I have edited the last 3 blog entries and added a Google Earth image of our route. My copy of Google Earth stopped working a few days ago. I finally discovered that the file the stores “My Places” data had been corrupted and hung up the program. Renaming the backup file solved the problem.
A Day in Nelson
We spent a relaxing day walking around Nelson. It was nice to take a day off riding. In the morning we checked out market and the downtown area looking for a few gifts and a replacement for the shirt I forgot to pack. No luck on either account. In the afternoon we hiked up to a lookout point in the hills above the city. I thought the streets in Nelson, BC were steep but the street we went up was much steeper. It is obvious that they don’t get any snow here! After a couple of blocks we started the 45 minute hike up a well maintained trail to the lookout point. It was a sweaty climb (the humidity is high here) but it was good to get some strenuous exercise.
Once again we stayed in a very nice B&B a few blocks from the center of town and ate dinner at a couple outdoor pubs in the downtown area. So far the food has been very good. There is a good selection and the prices are similar to Canada and there are plenty of good coffee places to keep Latte Linda satisfied.
We are returning to Nelson and the same B&B on our last night in NZ, before flying back home.
Nelson to Karamea
Our route around the South Island takes us down the west coast , through the Haast Pass and as far south as Te Anau before starting north though the interior. We go back to the east coast at Kaikoura before returning to Nelson.
Today we rode south-west to the coast (Westport) and then back north to the end of the road at Karamea. The route took us through the Buller Gorge, a narrow mountainous river valley . The mountains are tree covered and the vegetation is more temperate now that it was in the Auckland area. There are still a few palm trees and fern trees but generally there is a mix of deciduous and coniferous trees, many of which I don’t recognize.
There are plenty of “adventure” activities in this area, for the so inclined... zip line tours, jet boating, white water rafting, kayaking, etc. Hiking, or tramping as it is called here, is a very popular activity. There is an abundance of tracks, from short 20 minutes walks to 20 day hikes. Karamea is the starting point for several tracks in the Kahurangura National Park. We stopped to hike into a small lake about 20 minutes off the road, this afternoon. It was nice to get the exercise but it was a very ordinary pond in the woods. We are realizing that living in BC has spoiled us!
Tomorrow we head down the coast to Fox Glacier. It may have not made the news in Canada but a couple of days ago two brothers walked past a roped off area to have their pictures taken close to the edge of the glacier and were buried under tons of falling ice.
It’s Monday morning now and I’ll finish this entry off while having coffee. It is sunny again today but cool, only 10C. It is good thing that we brought our warmer riding gear.
Linda and I were discussing the pros and cons of this type of a trip last night and have come to the conclusion that a pre-organized tour is not ideal. We would prefer to have more leeway. Live and learn! We are still enjoying the trip. Three weeks is only an introduction to New Zealand. You need much more time than this to see what you would like to see. Next time?
posted by Bernie & Linda @ 11:57 am
1 comments
1 Comments:
Hi Bernie, Linda,
I finally took some time to look over your blog, pictures...and always interesting observations. In fact, I think I will recommend to the local merchants the idea of increasing their food/drink costs on holidays to cover increased wages.
Sounds like an interesting array of weather and topography....and its great that the bike and accommodations have been good. It can sure be a challenge if the riding position isn't comfortable, given the length of the trip.
I find the comments about driving habits interesting, especially the middle line markings and speed restrictions...as you have said, the nature of the roads often demand your constant attention which, although challenging, does engage you with the ride rather than the passive feeling that many of us have, especially in flatter, less interesting terrain.
With respect to mom and dad, I have been in regularly to visit and have been more active in working with dad's paperwork. I find that he is more confused with mail and we worked through a system of filtering it, getting rid of the garbage advertisement, and reworking his filing system.
I have been in more communication with their medical counsellor, Melva, and will be attending their appointment on the 21st with them.
The weather here has been quite a challenge with snow and now extreme cold (-19 last night)so dad has been housebound a little more than usual, which he finds frustrating.....however, overall, they seem ok and in some ways, my involvement with their paperwork has helped dad to be less confused and overwhelmed with stuff. In fact, I have found mom to be less self-denegrating and more accepting of reality in the last while.
Anyway, interesting comment about the arranged tour. I remember the feeling when I was involved in the 22 day outward bound canoe/portage trip. As much as I enjoyed the experience, as we moved towards the last part of the trip it really hit many of us that we didn't have much flexibility to just be during each day because of the demands of targets for arrival points. The human spirit needs a break from this type of subtle pressure because one never quite knows when the moment invites one to engage in more, to take that extra couple hours...or dare say, another day, to immerse yourself in the joys of moment that has presented itself (especially when one is open to this....as I noted, you have often chosen the "long way" around on roads).
Take care, glad you are safe and touch base later...ps. I am flying down to visit my friend Paul in West Palm Beach on Jan. 30 for about 6 days. He is a snowbird and I usually do there for about a week each year to exercise, enjoy the area.....and hope that the snow doesn't fall too heavily back here so that Theresa doesn't have to think about me on the beach while she is shovelling.
Love...
Steve
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