Further South - Doing Ok

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday evening finds me at a farm campground just outside of Kakanui. I left the cool and funky Hunuku farm camp located on the Banks Peninsula near Akaroa with a 45 year old Frenchman who was also camped there. The previous day I hiked a nice loop from the farm up a ridge touching low cloud then down along hillside traversing above the bay to a palm filled gully. Despite clouds and a little light rain it was a very nice hike.

Will left France a little over 4 years ago to partner with a relative living in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Together they opened a French bakery that was wildly successful. He worked every day for four years and was able to save a half million dollars. He was amazed by how much work there is in America and how well you can do if you work hard. He commented, “If America wants to be like Europe they are in for a big surprise!” Needless to say he had a great American experience and one he will likely return to. Naturally, after working every day for four years he needed a break so he’s traveling for an undetermined amount of time with little or no plan.

Will bought a Honda car for $2000 NZD and it seems to run fine. Yesterday we took a long scenic back road out of Banks Peninsula and stopped at a bay along the way just to hang out for awhile. By late afternoon we found a campground by the beach near Christchurch. This morning I ran along the shore just as the tide started to retreat allowing for firmer sand and good footing.

Plain oatmeal, pasta, veggies, no caffeine and no alcohol seems to be working at keeping my vertigo under control. I cheat a bit with a meat pie or slice of carrot cake from bakery but am doing ok. Sleep has been hit and miss but mostly not too good. Knock on wood I’m doing ok.

Will and I are on the same page for the most part so I expect we will travel together for a few days. Neither one of us seems to be in any kind of rush nor do we see any reason to plan too much or book ahead for anything. As it looks now we are on our way to Stuart Island off the bottom of the South Island. It’s a place where you have a good chance of seeing an elusive Kiwi.

The photos in this post are from my walks from the farm on Banks Peninsula.