enjoy the ride: fall flying

Get ready for a bit of a long post... it was a big day...

What's better than a beautiful fall day? A beautiful fall day in New Zealand!!

We woke up and while the runners were on their way to the half marathon, the rest of us decided to take a nice hike up Mt. Iron. I think we chose best.

making our way uphill

the thinker? or the stinker?

special erin

Then it was back on the road to Queenstown for our paragliding adventure. woohoo!

first glimpses of queenstown below

First things first in Queenstown: Fergburger. Best (falafel) burger EVER! really. We finally figured out what all the fergburger hype is all about... and it certainly is pretty great.

first time EVER that a random person has spelled my name correctly!!!!

yum yum yum

food comas

Full bellies. a little walk around town. {I found a precious little design firm right down town. obsessed. dream job? yes.} some rugby warm ups. And then to top off the afternoon, some paragliding.

We met up with the company and drove up to Coronet Peak (the ski resort). Only 2 could go at a time, so while we rotated, we waited at the landing pad and hung out- which was pretty fun too! frisbee, celebratory summer ale beers, and watching people fly through the air. Pretty great afternoon.

All suited up and strapped in, I ran off the mountain and lifted into the air! Coolest feeling ever.

from the start

in flight

bird's perspective. i could get used to this.

coming in hot

Great success!! So when's round 2?

we made it!

ahh so happy!

And tomorrow is Erin's 21st birthday!! So we decided to give her a weekend long celebration. Besides the cakes, Lindsey and I found a photo printing store downtown and printed out some b-e-a-utiful pictures of our dear friend erin. We originally thought of putting those faces on tshirts for everyone to wear at midnight. Instead, the prints were so expensive that Lindsey and I just whipped them out with the clock struck 12 and pinned them onto ourselves.

we almost stuck erin's face to the statue. so tempting

I <3 Queenstown. and these girls!

We bought some bubbly in celebration and sat along the water laughing, watching the ducks swim around, and popping bottles. What a great start to the night.