After dropping Kim and Chris off at the airport, we ran a couple of errands, and found a peninsula outside of Christchurch, where we did a nice walk along the coast. I had fun watching a surfer do tricks, and would have liked to jump in, except that by the time we got back to the beach, there was no sun.
Did a short hike enroute to the Wairoa Valley, where we spent 5 nights in a riverside cottage. Drove down twisty dirt roads, opening and closing gates as we went, and agreed with the recommendation of arriving in daylight. Fortunately this car rental company does not say anything about unpaved roads.
Link to the last of the South Island pic’s
We have now met sand flies, but fortunately have screens for the first time in NZ, so are not bothered by these tiny and very annoying flies in here. Google tells me they are the same as our black flies at home.
Nelson Lakes National Park: climbed up to Parachute Rock, and back down. Definitely got some exercise, but the weather wasn’t the nicest up high. It is too bad we didn’t make it back to this park.
Abel Tasman National Park: walked 18+km along their coastal walk in gorgeous weather. Saw Weka birds along the way, and have been warned by our hostess to keep the doors closed at the cottage, as they are curious, and come inside and steal things!
Craig called our hostess in the Wairoa Valley brave, and I totally agree. She is a retired flight attendant, who raises some 20 (30?) cows, has 2 sheep, manages fruit and olive trees - all by herself. Her brother lives next door, and also did not farm for a living. When we left, she was expecting a new bull he had bought to replace his old one; no artificial insemination here, and our hostess attends to the birthing of calves and everything that goes with this. She was to take care of this bull once he arrived. Craig was disappointed we didn’t get to meet him.
This woman hosts an occasional ‘Woofer’ (google WWOOF if curious) to help her out. We never got to meet the French man she was expecting before we left, as his hitch hiking was progressing slowly, and he was a few days behind schedule.
After the Wairoa Valley we spent a few days in an only slightly less out of the way place, Wakamarina. This is near Havelock, which is the Green Mussel Capital of the World! Both these places are near Blenheim, which seems to attract wine aficionados, and the vineyards look impressive. Craig got a kick out of the mussel thing, and learnt that they are farmed, from eggs harvested in the wild.
For the first time probably since Laos, we have had 4 rainy days in a stretch, but I needed this time to plan Africa. Craig has made progress with the taxes, using his phone! He actually prefers this over using the iPad.
Our hosts here are also very nice people! She is English, he is Kiwi, and they have an adorable 5-month-old son. They bought this home on some 5 acres within the past year, and hope to continue traveling the world despite having a child. He is a white water rafting guide, and a very experienced kayaker, who has been to remote exotic rivers. They want to show their son Africa at some point, so he learns to appreciate what so many western kids have.
Tomorrow we head to the North Island, after spending 5 scenic & exciting weeks on the South Island. Thanks to our travel companions from first Orlando and then MA, the very varied scenery, our many different rides, walks, and hikes, it feels like much longer.
No comments:
Post a Comment