dreaming...

Walking down the trail seems to give one lots of time to think, which is nice if you have nice things to think about and not-so-nice when your thoughts aren't so nice.

Fortunately, being on my honeymoon, I've had lots of nice thoughts to think about.

Alex and I like to dream about what our future holds for us - our careers, our family's values, our future shack, financial, lifestyle priorities and such things...And we've had lots of time to think.

We've been reading this book together, the author used the phrase "season of speculation" to describe gardening in the winter time. It struck both of us that this time in our lives is very much that. I like this time.

Alex and I just finished a 4-day/3-night hike. We essentially circumnavigated the volcano from the Lord of the Rings movies (Mount Doom). The landscape was mostly rocky and exposed (no trees). The weather was windy but nice on the first day and then we were beaten with rain, hail, snow and lots of freezing rain (all with heavy winds, making everything come at us sideways). There is absolutely no denying it's winter (or at least late autumn). We were walking over frozen puddles and through snow on the last day of the hike. I think we've walked our last tramp in New Zealand. We are back in Auckland (same room as last time I blogged) for a day or two to check out the city and they heading north, hoping to wwoof.