It has been far too long since I last wrote. It has been far too long and so much has happened. I will attempt to write the abridged version of all of the different phases that I have gone through in the last month, but I fear they will not co-exist happily in one piece. No, they will not. Some parts will be overlooked and not given the attention they deserve. Others will look flashy and attract your eye, but they probably have little significance. Alas, I am stuck. I am stuck in the muck of writers block.
I could blame my procrastination on the fact that internet has been expensive and hard to come by lately, which is true, but I'll be honest and tell you that it's really because I took a communication hiatus to allow myself to be more in the present moment in my travels. It worked, and there I was, but now here I am, trying to figure out how to describe to you a months worth of bussing, tramping, hitch hiking (I've already formally apologized to my mother for this), camping, skinny dipping, road-tripping with Englishmen, more hitch hiking (I really am sorry momma, but it was a great adventure), more camping and taking a ferry up to the North Island. So here is the much abridged version that I am going to sum up in a list of highlights:
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| The Caples River |
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| Jump shot for Jake! Mackellar Saddle |
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| The Greenstone River |
1. A solo four day trek in the bush: The Caples/ Greenstone Loop Track. AMAZING hiking up the Caples River, over the Mackellar Saddle down to a lake and down the Greenstone River. The trail was full of river crossings, creek crossings, waterfall crossings, bridge over gorge crossings, landslide crossings, boulder field crossings, log crossings, hop on stones like a hobbit across muddy bog crossings, field crossings, saddle crossings, farm land filled with cute little sheep crossings... there were a lot of crossings and I loved it. I decided to try out the hut system that they have going on here in New Zealand, which totally squashed my hopes of having a solo back country experience, but allowed me to cross paths with some really cool people. All of my hiking was solo though and that made me a happy camper!
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| This is where I skinny dipped at sunrise on the last day. This is where I got caught butt naked in knee deep water by an older Kiwi couple. It's okay, I live for awkward moments... |
2. One week in Queenstown painting, reading, writing, dancing and hanging out with two really cool men from Alpine, Wyoming. Friends of my grandparents, Brent and Michael live the endless summer between Alpine and Queenstown and have been doing so for the last 26 years! They welcomed me into their beautiful home, and graced me with amazing conversation, the best stories, wonderful company, good wine and home-baked gluten free bread... I'm still not sure why I left...
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| Queenstown's Lake Wakatipu |
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| Sunset view from Brent and Michael's place |
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| ... doing something... on the Moeraki Boulders |
3. I hitched to Dunedin where I met up with my friend Andy and his brother Simon who was visiting from England and together we took off for a 5 day road trip Northbound-ish.
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Simon walking up the staircase to nowhere
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| BEST PLAYGROUND EVER... Oarmaru |
We played on the Moeraki Boulders, drank a case of cider and watched penguins on the pier in Oamaru, played cricket outside a cafe in Twizel, tramped to glaciers in Mt. Cook, camped in Mt. Cook... and almost got away with it, watched stars at Mt. Cook, I really like Mt. Cook, checked out views of Lake Tekapo, ate lots of discounted steak and salad, drank lots of tea- English style, and ate a lot of chocolate every day. They were good travel buddies.
5. I'm in Wellington! I' was welcomed into the home of the hilarious and wonderful Bevan family who were guests at Hopewell Lodge while I was working there. They were the ones that took me water skiing! I've gotten an awesome tour of the city and surrounding areas by Moray and I've been spending my days walking into the city and exploring. There is a huge arts festival happening throughout the city, which I've been trying to take advantage of as much as possible and I have finally found some dance classes that I'll be jumping into starting tonight!!! I am currently house-sitting on the Miramar Peninsula of Wellington for another wonderful couple I met at Hopewell and I am enjoying the luxury of a home to myself and ninja kitties to care for... we'll see what adventures lay in store for me in the next week before I head up northward. I'll keep you posted.
As always, you are in my heart and on my mind and I'm sending oodles of wonderful, beautiful New Zealand vibes your way. May your days be glorious, your heart happy and may your laughter knock you over.
To infinity and beyond :)
