg) A swing bridge - a common way to walk across NZ's rivers |
![Phew- made it across! It's more bouncy than swingy!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652311.CGKtwfEC.jpg) Phew- made it across! It's more bouncy than swingy! |
![Read the sign ... one Kiwi's view of gas prices ...](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652312.rRxoSzo1.jpg) Read the sign ... one Kiwi's view of gas prices ... |
![End of a hard day's ride..at the Hilton!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652314.J2cR6KNo.jpg) End of a hard day's ride..at the Hilton! |
![Notice it says formerly the Hilton - the big chain made them change their name, way out here in Blackball NZ](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652315.sS8XjVG4.jpg) Notice it says "formerly the Hilton" - the big chain made them change their name, way out here in Blackball NZ |
![We loved the graphics on this sign - keep those wheels perpendicular to the rr tracks or watch out!](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652316.ZjLxMIyO.jpg) We loved the graphics on this sign - keep those wheels perpendicular to the rr tracks or watch out! |
![Shopping for a greenstone necklace](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652317.5LdD4b65.jpg) Shopping for a greenstone necklace |
![The tiny greenstone workshop and showroom](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652381.JNAKXa99.jpg) The tiny greenstone workshop and showroom |
![Mitch goes wandering with the camera and finds....monarch caterpillars on a piece of melon](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652382.v97JM6Jz.jpg) Mitch goes wandering with the camera and finds....monarch caterpillars on a piece of melon |
![Further wandering reveals a monarch pupae](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652383.nSmLAyjr.jpg) Further wandering reveals a monarch pupae |
![Monarch caterpiller hanging out](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652384.x9hLY0Xi.jpg) Monarch caterpiller hanging out |
![The greenstone shopkeeper](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652385.785r69fD.jpg) The greenstone shopkeeper |
![Ah, the sheep poop at work again...beautiful flowers](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652387.hEqn8v7G.jpg) Ah, the sheep poop at work again...beautiful flowers |
![A blue fly](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652389.dv2P4t0B.jpg) A blue fly |
![Mitch discovering the micro setting on his camera...another Kiwi bee](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652390.pS0XR6Hw.jpg) Mitch discovering the micro setting on his camera...another Kiwi bee |
![Bright yellow aphids](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652392.WJvWfvmA.jpg) Bright yellow aphids |
![Lilies](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652431.KFyV52mJ.jpg) Lilies |
![Wonderful dahlias](https://a4.pbase.com/g1/87/241187/3/93652435.u0OQGFr0.jpg) Wonderful dahlias |