The Owl and the Pussycat
At Shambaala, Golden Bay we happened upon a French mademoiselle named Anne. Emily and Anne struck a friendship that saw them take to the seas, in a beautiful complimentary dinghy. They ventured into the breaking waves barely equipped with rowing knowledge, let alone honey. In waves of up to two feet they tamed the ocean in a manner reminiscent of King Canute, and provided ample opportunity for the broken wristed dry footed paparazzi prowling on the shore (see picture proof). The bounties of seafaring adventure were minimal (garlic mussels though), but the quiz team name of “the owl and the pussycat” was born, and demonstrated a more general intellect with a victory at the Mussel Inn pub quiz that evening (with assistance from our dutch and kiwi comrades).
Hitching Success
Golden Bay felt beautifully isolated (even for New Zealand), having ascended and descended a huge pass to get in. Hence it took a couple days (and some hefty mussel consumption) to muster the motivation for the return leg. After loading up it began quickly with a bareknuckle drive down the unsealed 2km to the main road (meditation teacher at the wheel), then a short ride with a local dairy farmer, before re-living childhood in the back of a car with the greater hits of Dire Straits (surely a proud indulgence or two YFOS fans?). The next step saw a lift from a Hertfordshire Hiker, over the Takaka Hill Highway and down to Motueka. Young family Rob, Roberta and Liam then took us to the outskirts of Nelson, where a good chap surprised his family by dropping us out in central Nelson as they awaited his lift.
The next stage of the journey (to Picton) was assisted hugely by climber Stacey on her way to Blenheim, leaving only a short ride from an older couple - in fine comfort, other than the perfume intensity and lipstick on the teeth. The chat was reasonable, although a strong south island bias!
The beauty of having a nice black fibre glass cast, is that using a stone (or better still chalk/ tippex) one can write destinations on the cast for thumbing a lift.....e.g. "anywhere but Picton....".
Road Music
Thanks to Ben, Pete & Nikki for the lends: Blur - Best Of (so not as many fillers as their others), Beatles - Love, Modest Mouse, DJ Shadow (night time driving), Dire Straits (day time driving without irony), Flaming Lips, Blondie (queue singstar Emily), Mint Chicks, Black Seeds (attempts to get into some NZ craft), Bright Eyes, Radiohead, Talking Heads, Supergrass (difficult third album), the Strokes, the Smiths (will one ever bore?), Roots Manuva (Sinny sin sins at christian camp - no i didn't!), Jurassic 5, Jeff Buckley, Hot Chip.
Galavanting North Island Week 2 - 26/4/09
Roads less travelled, tracks heavily walked.
Whanganui River Road - partly unsealed, sand-stone walls, bush, sheep and corners aplenty.
Route 52 - A long 3hours. Sheep stations, angular hills and the occasional metropolis (ahem).
Silica Rapids - sweet two hour walk near Whakapapa.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing - Early (5.30am), frosty start for 23km walk in smouldering and bleak volcano territory. Spectacular and intimidating, but if Frodo can, then so can we (film location of the fiery abyss of Mount Doom). Wrist wearing well, though no particular stumbles.
Te Mata Peak - Fair rugged, and sheep orientated. Notable for a good clamber, big view and a scared Em as she drove up a single lane rode with significant near vertical drops either side. One handed driver took the wheel going back down.
Hot stream dip at Taupo - back to the Waikato River (to sit like a gnome).
Camping it up
Em never has had much luck with camping. After two rain drenched UK trips, so far this week saw rain, gales and frost (Waikanae, Whanganui River Road and Whakapapa respectively). Still, no trees came through the tent, and we didn't freeze in the -2C mountain temperatures (vege thai curry not a mild one thankfully). And thanks to installing Em in a sleeing bag with only her nose showing, I even think she'll go again. Those in the know will be shocked to hear of her donning hiking boots, anorak and rucksack for a 23km walk and 900m ascent (see above and photos for the 09 look). Doon slept with jumper over face. After three days in the tent, the treat of some meat, bed and ale was well received (does any drinking city outside Ireland not have an Irish bar?).
Digs, Drinks & Scran
Wet camp, Christian camp, Windy camp, Frosty camp. Farmstay. Familiar Taupo retreat.
Speights, post-camp ales, chilly-bin water, Rose wine off of Hawke's Bay. Many a vege thai curry, and later in the week some more substantial lamb bangers n mash.
Good Good Friday
Not regularly subscribing to established traditions, this Good Friday involved copious red meat. Official house outing, with entourage – intention of a good walk around the Otari Wilton bush was dashed when the public barbecue was ignited, and the steaks and Speights were gregory'd.
Whanganui River Road - partly unsealed, sand-stone walls, bush, sheep and corners aplenty.
Route 52 - A long 3hours. Sheep stations, angular hills and the occasional metropolis (ahem).
Silica Rapids - sweet two hour walk near Whakapapa.
Tongariro Alpine Crossing - Early (5.30am), frosty start for 23km walk in smouldering and bleak volcano territory. Spectacular and intimidating, but if Frodo can, then so can we (film location of the fiery abyss of Mount Doom). Wrist wearing well, though no particular stumbles.
Te Mata Peak - Fair rugged, and sheep orientated. Notable for a good clamber, big view and a scared Em as she drove up a single lane rode with significant near vertical drops either side. One handed driver took the wheel going back down.
Hot stream dip at Taupo - back to the Waikato River (to sit like a gnome).
Camping it up
Em never has had much luck with camping. After two rain drenched UK trips, so far this week saw rain, gales and frost (Waikanae, Whanganui River Road and Whakapapa respectively). Still, no trees came through the tent, and we didn't freeze in the -2C mountain temperatures (vege thai curry not a mild one thankfully). And thanks to installing Em in a sleeing bag with only her nose showing, I even think she'll go again. Those in the know will be shocked to hear of her donning hiking boots, anorak and rucksack for a 23km walk and 900m ascent (see above and photos for the 09 look). Doon slept with jumper over face. After three days in the tent, the treat of some meat, bed and ale was well received (does any drinking city outside Ireland not have an Irish bar?).
Digs, Drinks & Scran
Wet camp, Christian camp, Windy camp, Frosty camp. Farmstay. Familiar Taupo retreat.
Speights, post-camp ales, chilly-bin water, Rose wine off of Hawke's Bay. Many a vege thai curry, and later in the week some more substantial lamb bangers n mash.
Good Good Friday
Not regularly subscribing to established traditions, this Good Friday involved copious red meat. Official house outing, with entourage – intention of a good walk around the Otari Wilton bush was dashed when the public barbecue was ignited, and the steaks and Speights were gregory'd.
Galavanting South Island Week 1 - 17/4/09
Observations and Quotes
'The south island looks much taller than it does on the maps' - small child observation.
'I like the fairies' - another small child delighting in the ferry journey.
'A gaggle of gawping grockels' - Em practises alliteration on the Interislander ferry.
'Mika is close to my heart' - fortunately young Eva didn't mean the guilty dis-pleasure musician.
'Anyone for a coffee?', 'I'd rather a beer, Dan' - quick guessing of cousin Smith's true intention.
'The babbling brook sparkles in the sunshine' - Em continues alliteration practise.
'He's got himself a good christian woman' - Gossipping bather with a classic at the hot springs.
'I didn't think teachers hitched' - Roberta, one of our hitch rides.
Foods, Drinks and Digs
Speights Gold Medal Ale, Mussels (green lipped, and off the beach), Pak n Save picnic lunches, Free Choc Pudding, breakfasts and easter eggs (at certain backpackers), Sauvignon Blanc (Sav) from various bottles, Pelorus at Cloudy Bay, Fish n Chips, Roast Pork, Best Burger (Christchurch), BBQ at the nurses home and subsequent BBQ leftovers picnic, Jailhouse, Sequoia and Shambhala for enjoyable digs. Weet-bix, banana and superb chocolate birthday cake. Damn fine cider (Motueka and Mussel Inn).
Entertainments and Folks
Johnny Cash covers in Picton, High Fidelity in Kaikoura, Andy n Sandy, Wine tasting, Dave & Edie in Christchurch, Hot tubs and Spa's (with bagged arm and floats), Dan and Andy, Mademoiselle Anne, Yoga class including the flexible french pair and teacher BJ (real name), the Dutch three, Hawaii Ray and Penny, The Owl and The Pussycat, Oceana, Carol & family and quiztime success. Nelson Speights pub (ping pong, man food and cleavage), Nelson market. Tawa teachers on the homeward bound ferry.
Walks and Drives
Bobs Bay, Snout Walk and Tirohanga Walkway in Picton, Coastal walk on the Kaikoura Peninsula (and the loss of Sandy), Buller Gorge (and the Andy rock fall), aborted Farewell Spit walk, Wharariki (wow) beach, Shamhala lane (skips, glow worms and murder tales)
Lewis Pass, Pacific coast, Takaka hill highway. Beaches at Golden Bay. Centre of New Zealand.
'The south island looks much taller than it does on the maps' - small child observation.
'I like the fairies' - another small child delighting in the ferry journey.
'A gaggle of gawping grockels' - Em practises alliteration on the Interislander ferry.
'Mika is close to my heart' - fortunately young Eva didn't mean the guilty dis-pleasure musician.
'Anyone for a coffee?', 'I'd rather a beer, Dan' - quick guessing of cousin Smith's true intention.
'The babbling brook sparkles in the sunshine' - Em continues alliteration practise.
'He's got himself a good christian woman' - Gossipping bather with a classic at the hot springs.
'I didn't think teachers hitched' - Roberta, one of our hitch rides.
Foods, Drinks and Digs
Speights Gold Medal Ale, Mussels (green lipped, and off the beach), Pak n Save picnic lunches, Free Choc Pudding, breakfasts and easter eggs (at certain backpackers), Sauvignon Blanc (Sav) from various bottles, Pelorus at Cloudy Bay, Fish n Chips, Roast Pork, Best Burger (Christchurch), BBQ at the nurses home and subsequent BBQ leftovers picnic, Jailhouse, Sequoia and Shambhala for enjoyable digs. Weet-bix, banana and superb chocolate birthday cake. Damn fine cider (Motueka and Mussel Inn).
Entertainments and Folks
Johnny Cash covers in Picton, High Fidelity in Kaikoura, Andy n Sandy, Wine tasting, Dave & Edie in Christchurch, Hot tubs and Spa's (with bagged arm and floats), Dan and Andy, Mademoiselle Anne, Yoga class including the flexible french pair and teacher BJ (real name), the Dutch three, Hawaii Ray and Penny, The Owl and The Pussycat, Oceana, Carol & family and quiztime success. Nelson Speights pub (ping pong, man food and cleavage), Nelson market. Tawa teachers on the homeward bound ferry.
Walks and Drives
Bobs Bay, Snout Walk and Tirohanga Walkway in Picton, Coastal walk on the Kaikoura Peninsula (and the loss of Sandy), Buller Gorge (and the Andy rock fall), aborted Farewell Spit walk, Wharariki (wow) beach, Shamhala lane (skips, glow worms and murder tales)
Lewis Pass, Pacific coast, Takaka hill highway. Beaches at Golden Bay. Centre of New Zealand.
The Life of Leisure
For some, a life of leisure is a gift, and understandably so. I don't think they had a cast on.
The lack of an opposable left thumb has left in me in an under evolved state, unable to complete simple tasks. Buttons for instance. Buttering another.
With no work, mountain biking, guitar, sport and minimal cooking, I am left hoping that Wednesday's assessment with the hand doctor will result in "Oh Mr Down, there appears to have been a mistake (bro), let me take off the cast and you are free to go (cuzz)". And for the aching to stop, at the touch of a beautiful miracle working nurse.
Devising new ways to occupy ones time has seen one:
The lack of an opposable left thumb has left in me in an under evolved state, unable to complete simple tasks. Buttons for instance. Buttering another.
With no work, mountain biking, guitar, sport and minimal cooking, I am left hoping that Wednesday's assessment with the hand doctor will result in "Oh Mr Down, there appears to have been a mistake (bro), let me take off the cast and you are free to go (cuzz)". And for the aching to stop, at the touch of a beautiful miracle working nurse.
Devising new ways to occupy ones time has seen one:
- Attend a Monet exhibition
- Write and record piano music (for one hand)
- Visit the beach for photography and reading
- Write a short story
- Spend (seemingly) hours creating a pasta bake
- Journey planning
- Look for an office job (for one hand)
- Walk a fair way with an old friend
- Eat, drink and be merry
- Clean the house very slowly
- Rarely washing
There are plans to extend this repertoire in the following week. I had better get cracking.
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