A weekend in New Zealand...

New Zealand is a favorite of mine - just beautiful! Mary and I decided to go for a long weekend to run the Auckland Marathon. But really it was just an excuse to visit the North Island of NZ. A friend of Bridget's, Tammy, let us stay her apartment in downtown Auckland - such a great place and location - so nice of her. We were able to see some sights before the race including visiting Wiheke island for a wonderful wine tour and the caves for a fun tubing trip. We took black tubes through the caves - really awesome! Then we enjoyed the beautiful waterfront city of Auckland with some shopping and food. Here are some pictures from the trip. Just love New Zealand and hope I get a chance to go back before moving back to America...

My famous jump shot

Mary and I having lunch on arrival 

The city from the ferry

On the ferry to the wine country

Beautiful Auckland skyline

The island 

Wine tour

Tasting some wonderful NZ wine

Mary and I enjoying the wine

Another winery

Just beautiful view from the top of the vineyard

Mary and I in the vines

The final winery

Wait one more...

John Deere sighting on the road...

Getting ready for the race

Beautiful start line as the sun came up... Perfect running weather

Here we go!

Finish line

Auckland waterfront

Post race beer on the Waterfront