Bartons Go Global

Hi again

Well after a very interesting flight which involved us leaving Auckland on Monday morning we arrived at the Tropical isle on Sunday afternoon the day before! Dont ask us how it works we dont get it either. All AL knows is that the weekly budget was shot through with two nights accomadation to pay for the Sunday night!!

Well the island is very beautiful with white sand, palm trees, coconuts, clear water and tropical fish swimming along, we have not explored everything else but are now making use of two mopeds that we have hired fro 8 days. So we feel like young backpackers at last zipping along the islands roads (or should that be road as there really is only one or two) Anyway it helps collect the shopping if nothing else. Before we had to sit a driving test with the local police which was an eye opener to the laid back island life. We had to drive around for 10 mins without crashing and return for a photo. Very laid back.

So we have had a few days of rain I'm afraid to say so we are hoping for soem more brighter days very soon to get the camera out. Not forgetting the big day for Rowan, his 12th birthday on Sunday.

Love from The Bartons

Update to be posted very soon

J

Hey Guys,

Just as we stepped on the boat and got sat down, Dad almost immediatly started feeling sick, he'd taken the sea sickness tablets and the wristbands, (which i don't think work anyway), but they didn't help one little bit! We drove one kilometer out to sea, in a very fast catermaran, that jumped over the waves, rarther than rolling over them! It was another good ten minuets before the first whale was sighted, so we sped off in another direction to find it. It's quite funny really, your watching a whale on the surface, then that one dissapears under and then somebody spots another one 1/2 km away, so we speed off again to find it wasn't there, and so on!
We saw two whales in all and twice they flicked there tails up and twice we got a photo, we did get loads of other pics of the blow hole, don't get me wrong! As we started back to go in-shore, a massive pod of about 30-40 dolphins followed the boat for a while, doing flips and jumps all over the place, it was a fantastic sight

Love Rowan x

Greetings from Akaroa

Jonathan Rowan and Ellie have just had their first hypothermic experience -swimming in the pacific ocean with Hector Dolphins, the worlds rarest and smallest .
I of course could no sooner swim with an ocean beastie than I could eat raw tripe.
As an observer from the back of the boat it was amazing to watch a small pod of dolphins weave in and out of the eight swimmers. I just froze my hands off trying to get the memorable photo.
The swimmers meanwhile bobbed in the ocean swell for 45 mins making crazy noises to attract the dolphins.
J R and E emerged from the water with near frostbite, their body temperature probably dangerously low, but after a jug of warm water poured inside their wet suit and a cup of hot chocolate, they were able to speak.
Ellie enjoyed the experience the most - having achieved one of her dreams.
Back on dry land hot showers helped their hands and feet gain some feeling, back in the van with the heating cranked to max brought them back to near normal.

Annie

Ellie's update.
hi everybody we have just got back from the boat that took us out into the pacific ocean to swim with the worlds rarest and smallest dolphin - the Hector Dolphin. It was amazing, fantastic a moment complete ! There were loads of dolphins, trying to attract them was the hardest thing. Clanking stones under the water, blowing wnd singing ( that turned to screaming ) into the snorkle !! When we got back on the boat after 45 mins in the water I was frozen and couldn't speak. Now I am recovering in the van and am very honoured or maybe proud that I have swum with the hector dolphin.

Love from a frozen proud ocean dolphin swimmer
Ellie xxxooo

Well hello again one and all.

We have been travelling along most of Southland, meeting some wonderful people along the way. We called into a small church fellowship in Curio Bay 2 weeks ago and were invited to stay for lunch and even ended up parking overnight in the carpark! They have the most wonderful view from the church windows anywhere in the world! The next day we were invited to pop in to see Donna and Peter's Farm where we met allsorts of ponies (Ellie was in heaven) and a "PIT LIMB" called Sprite.

So after we rode the horses around the front lawn! we had to hot foot it back to Invercargil for a dentist appointment. Yes I had to have a bad tooth out and it was both agony before and after. At least I got an appointment and it was cheaper than the UK!

So we picked up the Catlins route and sheltered from some bad weather along the way. The temperature has been down and we have had some wet weather but all is well. It has the feelings of winter here at the momnet which is nice for a change.

After following the coast up to Dunedin we went to the Chocolate factory (Ellies choice) and walked up the steepest street. Then a trip out to the headland saw us Albatros spotting and have a photo to prove our search was not in vain.

Then we haeded back into the central inland area fro another trip upto Mt Cook. The weather was Ok on Monday and we got a distant glimps of the Mountain but for the next 2 days the clouds were down amd rain was the order of the day. Still it gave us chance to catch up with ED Hilary and the museum at Mt Cook and stoped me dragging the kids out on more walks. So we decided to head back to lower ground with more snow forecast. We had a couple of days in Gereldine, a pleasant little town with a hugh collection of vintage vehicles and an excellent tyre garage. Our only problem with Suzzie so far. A flat tyre and soon repaired with a new inner tube for next to nothing!!

We have spent a couple of days in Christchurch 1 day in and out of galleries and museums betwen the cold showers and even got ourselves invited for sunday roast at a Christchurch couples home. Thanks to the Coweys and their grandkids that entertained our two for the afternoon.

We are at Akaroa tonight and the kids are hoping to go swimming with the dolphins tomorrow, winter, one way tickets are very reasonable this week! So we will let you know how things get along ASAP.

Dont forget the pics that are up at

www.hislaptop.co.uk/bartons

With some recent pics of NZ.

Lots of love to one and all

Jonathan

Just hot of the press

Our 1st set of pics from NZ are up on the following link

www.hislaptop.co.uk/bartons

Gary has got them uploaded at a cracking pace, thanks Gaz!!!!

There will be more to come (sorry Gaz!!!!)