Moving Right Along

Chalk up another couple of hikes for Team Comiskey-Ehlers. We hiked 45 miles in 6 days, on the hardest portion of the Queen Charlotte track. At night, instead of staying in huts, we bonded on our own in our tent! Then, we headed over to Nelson Lakes National Park. We spent a couple of beautiful days there. Day 1 included a arduous but very rewarding hike to about 5000 ft. The views were spectacular, some of the best we've seen. We also saw our first snow up close! Day two involved mostly reading and playing with the cutest little baby ducks I've ever seen. At this stage, their "quacks" were more like barely audible little chirps. Adorable.

Now, we're eagerly awaiting the arrival of Mr. Dick Ehlers. We'll make our way to Christchurch, then fly up to Auckland to meet him, then work our way back down, with him, on a scenic train journey. Good times, lucky us.

Just read Into Thin Air, by Jon Krakaur (?). It was the most gripping book I've read in a while. Now I'm reading Three Cups of Tea, recommended to me by the very credible Lee Granas. Of course, I'm also reading a chess book; Winning Chess Openings, by Yasser Seirawan. I'm learning the Barcza Opening, King's Indian Defense, and the Pirc Defense. Good reads (and openings) all.