Quick update

Hi all from a "clean hotel." I can't remember the name of the city or hotel we're in, so tired! We are still on a just - made - up itinerary so I haven't gotten on the blog for a few days. I will just give you a quick hint of what has happened and will write about it in the next day or two.

Howie and Heidi both bungee jumped off the original bungee bridge. We did not do it together - Howie's thoughts on the way down were, "What am I doing?!?!?" Mine were, "I can't wait to do this again!" Only 2 girls did it from our tandem group - and 5 guys. Bunch of whimps - they can ride a hundred miles in a day up and down hills with grades of up to 16% into a headwind but say no to jumping 150 feet off a bridge with nothing but a stretchy rope attached to a bath towell wrapped around one's feet? Good grief!

After bungee jumping we went on some seriously fast boats and essentially went up some water falls and other crazy stuff. Howie went on another jet boat later that night that basically made the first ride look like Senior's Day at the park. I think they would have a blast at Lake Powell up some of those canyons!

We climbed up to a glacier (pronounced glass-ier here) today. Tomorrow we ride 55 miles. Monday we fly to the north island.

One couple from our tour group is unable to join us as their bike and bags are still in heaps in Christchurch hotel and / or bike shop. Another couple has their bike box and some luggage stuck at the hotel. They guestimate that it will be available to be retrieved in the next month or three. The hotel appears to be fine but no one is allowed in until building inspectors can take a look at it. Apparently they have other things to do first. 80% of city still has no water or electricity. This all flitted through my mind as we stood at the bottom of the glacier this afternoon, just having been informed that we are standing on two different kinds of techtonic plates and if the guide says to run, run! Don't stop to take pics - just run. Some rocks fell down a slope while we were taking a group pic and all of us jumped a bit.

We have enjoyed mostly Everett-ish weather - rain and 45 - 50 degrees. Today was actually sunny. Wonderful!

We miss the kids but are managing to survive... :)

Pictures of bungee jump will be added as will beautiful pics of countryside soon. It is so incredibly beautiful here! I enjoy every view I get (when I'm not staring at my feet trying to go around in circles over miles and miles of black top, that is).