The Ostrom Family Adventures

Tramping is the New Zealand term for Backpacking as opposed to the connotation implied by Lady and the Tramp. A lovely Physician Mom who moved here from the US about 5 years ago invited Leif and I on a Mom’s and kid’s hut hike. It was a fun group of awesome US physician mom’s – 2 EM, 1 Critical Care, 1 Anesthesia, and 1 Ob/Gyn – so we were really well prepared for any and all circumstances on the trail! 😆

Lisa had reserved all 10 bunks at the Crosbies Hut in the middle of the Coromandel peninsula. We left our other belongings secured in Lisa’s office at the Thames hospital and took off up the Waiotahi trail about 8.5 miles through gorgeous tropical rainforest and old gold mining sites. There were multiple little stream crossings in the first 6km’s and we did good keeping our feet dry.

However, there had been multiple North Island-wide heavy rain warnings that Friday, with concerns about flash floods and landslides as well. But, most of us are from the PNW and rain is not new to us, so off we went anyway. -with our kids. 😬

About 3 hours in, the real rain started and our valient attempt at dry feet – or dry anything for that matter – faded as we sloshed and splashed our way through calf-high running water down the trail the last 5kms at least. But it wasn’t muddy – too wet for that! And it was still in the 60’s °F so not too cold.

We were all completely soaked and pruny and it was dark by the time we made it to the hut. But the hut was lovely – simple, with a woodstove, metal countertop for cooking with little stoves, and table and benches with 10 waterproof mattresses we could lay out on the 2-tiered platforms. The wind at the top of the hill was amazing all night and with that and the rain, we slept pretty well.

I was trusting the ladies who had been in country and done a lot of tramping in all conditions already, and they were correct – we did survive and all 6 kids had a great time and chatted the entire way up and down!

Meghan and her family just moved from right next to us the week before to their very own NZ home. This was a lovely time to catch up for her 2 boys and Leif as well as her and I. They’ve been here more than 3 years now and are setting down roots which is fun to see, being so freshly here.

Finally some catch-up photos from everyday life. Our back garden (yard) has been incredible! Banana’s!!! With the gorgeous banana flower. They are ripening and delicious, but very prone to lots of flies and bees!

A single delicious passionfruit, and tons of Feijoa’s. And a regular little visitor, Xena, our neighbor cat. 🙂

We found an Amanita Muscaria – definitely not native, but beautiful. It’s one of the reasons they ask you to have clean hiking boots when going through customs.

Balloons over Waikato was a fun little weeklong event that occurred every morning in the Innes Common park next to our house.

Leif and Theo inside a balloon!

And an update on Leif’s tricking progress!! Front flips are now happening!! 🥰. And the splint just came off the right hand!! Hallelujah!

We’re off to the South Island for the first time this next week. More adventures to come!