Pretty, annoying
Ah, New Zealand. So majestic, so gracious, so…pollenated.
There are advantages to following spring around the world. We were originally going to follow summer, but that would have been so hot, whereas spring is nice and cool. I am what Erin calls a "sensitive flower," ironically so. And spring has two things that ruin vacations - rain and blooming vegetation. So while we have been camping in beautiful locations across the world, I have been getting wicked allergy attacks. awesome. They got pretty bad in Melbourne, but I got new medicine to deal with it. But by the time we got to the west coast of the south island of New Zealand I had to get even more medicine to deal with my eyes. Which seemed to work until the day before we left, Erin noticed that one of my pupils was larger than the other. Freaked us out a little but it went away and i haven't used them since. Aaanyway, that's not why you're here. You want to know how New Zealand was!
There are advantages to following spring around the world. We were originally going to follow summer, but that would have been so hot, whereas spring is nice and cool. I am what Erin calls a "sensitive flower," ironically so. And spring has two things that ruin vacations - rain and blooming vegetation. So while we have been camping in beautiful locations across the world, I have been getting wicked allergy attacks. awesome. They got pretty bad in Melbourne, but I got new medicine to deal with it. But by the time we got to the west coast of the south island of New Zealand I had to get even more medicine to deal with my eyes. Which seemed to work until the day before we left, Erin noticed that one of my pupils was larger than the other. Freaked us out a little but it went away and i haven't used them since. Aaanyway, that's not why you're here. You want to know how New Zealand was!
South Island
We arrived in the afternoon and found our hosts place, which was on the ocean side of christchurch. this area was severely effected by the recent earthquake and many of the houses, including the one we stayed at, had been deemed damaged beyond repair and would have to be knocked down and rebuilt. the couple we stayed in had differing opinions on whether they would actually tear the whole place down or try to get through the laundry list of expensive repairs needed to salvage the existing structure (jointly paid by the gov't and insurance).
We had two weeks in New Zealand. I had to fight for that two weeks (Erin wanted to leave later), and although this time is an appallingly short time for the country, I'm glad we at least have had that much. We decided, a week before leaving australia, that it might be fun to do a bit of touring on a motorcycle. So in the morning I woke up bright and early and took the bus down to pick up the motorcycle, which was pretty exciting.
We arrived in the afternoon and found our hosts place, which was on the ocean side of christchurch. this area was severely effected by the recent earthquake and many of the houses, including the one we stayed at, had been deemed damaged beyond repair and would have to be knocked down and rebuilt. the couple we stayed in had differing opinions on whether they would actually tear the whole place down or try to get through the laundry list of expensive repairs needed to salvage the existing structure (jointly paid by the gov't and insurance).
We had two weeks in New Zealand. I had to fight for that two weeks (Erin wanted to leave later), and although this time is an appallingly short time for the country, I'm glad we at least have had that much. We decided, a week before leaving australia, that it might be fun to do a bit of touring on a motorcycle. So in the morning I woke up bright and early and took the bus down to pick up the motorcycle, which was pretty exciting.
takes a lot to fit all our stuff in those cases
It took all of our organizational skills to fit all our camping equipment, clothes and other necessities into the hard cases provided, but since we left half of our stuff at the house, we lugged the bags onto the frame, climbed into our riding gear ( I was somehow able to bear wearing my moto pants despite the fact that an enormous spider crawled out of a leg after i pulled them on), and on a slightly drizzly day, were on our way into the country.
We were a little nervous about our experience after a couple hours of riding through farm land in the rain, until we literally turned a corner in burke's pass, when the skies parted, and the beautiful glacial ranges lay out before us. We weaved our way through the valleys, beside impossibly blue lakes, and made it to Mt. Cook around 7pm. This would normally be sunset time, but because we were so far south, we had another two hours to set up and eat dinner before we were rewarded with a gorgeous sunset reflecting on the mountains. We hiked the next morning and sunbathed next to a glacial lake with little icebergs floating by before heading down to Queenstown.
We were a little nervous about our experience after a couple hours of riding through farm land in the rain, until we literally turned a corner in burke's pass, when the skies parted, and the beautiful glacial ranges lay out before us. We weaved our way through the valleys, beside impossibly blue lakes, and made it to Mt. Cook around 7pm. This would normally be sunset time, but because we were so far south, we had another two hours to set up and eat dinner before we were rewarded with a gorgeous sunset reflecting on the mountains. We hiked the next morning and sunbathed next to a glacial lake with little icebergs floating by before heading down to Queenstown.
not that i'm a sore loser or anything
Queenstown is known as the adventure capital of the south island, and we decided the best way to partake is with a rousing game of frisbee golf (thanks to our world-traveling friend Krista for the recommendation. Unfortunately she's traveling in the opposite direction). Erin won handily, and then to add insult to injury she also won our mountain luging series 4-2. bad day for me.
The rest of our moto time was full of gorgeous scenery in a way that only New Zealand can deliver; High above are snow covered mountains, glaciers, with tropical vegetation growing just below. We took a cruise through the Milford sound and filled our water bottles with pure glacier stream water. We rode through driving rain in a lush tropical mountain pass, then warmed ourselves up soaking in a hot tub at the foot of Fox Glacier, and were given an early christmas present of a half tank of gas from a friendly farm-hand before heading through Arthurs pass. It was here also that we met the Keas, who look like a cross between a parrot and a hawk, are in no way afraid of people and are known for ripping tires to shreds because they like the texture (luckily that didn't happen to us).
The rest of our moto time was full of gorgeous scenery in a way that only New Zealand can deliver; High above are snow covered mountains, glaciers, with tropical vegetation growing just below. We took a cruise through the Milford sound and filled our water bottles with pure glacier stream water. We rode through driving rain in a lush tropical mountain pass, then warmed ourselves up soaking in a hot tub at the foot of Fox Glacier, and were given an early christmas present of a half tank of gas from a friendly farm-hand before heading through Arthurs pass. It was here also that we met the Keas, who look like a cross between a parrot and a hawk, are in no way afraid of people and are known for ripping tires to shreds because they like the texture (luckily that didn't happen to us).
Keas are a bit ominous
We made it back to christchurch with no further gas issues (moto's go empty so quickly), returned to our de facto home, and spent the day doing nothing, and it was glorious. while it rained outside we stayed warm watching movies on the couch. It's days like this that are too few and far between. In hindsight we were very fortunate with our weather along our moto tour because it rained for the entire following week.
Erin was able to score us a relocation deal so instead of taking a bus for the rest of our trip, we had a car for the next 5 days. We took off north but because of torrential rain couldn't go to Nelson and Able Tasman park, which is supposed to be beautiful. boo. So instead we stayed near the ferry port town of Picton, ate green lipped mussels of all types and the regional wines (whites were better than red).
Then it was onto the ferry to the North Island...
(Continued in next post) - SB
Erin was able to score us a relocation deal so instead of taking a bus for the rest of our trip, we had a car for the next 5 days. We took off north but because of torrential rain couldn't go to Nelson and Able Tasman park, which is supposed to be beautiful. boo. So instead we stayed near the ferry port town of Picton, ate green lipped mussels of all types and the regional wines (whites were better than red).
Then it was onto the ferry to the North Island...
(Continued in next post) - SB
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