All ok New Zealand

I left a smarty-pants post earlier, just as the earthquake was happening. At the time we had seen no news or heard no reports from Christchurch to indicate how severe the damage was there. This is just another assurance that we are about 250 kilometers (not 150 like I mentioned earlier) away from Christchurch where the quake happened.

Howie and I were in the lobby of the hotel (he was trying to set up the Garmin so we could not get lost!) and suddenly Bill McCreedy hollered, "There's an earthquake going on! Not here but somewhere close." Someone jumped online and saw that sure enough there was one in Christchurch. We didn't watch the news or hear much more except that they had turned gas and water off in the hotel we would be going to but should be fine by the time we got there. Only after dinner when I sat down to watch the news with others did I realize y'all might be a bit concerned. So here is a brief update. There are several people wanting to get on this computer so we are each going as quickly as possible. I will come back later to update if possible.

We feel particularly blessed at this time for many reasons: Howie and I were in the airport in Christchurch yesterday. We purchased postcards to mail to family and friends, Mom and Terry and Joanne and Allan will both be receiving pictures of the cathedral that was destroyed in the earthquake. Interestingly enough, the hotel we were scheduled to be staying at two nights from now night is directly across the street from said cathedral. Needless to say, we will be adjusting our route - I don't think the people there would appreciate 27 teams of tandems coming to rubber-neck at their suffering. Bill says there should be no problems and trek is on as scheduled, but I don't see how. We'll see...

I am including no pics with this post - just wanted to get word out to family and friends. I know our parents will be particularly worried. Please keep us in your prayers, thus far we have been protected. But also add those there in Christchurch. I don't know what the news coverage is that you are seeing there but the media is showing unedited video of attempted rescues out of buildings that have pancaked, cars that were crushed by huge rocks, people gathering in parks trying to figure out where to go and all the while it is raining and night is upon them. It is rather graphic and unnerving. Our hearts go out to those people while at the same time we look forward to enjoying other events and places here on these beautiful islands.

Please feel free to email or post, just don't text. Costs a gajillion bucks for those and twice that to phone. Thanks!!!

We love you all,
Heidi and Howie