There And Back Again

Hello There From Middle Earth,
Today was a day for firsts, for us and for the tour operators, we went to a spot where the fellowship paddled down the river Anduin. Its at a place called Gravity Canyon. Its the spot where were everyone either Bungi jumps or does the flying fox. Neither of which I or the Twins participated in, It was too damn high, my spirit was willing but my legs wouldn’t walk up the side of the canyon. anyway, while a couple of people from our fellowship went up the mt, to try the flying fox, 3 cars pulled with a group of about 15 american men. While they were chatting with a few of us about the canyon. Vic our tour operator, whom we call Tom Bomabadil and his beautiful Raewyn {Goldberry} noticed a familiar face in the crowd, Andrew Adamson the Director of The shrek movies and of Narnia. What an incredible coincidence, they were scouting film locations for the next movie , Prince Caspian. I didn’t hesitate to push the Twins in his direction for a picture. he was very cordial, he was also with a man who was in the visual dept for the two towers but he was too shy for a pic,
Everyone was delighted-I was once again reminded of my favorite quote ” Not Idley do the Leaves of Lorein Fall. Had I got up the nerve to go flying down the mountain, we would have missed the Director.
We also were priveledge to meet the Witch king. what a nice man. him and his wife invited us into their home, she made us cookies, how can you beat that.
. You can see Skull Island from his living room.
So much is happening and I’m litterally snapping pics constantly, I’m trying to upload just a few, until we get home
for now Namarie Max

Some hobbiton pics, Max

Hello There,

       We continued our journey today. It was fantastic, we were in Emyn Muil. Where Sam and Frodo sat and eat some lembus bread. We took many spectaular photos, we hope you get to see them. The best part of it was getting to the exact location, it was very hard because it was freezing. There was lots of snow. Everyone had to wait for us because we were taking pictures with our cloaks. We look awesome with the wind blowing and the amazing view. The snow was about a foot high. We don’t know how Sam and Frodo stayed alive. Then later we went to Gollum’s fishing pool, were he was trying to get a fish but couldn’t and we also got to take amazing photos that we hope you can see them. The are fantastic!We look amazing with the wind blowing our beautiful hair, execpt my hair, my hair is too short. Even though it was freezing cold we still had one of the best times of our lives. The journey awaits us till tomorrow morning. Namarie Timmy

ps Gandalf’s room is amazing!

Hello There,

Today we made it to Hobbiton. At last. It was everything I had hoped for and more. Its so incredibly beautiful and peaceful. It is situated on a 1200 acre sheep farm and since it’s spring, there is an abundance of baby sheep.  unfortunately and sheep crap, I stopped in a huge pile, I was too busy snapping pictures, both my cameras batteries died, can you believe my luck. good thing I had a back up disposeable.  The day started rainy and dreary, we didn’t care because finally we were moving again and knew what out destination was going to be,,it was a 2 hr coach bus trip from auckland to the ranch. Through beautiful rolling emerald green hills, halfway there the sun came out and I knew it was going to be a perfect day. The Twins slept the whole way there,, I couldn’t take my eyes off the view. Everyone in our fellowship is very friendly and nice.  Its very comforting to be in the company of people who love the Rings as much as we do.  While we were entering the shire, Vic and Raewyn actually played the music, I thought it was perfect. The whole time we spent in the shire the sun was beaming down on us, it was very windy, but we didn’t mind. I can’t believe I was actually standing at the party tree or in the home of Bilbo/Frodo. I took a picture of me sitting in the spot where Gandalf and Bilbo where smoking their pipes, incredible.  It really was an incredible experience.  I’m on a computer in the hotel lobby so I can’t download pictures, but when I do they are spectacular, at least I think so, Timmy and I wore our cloaks for a couple of pics, we look like 2 Dunedin Rangers. Tomorrow Mt Doom, Mordor and Emyn Muil.Our Tour Guides,  Vic and Raewyn are very nice and informative. The Twins noticed that Vic was wearing the ONE RING , so know we call him Tom Bombadil, because the ring has no effect on him, and Raewyn is the beautiful Goldberry, His wife.  He laughed when I told him that at dinner.
ps,, The Twins went zorbing, They were the only ones to do it, and The whole Fellowship cheered and clapped for them. I was very proud!!!! I’m almost out of time so  Namarie for now.  Max

Hello My Friends,

Today we meet our fellowship, and we are so excited, we are meeting for dinner around 6 pm in the foyer of our hotel. Tomorrow Hobbiton and the rest, I can’t wait. We had some hrs to kill today so the boys played Tennis again and I wrote out some postcards, so the first batch are on the way. I wanted to take a walk to the lake, there is a huge lake called Lake Pupuke. I knew it was somewhere near our hotel, but we couldn’t see it from our window,, so I got a map from the concierge desk and we found it,, absolutely beautiful and huge. They have a beautiful walk that goes around the lake , I don’t know how big the lake is, but on the map it looks pretty big,, We walked down to the shore and there were the most beautiful birds. They looked like black swans. I don’t know if swans could be black, but these birds had all black plummage with very red beaks, I’ve never seen the like before. You will have to trust me because I FORGOT MY CAMERA!!!!! Can you believe it. I broke the first and most important LAW of traveling. I wanted to jump in front of a bus, when I realized it. And the boys didn’t want to walk back to get it. I ‘m going to sleep with the camera from now on!!!!! plus my battery charger doesn’t want to work out here,, i’ll probably have to buy a new one,, tomorrow Hobbiton, and i’ll post more pics,,,
Namarie Max

Hello There,,

We did it! We made it in one piece. The ride over was terrible, long and uncomfortable, but we made it through unscathed. The entire trip took 18hrs,,, 4 hrs to San Francisco, 1 hr layover and then 13 hrs across the at pacific, Timmy had no trouble either eating or sleeping, nothing fazes that kid,, Flying to SF, wasn’t too bad, they offerd prairie home companion, which I enjoyed, very funny, and then a synopsis of Battlestar Galactica, how could you beat that. The trip across the pacific is another story,, we had seats 2nd to last, by the lavatories, and we were served dead last, I wasn’t happy about that. but you had free movies,, The boys watched 2 of the 3 lord of the rings movies. I watched the lake house, of course they pulled the plug on it with 5 minutes to go,, I was pissed!!! But i’m not really complaining,, seriously. I’m just being honest and sharing with my friends.
The Hotel is beautiful, its circular, not a bad view anywhere, we have 3 picture windows at different angles so we can see north east and south. and can see the bay, with a great view of the extinct volcano, i can’t remember the name of it nor can i pronounce it. quick story, we are going thru customs, and an old lady asked me what the reason for the trip was, I replied we are going on the lord of the rings tour, she asked me if that was a play or something???????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!! she never heard of it,, I damn near passed out, i gave her such an incredulous look i think she got scared, she almost called security. I thought everyone here, would know about the movie,,, Anyway, Vic from the tour picked us up, very nice man. Tom Bombadil. I can’t wait to tell him thats what we are calling him. The Twins noticed he was wearing THE ONE RING , I didn’t notice it. Its nice to see that he has a love for the films as well. Auckland appears to be surrounded by water, I could be wrong, but every turn we made- we saw water, very beautiful. Money is an issue,, we laugh every time I have to pay for something, because they don’t have a dollar or 2 dollar bill, they use coins,, and I can’t tell the difference, so i pay everything with 10’s and 20’s,, oh well,, thats all for now, we are here for 2 more days, they are expecting rain thru the week , I hope it doesn’t rain when we actually start the tour on monday. Tuesday is hobbiton and I really want it to be sunny. Here is a link to some beach pics we took today,, Namarie Max

Hello There,

          Today I officially start Furlo {vacation}, Tomorrow, we leave for New Zealand, I don’t even want to go into how many hours spent in an airport or actually on the plane, too long. But everything is packed, hopefully I haven’t forgotten anything important.  Like our passports, that would be disastrous.  Make sure you come back often in the next 2 wks I will be trying to post every night and post with pictures ! Namarie  

Max