But in a really good way eh...
I spent a couple of weeks back with Annie and family near Havelock, recovering from fishing. This was mostly achieved by doing little, with the exception of one day working for Hamish, and a few babysitting evenings. I still can't shake the part of me that simply wakes around six or half six every morning, but this has been quite a fine way to start the days... I have accompanied my morning coffee with some fine sunrises; central Hawkes Bay, Hohepa, Bay of Islands, out at sea, Marlborough Sounds - with plenty of mist and fog - and have really appreciated these moments to myself... caffeine, crisp mornings, and the sound of - well, not much beyond birds really...
I collected my hire car on Thursday and headed down to Kaikoura, checked into the Albatross backpackers for a night, maybe two... Ahem... tonight will be my third here, I just seemed to join the others here who also came for the one, perhaps two nights but have ended up staying for three or more - weeks in some cases... It's a fine hostel, relaxed, musical, shared meals, creative; we are encouraged to create paintings, drawings and other pieces to leave as testimony of our visits... On Thursday I contemplated heading south on Friday, yesterday I was certain I would be heading towards Tekapo today, now I am completely definite I will check out tomorrow... No, really, I have limited time to get around, so am moving on again...
Friday morning, with the ubiquitous rise at six, I headed to the point to watch the sunrise, sadly without coffee, but was rewarded with a fine display...
Just before sunrise, the sky at it's best
I sure ain't no duckling...
So, complete with a bag full of driftwood and shells, I returned to the hostel, then a drive to visit some seal pups who have found their way upstream into the bush, at Ohau Falls; a very strange sight to be walking through the trees to discover them lazing about amongst the roots, and playfully splashing around a waterfall and pool...
Just another strange thing to be witnessed in this remarkable, yet still very wonky, country...
Last night the winds got up and played havoc with a variety of doors, shutters and garden furniture, waking me a little earlier even than my usual rise time. And just to ensure I didn't return to sleep, the town fire alarm went off just half past too-damn-early... For those of you who are not privy to the workings of the Kiwi volunteer fire service, they use something akin to air-raid sirens to rouse the willing firefighters; notices around the hostel advise guests not to panic or imagine a tsunami or earthquake heading our way upon hearing this.
Albatross lounge; art, music, great chat, great people...
Despite my desire to remain here an extra night, today was slightly bound by non-starters... The winery we chose to visit was closed; the track we walked briefly was devoid of view, and the fine fish van near the point was not closed - it was simply not there... but hey, I have grown used to these Kiwi occurrences, and appreciate that life here does not necessarily stick to the written plan... this has rubbed off on me, and I too find myself travelling without much of a plan. I have referred to my travel plans more like sketches - I am heading in this general direction and will stop wherever takes my fancy and, as my current location shows, for however long takes my fancy... I will return the hire car next Friday, so am rubbing out and re-sketching my plans on a daily, sometimes hourly basis, which at this point has been more about unticking possible places to visit as I find myself happily ensconced in this fine hostel. I could quite easily remain here until Friday, and would enjoy the company, the socialising and the weather, which up to now has completely defied my belief that I am in the southern hemisphere heading rapidly towards the depths of winter... If I am honest, today felt pretty much as good as a fine day in July at home, making my oft used statement regarding this country as wonky holding more truth as the days and weeks pass by.
But I am moving on once more... Despite enjoying this place very much, I would regret missing out on some more of the scenery out here while I have the opportunity... Tomorrow I am heading towards Tekapo... I use the term "towards" with good reason - as I write this I am sharing in a conversation with another traveller who has not anticipated the truths involved in driving around the South Island in winter... When the snow comes, the roads close... When it's cold, the roads are icy, perhaps some pea gravel is scattered on the worse bits, but none of the gritting or salting we are used to in the UK. So, heading towards a destination implies that I may have to re-sketch en route if the weather does a u-turn on the forecast... I intend to stay in Tekapo for two nights, with the weather forecast implying that snow is due late Tuesday, but given that the weather follows the notion of sticking to it's plan in the same way that the winery and fish van stick to their opening hours, I may find myself "heading" somewhere else at any point...
And now I will enjoy my last night in this fine establishment, I have left my mark here - a driftwood hanging decoration, the remnants of the tunes played echoing through the walls, and a final snoopy piece yet to materialise...
Yeah, it doesn't really hang sideways, my replacement camera won't swing the pictures round...
As I now carefully prepare to extricate myself from the Albatross Backpackers, I leave a few days of fine holiday, fine people, and fine scenery... I don't know what to expect from Tekapo, if indeed I get there... I am giving a lift to the hostel manager's mum, who - as I found out on my first night - is from Wakefield of all places. It will be nice to have company... the drive is estimated to be five and a half hours...
So, til next I write, from wherever the road takes me or the weather denotes, ciao...
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