- AUCKLAND - Standing on top of the Auckland Bridge in the middle of a huge rainstorm.

Week 16
February 11, 2002 - New Zealand
"One part adventure; two parts fun…"

Dear Thor:

It's been an adventurous week in New Zealand - maybe a little too adventurous. I'm sore and stiff; and parts of my body look like I just survived plane crash. But somehow after each body-bruising adventure, I found myself smiling and wanting more.

Okay, are the feet still attached?
Yep.
How about the legs?
Bruised and battered, but functioning.
How many arms do I still have?
Two - also black and blue, but operational.
How's the chest, the belly, and all the (ahem!) "important areas?"
Yep, yes, and (thankfully) yep. (Whew!)
And the head?
Still attached, but ouch! What a headache!
Well take some aspirin, and let's go!

Before I arrived in New Zealand, I heard wild stories that it was the "Adventure Capitol of the World." After one week, I can see why. In the past five days, I've climbed The Auckland Bridge in a wind-whipped rainstorm, sea kayaked through choppy, tide-driven waters, surfed the cresting waves at Cape Reinga, flung my body down sand dunes on a bogey board (twice!), hitchhiked along wooded highways, tramped miles through fern-filled forests, and rappelled hundreds of feet into a cave filled with thunderous waterfalls.

All in all, I've had more hair-raising "first-time experiences" this week than probably any other week in my very short life. (Other than that one week when I learned how to walk and started discovering previously unexplored places like staircases, the electrical outlets, and trash cans.)

This week's adrenaline rush has been a pleasant distraction. I now hear the ticking hands of the clock again, so I know that my overseas search for you is nearly over. And whenever I start thinking about that, I get all emotional. On one hand I'm very sad that this remarkable life-experience is coming to and end, but then again I'm happy to be returning home. Thankfully, I've had these daily doses of pulse pounding, body-bruising experiences to remind me to stay present and live now.

I'm currently headed to Lake Taupo, in the central part of the North Island of New Zealand. It's been rather rainy of late, but if it clears up, I'll attempt to climb Mount Reapehu - New Zealand's largest active volcano. It last erupted almost six years ago, so hopefully it's gotten all of that sulfuric-burping out its system. But if not, then I'll have some interesting photos for you next week.

I hope you are finding adventures big and small in your life. Please be well, be present. And Namaste!

Scotty