Kiwi Roadtrip: Week One
Sunday, November 25th, 2007Nights slept in tent: 2
Amount of money spent repairing the ’91 Nissan: $25
Times we’ve accidentally driven on the wrong side of the road: twice
Number of near-fatal accidents we’ve witnessed: 1
Number of Canadians spotted wearing Canadian flags: 9
Skip-Bo Score: Brooke 6, JR 2
We were so proud of our intentions to camp that the first night of the trip we popped the $49.99 tent on a patch of burnt grass in a busy campground. The tent appeared to be assembled correctly, but we were left with a wad of ropes. We snuck a few glances at our neighbor’s tent, to check if they had used their wad of ropes, and they had. Shit. We would have asked, but they were blasting Pantera and discussing drag racing so we didn’t interrupt.
The second day we started our two-day trek of Abel Tasman National Park, along the coast of the northwest tip of the South Island. The scenery was stunning, and we were left with spectacular photos, huge appetites and blisters.
The rest of the week was spent meandering down the coast. We stopped for a few days in Punakaiki (or was it Punakaika?) where we had a huge house in the bush to ourselves. (Bush=forest ’round here) A short trail from our doorstep lead down to the beach. It was spectacular- and cheap. (USD 35/night)
While everyone was enjoying their turkey, eighteen hours ahead here in New Zealand we went hiking on the Franz Josef glacier. For eight hours a guide lead eleven of us up the glacier, carving steps with an ice axe and forcing us through tiny crevices. Crevices so narrow that my hips almost got stuck. It was intense, awesome, and definitely not safe. I was the only one in the group to fall (typical). My knees look like the swollen bruised peaches that no one will buy on sale at the supermarket.
Tomorrow we set out on the Kepler Track, one of New Zealand’s ‘Great Walks’. Four days and 60 kilometers (37mi), most of which will be uphill. Oh my God. Wish us luck.
brooke.pearson8