Well, this'll be my last entry from New Zealand :( I'm in Auckland Airport right now, and I found a free internet kiosk. It's really sluggish, but oh well. Not much to report, I'm still waiting for my flight to be assigned to a gate. It feels a bit weird, because it doesn't feel like I've been here for 9 months. Time flies when you're having fun, I guess. I'll put up another blog or two as a sort of aftermath, with trip totals and such. I'll be arriving in MSP at 8AM on friday. Until then, wish me a good plane trip!
-Ben
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Friday, May 9, 2008
The Cake That Never Grew Up
Hello there! Well, I've gotten tired of writing about the distant pass, so here's the rundown of what I've done recently:
From Christchurch I went North to Kaikoura.
From Kaikoura I went South-West and then West to Hanmer Springs (home of an overly-expensive, "natural" hot-spring which has been completely touristified, which I did NOT go to)
Went over Lewis Pass, stopping along the way at some real, natural, and FREE hot-springs (Sylvia Flat) next to a river (but horrible sand flies).
Went to Reefton, where I met some of my Uncle's work-mates.
Over to Greymouth (actually got a lift there, which was nice).
Stayed there for a night or two (free internet at the library!). There was a bike-race on the day I left (130km?), and I snuck onto the final straightaway on my fully-loaded bicycle during a dull moment. That was exciting!
Went along the coast to Punakaiki, saw the Pancake rocks. Then up to Westport. I really enjoyed this road. Cycled with a Swiss guy called Josua (w/o "h")for a day. Went through the Buller Gorge. Met a Stanford-educated Plumber who was really interesting! Went on to Motueka, where I hung around "Hat Trick Lodge" for a few days, working for 2 hours in the morning making beds in exchange for a room. Ran out of cash, but found a job at a box factory, making kiwifruit boxes (which is just as interesting as it sounds...) I only lasted 5 days, and then I had had enough! I rode my bike wearing my tramping (hiking) pack the 18km into Marahau, from whence I went into Abel Tasman National Park for 5 days. I did the (easy) coastal track in 2, and spent the other three going back along the inland track, which climbs from sea-level to 1000m+, and is much rougher. Rode my bike back to motueka via kaiteriteri. There was a german sitting in the kitchen talking about making a cake, and he said that the cake "never grew up". I loved it, and so stole it as the title.
From Christchurch I went North to Kaikoura.
From Kaikoura I went South-West and then West to Hanmer Springs (home of an overly-expensive, "natural" hot-spring which has been completely touristified, which I did NOT go to)
Went over Lewis Pass, stopping along the way at some real, natural, and FREE hot-springs (Sylvia Flat) next to a river (but horrible sand flies).
Went to Reefton, where I met some of my Uncle's work-mates.
Over to Greymouth (actually got a lift there, which was nice).
Stayed there for a night or two (free internet at the library!). There was a bike-race on the day I left (130km?), and I snuck onto the final straightaway on my fully-loaded bicycle during a dull moment. That was exciting!
Went along the coast to Punakaiki, saw the Pancake rocks. Then up to Westport. I really enjoyed this road. Cycled with a Swiss guy called Josua (w/o "h")for a day. Went through the Buller Gorge. Met a Stanford-educated Plumber who was really interesting! Went on to Motueka, where I hung around "Hat Trick Lodge" for a few days, working for 2 hours in the morning making beds in exchange for a room. Ran out of cash, but found a job at a box factory, making kiwifruit boxes (which is just as interesting as it sounds...) I only lasted 5 days, and then I had had enough! I rode my bike wearing my tramping (hiking) pack the 18km into Marahau, from whence I went into Abel Tasman National Park for 5 days. I did the (easy) coastal track in 2, and spent the other three going back along the inland track, which climbs from sea-level to 1000m+, and is much rougher. Rode my bike back to motueka via kaiteriteri. There was a german sitting in the kitchen talking about making a cake, and he said that the cake "never grew up". I loved it, and so stole it as the title.
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