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We planned ahead and booked a trip to the beauty of Scotland, destination: OUTER HEBRIDES. Starting point is Inverness, with the rental car we are headed to the Isle of Skye. The weather is great but the place quite crowded - remote beaches are available in the evening, and I am having a blast with the camera... :P

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A last view at the Old Man of Storr, before taking the ferryboat to the Isle of Lewis (Stornoway) - more barren lands await, weather being kind to us we make it a complete tour of the North island.  

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After visiting Lewis, we make our way down to Harris, then passing to Uist...landscapes getting more barren, those places are remote, indeed! Lot’s of old stones to visit... We sleep at the tractor shed, best place around!

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The last night on the Outer Hebrids we sleep in remote landscapes and have a lot of sealife around the tent - first time to have a sea otter fishing at 15m distance, he didn’t bother all to much and photography was easy. We passed the last day in Inverness before heading home again.

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Weather played nice on the second day, we headed out to the shops in old town and visited the surrounding hills - Monument des Interalliées, La Batte and the obligatory beer shops. - Thanks Sophie for the trip! :D

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In March I headed back to my student’s town, visiting old Liège was nice - a dirty industrial town with it’s hidden corners and rustique museums. Feeling all nostalgic... We visited the Aquarium-musée in the city center while the weather was being notsonice. :)

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A weekend trip to the Eifel, visiting a very much famous place called ELTZ CASTLE. Well, it really is a gem, hidden away in the green springtime valleys - such castle...much WOW! :P With my love and my van, what Eltz?

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In early spring I participated in a 2-day-hike with the boyscouts to my most beloved landscapes of the high fens. Starting point was the Maison du Parc Botrange, the 20km tour brought us back to Monschau for a wet night in the tent. (Lot’s of rain, but hey that’s part of the landscapes...) Still my favourite hang out - bring the rubber boots!

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Luckily for us, the rain stops before sunrise - and breakfast is sunny and warm. The view on the mountain range (with Mt. Cook) over lake Ohau is impressive and we have a late start into the day’s drive. Next stop was a historic gold mine village (Welshtown close to Bendigo), hidden in the hills. This landscape is dry and hot, with bizarre rock formations, yet another, new, view of New Zealand!

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Following the West-coast further North, then turning inland again we make it to Tekapo. The rain stops for some minutes and allows to take some pictures of the Church of the Good Shepherd in Tekapo. We then continue to Twizel and decide to stay in Ohau (Lake) for the night - rain doesn’t stop and fall asleep with the sound of drops on the roof of our tent...

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Next stop is the “World’s capital of steampunk” - Omaru. It’s Sunday (and raining, again) and the Farmers Market invites us to take a stroll through town....ending up in the famous Harbour Street with it’s vintage shops. After seeing the steam train leave we decide to travel on, heading North.

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Another to-do on my photography list were the Moeraki Boulders. It’s a busy busy place, stuffed with tourists. We inspect the beach in the afternoon and return after setting up camp in a hidden valley (Trotters Gorge DOC Camping) we come back to enjoy the sunset. Those marbles the size of an office desk just lying in the sand are fascinating to look at - a place to visit!!

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A brief stop at Dunedin’s botanical gardens - I am still amazed by this island’s vegetation, and happy to see the green stuff labeled! Further up the road we meet remote beaches with best swimming conditions and finally some wildlife at Shag Point. Sealions and penguins are enjoying the sun on the cliffs. Weather is great and makes the colors splash vividly, a photographer’s paradise!

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Still driving away from the rain, we make it from Invercargill up the coast, Slope Point, Papatowai, Curio Bay, Owaka, into Kaitangata - where a (motor)camp makes us stop for a night. The old mining town hasn’t much to offer in terms of business, but the camping is great (super friendly host).

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The southern tip of the island is greeting us with beautiful, wild beaches. Stormy seas bring in rain and the coastline vanishes in the clouds and drizzle...we hide away in the car and make it somewhat further to the south-east. A short break in the rain and a crazy banana-shopping-spree make it a cosy evening around a bonfire - chocobananaaaaas :D

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After a rather quiet transit into the new Year, we hike back to the lake Monowai. The skies are clouded and the Fjordlands are sending some wind, good thing to keep the sandflies away! :) Back on the road, we visit Cliffton and make it further down south.

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Green Lake is a beautiful place and we simply decide to stay one more night and make it a NEW YEAR's eve up there - a sunny day in nature ends with an evening in good Kiwi company, and a happy new year with 12h advance to home ;)