Hokitika to Kumara - Visit with Julie & Chris

Today would be a short ride to Kumara. Today we'll be visiting with Julie Colpitt and her partner Chris (sorry Chris - I never learned your surname). But before we started our short 24km ride we wanted to stop in Hokitika to see about it's title as the Jade Capital of New Zealand. Jade, or otherwise known as "Greenstone", can be found throughout New Zealand. Huge boulders in the middle of grassy fields, boulder fields, or river beds. Apparently Greenstone can be found on beaches as well. Hokitika just happens to be on the West Coast of the Tasman Sea. Carvers create elaborate and traditional Maori designs with the Greenstone and sell it throughout New Zealand. Almost everyone wears it in some form. I almost feel guilty leaving the country without purchasing some of it for myself. Ah, they make better gifts anyhow. Pretty neat stuff.

Once we were done shopping we headed north along the coast to Kumara Junction. Into Kumara we rode and met up the Julie & Chris. Julie's been living in New Zealand for about 4 years now and is now a resident of New Zealand. She is the sister of Christine Soja of Seattle, WA. Christine is my biking buddy back in Seattle - it was great to meet up with her sister. Her and her partner Chris moved from Dunedin to Kumara and are getting ready to build a house on a track of property they just bought. Chris is super talented & wicked smart. I can't wait to see what they produce...they're talking off the grid type of stuff that sounds amazing! I can pound a nail or two if you need help guys!?!

Julie invited us over to the "The Bridge" - a new restaurant that has a 20 yr. old brilliant chef that produced the best meal since we've been in New Zealand. It was Good Friday night so we shared the restaurant with one other couple. We tried to make Julie's night painless...although Paul did get a bit out of control with his table manners. Oh, the place sat on a river which drained into the Tasman Sea. Nice sunset and a cute kitty added to the atmosphere. Cats are allowed to roam the restaurant to control any rat/mice population. I thought that was neat...especially for this little guy. He didn't like it when I tried shoving him in my coat pocket. He did not want to come home with me...

Since the restaurant was slow Julie was able to come home and hang out. We spent the night on the deck, battling sand flies around Chris's handcrafted, wood-fired, outdoor tower heater. It was great meeting their friends and hanging out. Thanks so much Julie & Chris!