WE MADE IT!

We landed on Sat. 8/20/11 after 25 hrs of flight time - RI to Christchurch, NZ. Last leg was the hardest (and longest) and it was not easy to sleep on the plane. Our friend and host, Jay, picked us up and drove us to our cottage on the edge of the Osterley Trial Farm, located a half hour or so outside of Christchurch. To the East, we have a view of the Port Hills (the tops covered with snow) and to the West, we have a view of the Southern Alps (all covered with snow). The farm is very peaceful and quiet, not much activity, as it is winter here. This would be February in Rhode Island USA, but the weather these past 3 days, since we arrived, has been sunny and in the 50's (f). We've done a little exploring but not a lot b/c we are still trying to adjust to the time change. I had to reset my watch 4 times in the process of getting here. There are many sheep, cattle and deer ranches all around us. We are staying at a seed farm where they grow many kinds of crops. The only domestic animals are 4 laying hens- Rhode Island Reds!! We have adopted them. More later.