Driving coast to coast takes about five hours. Easily two hours are filled with twists and turns that threaten to make even the driver nauseous.

When you flash your brights it can mean a number of things. To most yankees it means, "I wish you were not in my way. Please move." In NZ it means, "You go ahead." But in both it can mean, "There are cops and a speed trap ahead. Slow down." Even nauseous drivers can appreciate that.

Did not visit famed "tame eels" today. Instead...made up story about eels attacking nine year old boy, read Women's Day, took a nap.

Natural Snakes, the type that have no artificial flavors or colors, surprised us. Yellow snakes were banana instead of lemon.

Gaping maw, Rawhiti Cave, begged investigation. It is the largest cave opening in NZ. The curtains were shallower than other features but many reds and greens tinted the stalagtites and mites and the occasional birdbath that formed.

Penny learned to drive on the left side of a back road after we played Ultimate in a sheep pasture.

Godwits, knots and Caspian terns inhabit the Farewell Spit along with over 100 other species of birds. Stretching nearly 30k out from the northwest corner of the south island it slowly fills in its crescent creating a wetland of international importance. The NZ Department of Conservation runs a 'farm park' along side this to demonstrate the efficacy of agriculture and conservation intertwined. On the same walk where we discovered shorebirds and surf we also watched a black angus being born. Spring is in the air.

A couple days to shuttle. One day of sitting in the sun. Four days for 52 miles through 5 temperate zones with the four of us and the Heaphy Track. Even with those numbers the sandflies still win. More sun to come.

There are a lot of people with their heads down, hoods up, going about their business. The weather seems to be disappointing some. Rain can be that way if you have seen it within the last year. For those of us who just stepped away from the driest continent on earth, hoods and heads go back, mouths open and our faces welcome wetness.

The moisture does have its disadvantages. It makes things feel colder and you can't dry your socks in under an hour. Wearing jeans in rain creates a clammy feel I had nearly forgotten. Cotton, it seems, is not the choice fabric for drizzle.

It is blowing sideways and you can barely see Medical from the galley window. Sustained 30 knot winds with gusts to 50. There is much more attention paid to the weather lately. Usually you just look down, raise a hood, or zip your jacket a little higher and resign yourself to the fact that it is cold. The last few days the weather means more than cold. It also means no flights.

Yesterday the weather was lovely. The ceiling (of clouds) was just too low for a flight. The same as the day before. Wind was minimal and a few of us took a hike up Ob Hill. Volleyball in the evening had a great turnout. Living in McMurdo is great when you have a little time off.