World Tour Update #12

We're currently in an incredible hunting lodge in the Southern Alps foothills of New Zealand. My red stag hunt starts tomorrow.

Today we got settled in and took a quick tour of the territory I'll be hunting. Absolutely spectacular in terms of scenery. Rugged and hilly in terms of terrain. Cold and windy in terms of weather (2 feet of snow last week, much of it still on the ground).

It's a family run operation. Tonight we had dinner with the owner's son (the GM), his wife (who is 20 weeks pregnant and had an ultrasound today - all is well) and their 2 year old son, who is adorable but quite a handfull.

The meal was delicious and the wine -- from a local vineyard -- was exquisite. The people are exceedingly warm, friendly, and welcoming. After a very short time we felt like family.

If the hunting is anything like the hospitality I'll be thrilled...