The bad news is time flies...
...the good news is you are the pilot.
This past weekend I got to add another first to my list of things I have done while in New Zealand: lead my own dog sled team! My friends Jen and Elise from the flat below me asked if I would like to accompany them on a trip to Snow Farm. Hira had to stay in Dunedin for the weekend because of a group project, but I, on the other hand, had no reason to stick around the flat more than necessary, so I took them up on the offer! Jen told me that she would be doing some cross country skiing, while Elise would be doing a dog sled tour. She had told me she booked a tour to ride in the basket at 10:30am on this past Saturday. So I went online to book my tour as well. I mentioned in the comments to the company that I would love to get the ride in the basket tour around 10:30am since my friends would all be up there by that time as well. They were quick to respond and offered me something a little unexpected. They would not be able to fit me in at the same time for riding in the basket. However, there was an availability in the drive your own team tour, which was originally more expensive, but they offered it to me at the same price of the basket tour. I was a little nervous, considering I had never done anything like that before. But I figured it was a pretty good deal, so I responded something like "sign me up!" As much of a planner as I am (as most of you know), the spontaneity of this trip kind of added to the excitement. It was only a day trip anyways, shouldn't be hard to throw a plan together anyways. Our plan was to leave real early Saturday morning (since it was a 3 and a half hour drive), do our skiing/dog sledding in the morning and then spend the afternoon in the cute little mountain town of Arrowtown. Easy enough.
Here lately, Hira, Jen, Elise and myself have been having Friday baking and movie nights. We kept with the tradition and found a very stereotypical fall recipe to bake. Us Americans over here in New Zealand are missing out on fall treats and pumpkin everything at home. Like they don't even have the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks here guys! Talk about white girl problems. We decided on a "no-fuss apple tart". That whole no-fuss aspect was really appealing. So we figured out the ingredients and, since the girls picked up the rental car earlier that day, the four of us drove to the grocery store. Jen and Elise's other flatmate Emily also tagged along to get some goodies with us. We came back, mixed up all the ingredients and threw it in the oven. Hira and Jen cleaned up the kitchen a bit while Elise and I handled eating the remaining dough in the mixer. It was quite a hard task ;) Then we all squeezed on to one couch and watched The Bachelor Australia. Now, before you judge me, the accents make the show so much better. Yes, it's still a ridiculous show, I will agree to that. But still can't help but like it!
The next morning rolled around REAL early for me. We planned to be in the car and ready to leave by 6am. Which actually happened, too. I was downstairs in Jen and Elise's flat by 5:50am to see the girls frantically packing food for the trip. We loaded the car at 6am and began our 3 and a half hour drive to Snow Farm!
Since Jen was driving and Elise was navigating, I figured I would stay awake with them. Plus I didn't want to miss an inch of New Zealand scenery. Luckily we didn't run into any traffic, not like we would at such an early hour. But we made a few stops for photos on the way. You couldn't imagine how beautiful the water was. It was this lovely teal color. I've never seen water that color before. Stunning.
Here lately, Hira, Jen, Elise and myself have been having Friday baking and movie nights. We kept with the tradition and found a very stereotypical fall recipe to bake. Us Americans over here in New Zealand are missing out on fall treats and pumpkin everything at home. Like they don't even have the pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks here guys! Talk about white girl problems. We decided on a "no-fuss apple tart". That whole no-fuss aspect was really appealing. So we figured out the ingredients and, since the girls picked up the rental car earlier that day, the four of us drove to the grocery store. Jen and Elise's other flatmate Emily also tagged along to get some goodies with us. We came back, mixed up all the ingredients and threw it in the oven. Hira and Jen cleaned up the kitchen a bit while Elise and I handled eating the remaining dough in the mixer. It was quite a hard task ;) Then we all squeezed on to one couch and watched The Bachelor Australia. Now, before you judge me, the accents make the show so much better. Yes, it's still a ridiculous show, I will agree to that. But still can't help but like it!
The next morning rolled around REAL early for me. We planned to be in the car and ready to leave by 6am. Which actually happened, too. I was downstairs in Jen and Elise's flat by 5:50am to see the girls frantically packing food for the trip. We loaded the car at 6am and began our 3 and a half hour drive to Snow Farm!
Since Jen was driving and Elise was navigating, I figured I would stay awake with them. Plus I didn't want to miss an inch of New Zealand scenery. Luckily we didn't run into any traffic, not like we would at such an early hour. But we made a few stops for photos on the way. You couldn't imagine how beautiful the water was. It was this lovely teal color. I've never seen water that color before. Stunning.
We ended up driving up such a winding road towards the end of our journey. Jen muttered a couple phrases to make herself feel confident as we entered the clouds that hung over the peaks. It was like all of the sudden there was snow. We went from spring right back to the middle of winter in no time at all. Being a Colorado girl, it was a wonderfully familiar sight to see! Except you sure couldn't see much but white. With the fog and the new snowfall from overnight, white surrounded us. Jen checked in for some cross country skiing. Elise and I had some time to kill before our tour, so we walked around the Snow Farm Lodge to see what else the place had to offer. It was such a cute little place. There was a cafe downstairs and a bar and eating area upstairs, along with a enclosed walkway that looked over the trails.
It was finally about time for Elise and I to check in for our dog sled adventure. One of the owners greeted us and asked for our names. She seemed excited and brought out a clipboard with a waiver to sign. Before we sign, she goes, "I'm going to give your friend a deal. How would you feel about driving your own sled?" Elise seemed a little confused, and I looked at her to make sure I heard that right. "I will give it to you for the same price as the basket tour." Elise kind of looked nervous about it, but shrugged her shoulders and said sure! It honestly made me feel a little better. I was kind of nervous to be driving my own sled by myself anyways. Now I had company! Again we had some time to kill while they got the dogs ready, so we sat down by the cafe in shock of what we were both about to do...drive a dog sled in New Zealand. Like what?! My adventures here just blow me away every time.
Once the dogs and the guides were ready, we were taken outside to the fence where over 20 dogs barked at our presence. Elise and I were taken to two little sleds with four ropes to attach to the dogs. The lady gave us a briefing of how to drive the sled. It was a lot of information to be thrown at me, but I got the basic concept: Keep the gang line tight. This was the line that connected all the dogs to the sled. Simple enough. But you really don't truly understand until you begin going down the first hill. You slide towards the dogs and fish tail a little. That is when you push your heels down on the drag pad that is in between the runners of the sled where you stand. This creates friction and will slow the sled down. So when you are going down a hill, it keeps the gang line tight. It was kind of an awkward stance placing my heels on that pad, but I got used to it fairly quickly. The dogs knew to follow our guide in front of us in the snowmobile so I didn't need to direct them in that sense. But come a big uphill, I did need to push in the back to help them get up it. It was kind of challenging because most of the time my foot would just sink into the snow. But before I knew it, the ride was over. Luckily our tour guide held on to Elise's phone and was snapping photos of us along the way! I'm honestly really glad the basket tour was unavailable and I got to drive my own sled! Once we arrived back, we got to hang out with the dogs and give them some love. We were also in need of some dog lovin' too. I haven't seen my puppy, Josie, in forever! My team of dogs included 4 Alaskan Huskies - Libby and her sister Eva were the leads, and Leap and Mackenzie were in the back. Funny how my step mom's name is Libby and my middle name is Mackenzie (granted it's spelled different). What a coincidence!
Once the dogs and the guides were ready, we were taken outside to the fence where over 20 dogs barked at our presence. Elise and I were taken to two little sleds with four ropes to attach to the dogs. The lady gave us a briefing of how to drive the sled. It was a lot of information to be thrown at me, but I got the basic concept: Keep the gang line tight. This was the line that connected all the dogs to the sled. Simple enough. But you really don't truly understand until you begin going down the first hill. You slide towards the dogs and fish tail a little. That is when you push your heels down on the drag pad that is in between the runners of the sled where you stand. This creates friction and will slow the sled down. So when you are going down a hill, it keeps the gang line tight. It was kind of an awkward stance placing my heels on that pad, but I got used to it fairly quickly. The dogs knew to follow our guide in front of us in the snowmobile so I didn't need to direct them in that sense. But come a big uphill, I did need to push in the back to help them get up it. It was kind of challenging because most of the time my foot would just sink into the snow. But before I knew it, the ride was over. Luckily our tour guide held on to Elise's phone and was snapping photos of us along the way! I'm honestly really glad the basket tour was unavailable and I got to drive my own sled! Once we arrived back, we got to hang out with the dogs and give them some love. We were also in need of some dog lovin' too. I haven't seen my puppy, Josie, in forever! My team of dogs included 4 Alaskan Huskies - Libby and her sister Eva were the leads, and Leap and Mackenzie were in the back. Funny how my step mom's name is Libby and my middle name is Mackenzie (granted it's spelled different). What a coincidence!
We didn't have to wait long for Jen to finish up skiing after our dog sledding. We went in by the cafe and the $5 chips were sure tempting. But at that point we were ready to change some clothes, eat some lunch, and head to Arrowtown. And after the workout of dog sledding, I was pretty toasty and ready to take off some layers. But of course, it had started to clear up a little bit by this point, and you could kind of see hills in the distance, versus just the white nothingness like before. We changed, hopped in the car, and headed back down the mountain to Arrowtown.
We came across a really old hotel along the way. It was established in 1863. We didn't go inside or anything but it sure was a cute little place!
We came across a really old hotel along the way. It was established in 1863. We didn't go inside or anything but it sure was a cute little place!
Once we were in Arrowtown, we visited about every other store on the main stretch of town (which was about all there was anyways). Got a few gifts for some of you back home, which you can thank me later for ;) But it just had the cutest little mountain town feel, which I absolutely love. Like I would love to live in Breckenridge, Colorado. I just love the vibe I get from that town. But it doesn't make a whole lot of sense for me to live up there being that I don't even know how to ski. That and it may be a little out of my price range. But who knows!
We finally headed back towards Dunedin mid afternoon. Elise drove and Jen navigated this time. Again, I felt bad they didn't get the chance to nap, so I stayed up and enjoyed the views. We cut through a bunch of Central Otago wineries and many green rolling hills. Man I sure love New Zealand! And now that it is rolling into Spring, it will only get even better!
It's crazy to think that in 8 weeks time, I will be in the air flying back home. Hira and I booked what will be our final trip for October 29 through November 6 for the North Island. So it is all starting to sink in that I am on the downward end of this journey. And as excited as I am to see all of my favorite people at home (because why wouldn't I be?!), it is crazy to think of leaving this place, these people I've come to enjoy so much. It'll be a rough journey home, but New Zealand will forever have a special place in my heart :)
Anyways, thanks for keeping up with my adventures! Hira and I are headed to Wanaka and Queenstown for some crazy daring activities, so stay tuned! Lots of love to yall from the Land of the Long White Cloud! :) I will write soon!
We finally headed back towards Dunedin mid afternoon. Elise drove and Jen navigated this time. Again, I felt bad they didn't get the chance to nap, so I stayed up and enjoyed the views. We cut through a bunch of Central Otago wineries and many green rolling hills. Man I sure love New Zealand! And now that it is rolling into Spring, it will only get even better!
It's crazy to think that in 8 weeks time, I will be in the air flying back home. Hira and I booked what will be our final trip for October 29 through November 6 for the North Island. So it is all starting to sink in that I am on the downward end of this journey. And as excited as I am to see all of my favorite people at home (because why wouldn't I be?!), it is crazy to think of leaving this place, these people I've come to enjoy so much. It'll be a rough journey home, but New Zealand will forever have a special place in my heart :)
Anyways, thanks for keeping up with my adventures! Hira and I are headed to Wanaka and Queenstown for some crazy daring activities, so stay tuned! Lots of love to yall from the Land of the Long White Cloud! :) I will write soon!
Snow Farm | Arrowtown |