G’Day,
How’s everybody?? Well my last log was in Nelson waiting to do the Abel Tasman. While waiting to get on the trip, decided to head to Fairwell Spit – right up the north-west of the south Island. An absolute nightmare to get to because most of the road is just dirt track, but well worth it. We got there just before dusk, so on the walk back the sun was just goin down, Fairly (see what I did there!!) impressive place, but the word impressive means something very different than it did nine months ago.
Long drive back to the hostel in Motueka, pack me bag for the kayak trip and off to bed for an early night – long two days ahead. Got there early to meet the ‘Team’ (any group thing you do over here your called ‘team’ – stuff like “Right team, are you ready to kayak!!”. All very Kiwi). We’d meet two of the ‘team’ before on the Tongariro crossing and the rest were wicked sound. So water taxi up to the first of many beaches. The whole National Park is just so beautiful it’s hard to explain, the water is so clear! Spent the day just going from beach to beach, stopping now and then to have a swim or just mess about on the beach.
After a couple of hour milling about, we stopped by a campsite and settled in for the night. And that’s when the real feast began – NEVER, EVER, GO TO THE COAST IN NZ WITHOUT INSECT SPRAY…..NEVER!!! Anyone who’s ever had a sandfly bite will understand. I got bitten about 30 times on my legs and feet, but it didn’t really start to itch until back on land after the trip. Anyway, had a top laugh at the campsite. The conversations got a bit much at times though, there was a radiographer, 2 surgeons and a vet on the trip and there was serious competition for the worst, most gruesome story. Nasty business!
Up the next day and off for another paddle, how bad…Couple of sore heads about, but a quick swim sorted that out fairly smartish. Plenty more kayaking and beach sitting/exploring, by the afternoon we were all fairly knackered. The way the trip is run, you go north-south so the prevailing wind is always behind you, so in the afternoon we all rafted up together and stuck up a sail and away we went down easy street!! A very easy sail back to the starting beach.
Back at base and about to fall over I was so tired, but no time for that. Into the car and on the road south and towards Christchurch over a few days. It would have been alright driving except for one thing – I started to scratch my sandfly bites. I couldn’t wear shoes or socks for 10 days because my feet were so swollen…Insect spray – it’s the way forward!! Still, had a really amazing two days in Abel Tasman, as the pics are testament to – the place is fantastic!!
I’ve been up to a few things since then too, and plenty of news too, but I’m out of time and I have to move on and get todays miles under my belt – on to the next (and soooo sadly my last) adventure in New Zealand. I’m off to Oz next week, so I’m goin to have to say goodbye to the Land Of The Long White Cloud!! I’m welling up!!
But I’ve more to tell when I’ve got the time – Since Abel I’ve been down to Queenstown and been kayaking in Milford and Doubtful Sound…. Milford and Doubtful are…….well……..HUGE!!! But that’s all for another day…..
Besides that, all’s great…Keepin well, smiling and having fun. Hope all’s good wherever ye are…
Have a good one everybody, and I'll be back soon with all the Milford and Doubtful Sound info soon, till then I'm off to climb a glacier...
Take care everyone and remember – the summer is on the way!! It’s startin to get a bit colder down here now, and the snow is falling on the peaks!!
Ta Da for now…..Big Love…Neillxx
