Got up early  Wednesday, (4:45 AM) and am now waiting to board the plane. I am so looking forward to 25 hours on airplanes!

Thursday...

OK, so now I am home! Missed Michigan winter again! So sad about that, right?

 Well, things have turned around a bit since I last looked at the discrepancy between the daylight hours of Michigan and New Zealand! That's right, it is now flipped around with Michigan getting growing days & New Zealand's days are shrinking. Yesterday, we "fell back" an hour as winter is coming and of course it was a couple weeks ago that daylight savings started in Michigan. I do like that custom - allows for more riding time in the afternoon, since I am never riding at 6:00 AM. And Wednesday, the plane!


Ann Arbor,Michigan

Auckland,  New Zealand 

It rained in Katikati last two days and this horrible monstrosity  (Web picture, didn't have my camera handy) crawled out from under the tarp this morning. Normally I wouldn't hesitate stepping on something that ugly and frightening-looking, but I just let it meander on its way since it wasn't bothering me & was less annoying than that bee that wouldn't go away. Good thing, too, since the giant Weta is protected in New Zealand! Well, I was less patient with the bee, alas not protected.