January 2026 – Streaming thru America

Three months of rigorous physical therapy during a summer of exhausting humidity, sweltering heat, and heavy downpours was a poor substitute for the summer adventure that Leah and I originally plotted together at the kitchen counter one year ago.

We imagined Airstreaming up to Quebec to play in Saguenay Fjord National Park and be entertained by French Canadians for a month or so.

Of course, nothing went as planned. My shoulder surgery and subsequent physical therapy replaced our summer trip to the North Country.

But putting in the hard work also guaranteed us a summer redo Down Under, with a chance to celebrate Hanukkah in New Zealand and Christmas Day in Melbourne.

It was also a good excuse for a new camera… system, unlike last year’s trip to Southeast Asia, where I relied exclusively on my Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra for images and video.

But for a trip to my 7th recorded continent, I yearned to compose through a viewfinder again. Ultimately, I thought a mirrorless compact camera’s flexibility and versatility could empower me to take bigger chances and create better photographs.

So, I bought a Fujifilm X-E5.

It may have been a bit impulsive, buying before trying, but Fuji’s model was brand new, very popular and not widely available. Camera exchanges were quickly selling out limited inventory across the globe, despite the high price, plus the tariff surcharge. (Yes, the tariff/tax is passed on to consumers!) I was betting on the buzz and positive reviews, and went all-in.

Outfitted with Fuji XF 16-50mm f/2.8-4.8 and Fuji XF 70-300mm f/4-5.6., I now had a wide and long zoom for a variety of coverage.

It was also a light-weight travel kit designed to reduce the camera strap impression across my newly, reassembled rotator cuff.

It would be a glorious second-chance summer.

Leah and I figured on an extra day in Aukland to cover our cancellation-du-jour asses from airline exposure, and to bolster our recovery from a lost day and a 20-hour trip…

Although our business class cocoons…

A passenger with gray hair sits comfortably in a business class airplane seat during a night flight, with a personal entertainment screen showing a starry sky.

offered legitimate restorative properties.

A person stands in front of a large, intricately carved wooden archway adorned with various figures and designs at an airport. The background shows people walking down a terminal.

Checking into the Grand by SkyCity put us smack dab in the center of Auckland’s bustling entertainment and casino complex, where the Sky Tower’s the limit.

The Sky Tower in Auckland, New Zealand, towering above nearby buildings and surrounded by trees under a clear blue sky.

Our 220-meter ascent to the 60th floor observation deck gave us distant perspective…

A panoramic view of a city skyline with modern skyscrapers beside a turquoise harbor, featuring boats and distant islands under a clear blue sky.

Aerial view of a coastal city featuring marinas, buildings, and a bridge over turquoise waters on a sunny day.

Aerial view of a cityscape featuring tall buildings, green parks, and a coastline with blue waters in the background.

and telephoto detail with my new Fuji kit…

Aerial view of urban roads and highways surrounded by greenery and buildings, showcasing multiple intersections and traffic flow.

Aerial view of a modern architectural complex featuring buildings with distinctive blue roofs, one with a checkered pattern and another with a curved design, surrounded by greenery and urban streets.

With time to burn, we set our sights on the quaint town of Devonport, one of 53 dormant volcanic centers surrounding Auckland.

Christmas was on full display in the city plazas…

Large festive ornaments in a city plaza, including a green and red chevron-patterned ornament and a smaller red ornament with white polka dots.

as we strolled to Queens Wharf to catch our ferry across Stanley Bay.

City skyline featuring modern skyscrapers and historic architecture along a waterfront with boats.

However, the crimson blossoms from the Pōhutukawa trees (aka New Zealand Christmas tree) along Devonport’s park path easily enhanced the holiday vibe.

A scenic waterfront walkway lined with vibrant red flowering trees, with people sitting on benches and walking along the path.

We hiked to Mount Victoria (Takarunga), Devonport’s highest point atop a WWII bunker–currently the local folk music center–that breathes through its field of mushroom ventilation caps,