My last weeks in New Zealand have been perfect and bitter sweet. I started off working a food truck event with out my boys for the 1st time…ever! It turned out to be super fun even with their absence. Shar, Christine and my 2 Germans were with me! The only bad part was we were working Equidays. Yep that’s right my last ever food truck event was a horse show...I literally just cannot get away from my life back in Charlotte.

I spent a little bit of time in Taupo and then headed to Hamilton. The north island is about to be hit with a huge storm, so straight rain for a week…awesome! I finally made some friends in Hamilton and they were awesome, German of course. It turns out Matt (one of the Germans) was turning 21 that day so they threw a mini party at the campground. I am in the process of de-cluttering the van because I will have to pack up and leave soonish. Maggie loved her potatoes so we had about a half bag left. I have no idea how to even cook a potato so I gave a handful of potatoes to Matt as a birthday gift. I’m so generous! We mucked around Hamilton for a few days then I had to make my way to Puekekohe to see my final lighthouse. This meant I was back in Original Pokeno Ice Cream area, my second favorite place in NZ.

Well here I am all-alone…again. The only difference this time is the north island is a little short on hitchhikers so it’s been a bit more difficult to make friends! I figured out how to make it up to Whangarei, Northland where I was able to hike Mount Manaia. However to my disappointment it was more of a stair climbing exercise than it was a hike. I finally made it up to the top to an amazing view. But on the way down an alarm started sounding. Now before I dropped off Maggie I went through a long list of things that I need her for.

We were back in Cromwell…again. And it wasn’t half bad this time. We got the cheapest gas and the free wifi at BNZ. Of course who can forget about the best naan in NZ. I even made Maggie eat some and she’s lactose intolerant. I had a traumatic experience at our campsite. I walked into the bathroom then I couldn’t get out. I kept pushing the door and turning the lock every which way. It was super dark and I didn’t even have a phone to have Maggie come rescue me. Luckily there was plenty of room above the door where I could climb over. As I started my climbing the door slowly started to swing inward as I was attached to it. Needless to say I am not a smart human.

We ended up having adventures even on our way to adventures. We almost ran out of gas going from Hoki to Wanaka. It was quite a bit of a tense 45 min that we handled the only way we know how with grace and laughter. Our gaslight had been on for a bit and we were the only ones on the road so no help in either direction. Luckily with Maggie’s great driving skills and little use of the break we made it. We quite literally rolled into the gas station, which we hoped was opened. Last time we needed this gas station they were closed. Luckily they were opened this time. We made it to Arrowtown and got to spend the night at our favorite campsite, Lake Haze.

We ended up staying in an air bnb because it was going to be cheaper than buying fuel to get to work everyday…yep fuel is that expensive here. But it all turned out great. We showered everyday for 3 whole days and got to use a refrigerator.  And we can’t forget about the toaster, I love me a good toaster. We were staying with a lovely married couple Toni and Gram. Toni even made us scones, yum. But the best part was they had a puppy, Little Man. This puppy was adorable I love him!

Sorry it’s been a bit, a girl has been a stressing!

Well I spent a week and a half in Christchurch, and let me tell you Christchurch ain’t that big. It’s ok I did some couch surfing made some friends went to some parties. I walked dogs for care.com and volunteered at the ASPCA to see all the dogs. I woke up a house of people because I can’t cook and introduced people to al dente rice (also known as under cooked rice…Fun fact chicken can be brown outside and still be pink inside…I’m a master chef) I made a group of people all under the age of 27 watch A Big Year so they could also prepare for Maggie’s return (it’s a Cellucci family classic). I did not make friends by forcing this movie upon people, but I did make friends by making them watch the best movie ever, Elf. Oh and of course I did so much walking because I can’t figure out their bus system.