Saturday, March 6, 2010
Heading to the airport
Got everything packed and then took a walk around the property. It was good to get out with Mystic (black lab). He was pretty suspicious this morning seeing the big bags being packed. I think it is harder to leave pets than family and friends. Family and friends understand you are coming back, and there are various means of communicating with them while you are gone. With pets, when they see you leave and you don't come back for 5 weeks, have they given you up for lost?
The walk around the property was nice. It is supposed to hit 40 today, but there is still a lot of snow on the ground. The buds on some of the trees and bushes are already starting to swell. The irises have started popping up. Even heard a single cricket frog (his clock must have been set too early), lots of geese and some sandhill cranes.
I'll post a picture of Mystic later!
The walk around the property was nice. It is supposed to hit 40 today, but there is still a lot of snow on the ground. The buds on some of the trees and bushes are already starting to swell. The irises have started popping up. Even heard a single cricket frog (his clock must have been set too early), lots of geese and some sandhill cranes.
I'll post a picture of Mystic later!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Blog question
This is my second blog. It is not an ongoing thing, but something to capture an event (my sabbatical) and a way to communicate with family and friends.
One of the things I noticed this time is that there is a tab called "Monetize". It authorizes them to post ads to your blog and then you can make money.
I'm curious as to whether anyone has a blog and has ever tried this. What kind of ads did you end up with? Please ad a comment and let me know. Who knows, maybe I'll add ads and just pay for my trip! Ha!
One of the things I noticed this time is that there is a tab called "Monetize". It authorizes them to post ads to your blog and then you can make money.
I'm curious as to whether anyone has a blog and has ever tried this. What kind of ads did you end up with? Please ad a comment and let me know. Who knows, maybe I'll add ads and just pay for my trip! Ha!
Work is finished
The e mail and voice mail are off. The last day of work was not very bad. This whole week was one of making lists and trying to finish up projects. The big difference has been that there were no new "assignments" being added to the plate. Therefore as the week went on and I finished up some of the open items, there was nothing taking it's place. It is great to see the inbox dwindle down to next to nothing. It is also very comforting to have a great team at work that will cover for you, so there is nothing to worry about.
Tomorrow is the final checking of the lists and finish packing. I do have a few things around the house that I want to get done also. The only thing that appears is not going to get done is the tax return. I'll have about a week to do this when I get home. I always work better under pressure.
I believe (based on my last sabbatical), that tomorrow when I get on the plane, I will quickly forget about work and instead focus on the trip and adventure ahead of me. I'm fortunate to be able to have the ability to compartmentalize.
Tomorrow it starts.
Tomorrow is the final checking of the lists and finish packing. I do have a few things around the house that I want to get done also. The only thing that appears is not going to get done is the tax return. I'll have about a week to do this when I get home. I always work better under pressure.
I believe (based on my last sabbatical), that tomorrow when I get on the plane, I will quickly forget about work and instead focus on the trip and adventure ahead of me. I'm fortunate to be able to have the ability to compartmentalize.
Tomorrow it starts.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
I love it when a plan comes together
Finally, the last big part of my trip (working on a farm) came through. This allowed me to fill in around the edges with hotels, buses, trains, etc. The only potential hole is if the three day whitewater rafting trip doesn't find enough people. I think I can find something to do instead!
An overview of my trip is eight days are spent on the North Island. A couple of days in Auckland, then bouncing around to some different hotels, simple bed and breakfast and a luxury resort. I little bit of everything. Planning on visiting some wineries, visiting some hot springs, learning about the Maori culture, horseback riding, etc.
Then I fly to the South Island and spend the next 20+ days before my trip home. I start out with an 8 day hike called the Classic. It combines the Milford Track and the Routeburn Track. http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/uh_home.asp I get back from this and then head out on a three day whitewater rafting trip. We take a helicopter up to the starting point and then head down from there and camp along the river. A couple of days in Queenstown to see if I have am really going to bungee jump, or just decide to watch. Then a bus trip across the Southern Alps to Christchurch. From there I go work for 6 days on a small farm. The "scheme" is that you work for 4 to 6 hours a day in exchange for room and board. This farm has cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. I really want to learn what it takes to raise them. At home, we are starting with chickens and bees this year. Then it is a two day train/ferry/train trip back up to Auckland to get ready for the trip home.
I'm just about ready!
An overview of my trip is eight days are spent on the North Island. A couple of days in Auckland, then bouncing around to some different hotels, simple bed and breakfast and a luxury resort. I little bit of everything. Planning on visiting some wineries, visiting some hot springs, learning about the Maori culture, horseback riding, etc.
Then I fly to the South Island and spend the next 20+ days before my trip home. I start out with an 8 day hike called the Classic. It combines the Milford Track and the Routeburn Track. http://www.ultimatehikes.co.nz/uh_home.asp I get back from this and then head out on a three day whitewater rafting trip. We take a helicopter up to the starting point and then head down from there and camp along the river. A couple of days in Queenstown to see if I have am really going to bungee jump, or just decide to watch. Then a bus trip across the Southern Alps to Christchurch. From there I go work for 6 days on a small farm. The "scheme" is that you work for 4 to 6 hours a day in exchange for room and board. This farm has cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, and chickens. I really want to learn what it takes to raise them. At home, we are starting with chickens and bees this year. Then it is a two day train/ferry/train trip back up to Auckland to get ready for the trip home.
I'm just about ready!
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Final stretch
It seems like everything is starting to move faster! I have my work list (in pretty good shape), my personal list (still need to start that tax return) and my trip list (still some sections up in the air). I'm still trying to get a farm pinned down. I don't have a back up yet, but I'm sure I can improvise something when I'm over there if it doesn't work, but it would be nice to have it finalized before I leave.
My flight over and back is a little convoluted. I wanted to use miles and had enough on American and United to go business or first class which I figured is the way to go for that much time in the air. I started calling for reservations in November (I know, I was a little late) and thought since I was flexible and had a choice of 2 airlines, that this shouldn't be a problem. I was wrong. United said they had nothing at all for months. American had a person that worked very hard with me and we finally got something. I fly to LA on American and then take Air Pacific (ever heard of it?) to Auckland with a 3 1/2 hour layover in Fiji. Coming back I'm on Air Tahiti Nui (another biggie!) with a one hour layover in Tahiti. What was I thinking of with the short layovers? When is the next time I'm going to get to Fiji or Tahiti? I should have at least burned a day or two (or more) at each of them. The flight over I leave at 4:20 PM on the 6th of March and arrive in Auckland at 11:45 AM on the 8th of March. The return flight I leave Auckland at 2:05 PM on the 8th of April and get to Chicago at 5:50 PM on the 8th of April. My layover in Tahiti is on the 9th of April!
I'm ready to go now!
My flight over and back is a little convoluted. I wanted to use miles and had enough on American and United to go business or first class which I figured is the way to go for that much time in the air. I started calling for reservations in November (I know, I was a little late) and thought since I was flexible and had a choice of 2 airlines, that this shouldn't be a problem. I was wrong. United said they had nothing at all for months. American had a person that worked very hard with me and we finally got something. I fly to LA on American and then take Air Pacific (ever heard of it?) to Auckland with a 3 1/2 hour layover in Fiji. Coming back I'm on Air Tahiti Nui (another biggie!) with a one hour layover in Tahiti. What was I thinking of with the short layovers? When is the next time I'm going to get to Fiji or Tahiti? I should have at least burned a day or two (or more) at each of them. The flight over I leave at 4:20 PM on the 6th of March and arrive in Auckland at 11:45 AM on the 8th of March. The return flight I leave Auckland at 2:05 PM on the 8th of April and get to Chicago at 5:50 PM on the 8th of April. My layover in Tahiti is on the 9th of April!
I'm ready to go now!
Monday, March 1, 2010
Finding a Farm
Of the potential farms that I sent messages to yesterday, I've got two that seem like they may work. I'm trying to get one of them pinned down so I can finalize my travels before I leave.
I also found out that my three day white water rafting trip still needs two more people to sign up for it to make it a go. Anyone interested?
I rented a car from National, and found out that my free credits aren't good over there. That's ok as the rates are fairly reasonable. Now I'm trying to see if they have rental GPS's over there. Also, I'm trying to make sure I get in the right frame of mind for driving on the wrong side of the road. The last time I did this was quite an adventure. At least I won't be using my phone and driving!
I also found out that my three day white water rafting trip still needs two more people to sign up for it to make it a go. Anyone interested?
I rented a car from National, and found out that my free credits aren't good over there. That's ok as the rates are fairly reasonable. Now I'm trying to see if they have rental GPS's over there. Also, I'm trying to make sure I get in the right frame of mind for driving on the wrong side of the road. The last time I did this was quite an adventure. At least I won't be using my phone and driving!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)