Good to go 👍

I can tell New Zealand Customs that, in all honesty, I definitely packed this bag myself. Not quite a triumph of three dimensional spatial optimisation.

Kids’ Packing List

After a week working on combined SQL and AI data and text modelling, I decided to go low tech for the kids’ packing list for our Kiwi trip.

Angling for a share

The kids and I are getting our fair share of the pie before packing for our trip to NZ next week. Apparently, I’m fact finding, as well as fish finding, as my AFR editor is angling for a hook on a NZ election story. I’m in party mode already, as you can probably tell.

Off to Tongariro

Guess who is taking the family for a fly fishing trip to the mighty Tongariro? 🎣
Our first trip to Kiwi in four years, thanks to Covid.

Packing the gear, as I type and hoping the waders haven’t shrunk. More to come …

Klahova Lake Today

Beautiful final day with no. 1 son at Klahoya Lake today. We parked the float tubes for a camp fire lunch by the lake. Unbeatable #Spatsizi

No. 1 son in float tube on Lake Klahoya today. The stone flies were landing on the tube, by way of a hint on fly choice #Spatsizi

Our guide Tim shows us the Canadian way to toast marshmallows on our last night #Spatsizi

I cannot believe this! Here’s Tim’s perfect Canadian toasted marshmallows #Spatsizi The man does it with an electric drill on slow speed. Unbelievable. Fantastic taste.

Grayling Hole – Spatsizi

We’re all off to the Grayling Hole #Spatsizi today. Woo hoo!

Spot the Bald Eagle on the nest in top of the broken tree #Spatsizi

My little girl getting a lesson on fly selection from Master Guide Ray Collingwood at the Grayling Hole today #Spatsizi

Lunch around the camp fire at the Grayling Hole today #Spatsizi

Number two son with Papa Ray and soon to be released Grayling at the Grayling Hole #Spatsizi

Number one son sitting on the bear-proof food safe at the Grayling Hole #Spatsizi I was wondering what the bear was supposed to eat if it couldn’t get your picnic basket.

Time to catch (and release) some unwary trout.

Day whatever of our week dawns #Spatsizi and the pilots are already fuelling their floatplanes to take us out to catch (and release) some unwary trout. Hope springs eternal in the breast of this old trout hunter.

Ray Collingwood our master guide, is taking the young-uns out fishing today. Here he’s getting to know them at breakfast.

Our three Amigos head off to fly fish Lake Tuaton today. Mum and Dad have the day off to chase trout on Lake Laslui.

So far you’ve been spared the grip’n’grin shots … but … well … these feisty little guys were so darn pretty we couldn’t resist #Spatsizi today.

Early to bed for this little black duck.

Heading home from the Firesteel today #Spatsizi. Early to bed for this little black duck.

Our guide Ray Collingwood was clearly exhausted by a hectic morning on the Firesteel #Spatsizi

A bloke caught a few rainbows, had a nice lunch. Deserved a break. Nice backdrop.

The Black Family spent the day on the famous dry fly Firesteel River today. No room left for floatplanes.

Nature Putting On A Show

Flying up front in the Cessna 185 and getting a goat’s eye view of the ranges en route to the Spatsizi plateau. Timeless beauty of nature putting on a show.

We made it to Smithers!

Hey Big Guy! We made Hey Big Guy! We made it to Smithers! Cheery welcome from on old furry friend in the airport foyer. And from Reg Collingwood #Spatsiziit to Smithers! Cheery welcome from on old furry friend in the airport foyer. And from Reg Collingwood #Spatsizi