Southern Scenic Route

A big hello to everyone around the globe! A couple of days before the first advent (does time really pass that fast??) we are back in civilization and have Internet access again. Time to continue our story about us fighting against the forces of nature! How do they describe New Zealand in the National Museum Te Papa? "In New Zealand it rains, and rains, and rains." We can definitely and unfortunately prove that.

The last time I left you we were heading out of the Milford region, still hoping to do part of the famous alpine Kepler track, when we were hit by hail, snow and really, really cold temperatures. Once we got to Lake Manapouri in the Fiordland National Park, it was evident that we could neither do the track nor rent a kayak. Our solution: rent a rowboat, cross the river flowing into the lake and do a short 3 hour hike up the other side of the valley in order to get some good views. Of course, I know that rowing is not difficult, I have been kayaking and canoeing so many times in Canada that I was sure there was not going to be any problems doing it with two paddles and it was going to be a lot of fun. Well, I guess, for the people on the boatramp it turned out to be a lot of fun watching me going in circles on the river and not getting one cm closer to the other shore. ;) David also enjoyed my talent immensly, and, after hours, I also could say proudly - we did arrive at the other side! And had a lot of fun and some hearty laughs.

However, as you might have guessed, some wet stuff out of the sky soon caught up with us and we decided to finally quit the region and get to the Southern Coast. I actually wanted to skip telling you about our rather unsuccessful travels on the Southern Scenic Route because most of the things we wanted to do were closed due to rain but then I thought about all those tiny but special moments and I guess some of them are worth sharing. First, let me give you an impression of what the region is like in beautiful weather and what we would have liked to see every day: our typical New Zealand green, the mountains, the sheep - little paradise.

Then, I need to introduce our fun encounter with .... "the door" to you. We were actually stopping in order to visit some underground lime caves. It was one of our particularly good ideas because we were especially well equipped for the cave climbing. It said: at least two torches for each person" and we had one almost dead torch for each of us. So after a couple of rather dark and frightinging minutes in the caves, we decided to use the first exit and end this adventure. However, we encountered this fabulous door in the middle of the field next to the cave. Doesn't it just seduce you to knock? Needless to say we waited in vain for anybody to show up in need of a good pad!

The third little story needs to be put in here so you don't get the idea we actually had good weather and it is also a special tribute to you, Greg, because I wouldn't want you to go without your regular good laugh while reading this post. So as you said you just love seeing David and me in our stylish ponchos, here comes our visit to some of the waterfalls along the route. We stopped to see a couple of them, and as they all were a couple of minutes away from the main route, we decided to show off with our beautiful and sexy clothing. The waterfalls themselves were very beautiful and the rainy weather actually added a tough of mythtical atmosphere to the whole landscape. However, we were glad to get back into our little Caspar every single time.

So, then, I would also like to share with you some insights into our way of life on DOC (Department of Conservation) Campgrounds. As you may perceive on the pictures, these campgrounds are particularly well equipped with luxurious toiletts, showers, picnic tables, barbecues, garbage bins, etc. They are a good place to be in the rain because there is so much shelter and they are not only off the paved routes for at least 15kms but also very well developed and it is easy to put up a tent on an even ground. There are also a lot of other campers around so you can exchange travel stories and make new friends. :) Well, maybe that description is a little too positive but we like our new spirit: Back to nature and primitive life!

You wonder how we survive? Well, as you may have read in previous posts, we jump into cold lakes to wash ourselves (and our dishes) and we are experts in camping cooking now. The best of the best: cooking in the tent because it is so very spacious and you don't have to panic at all to set the whole thing on fire. But, the result was a warm meal after a cold day in a cosy surrounding. Nothing more to wish for (we are getting very modest). Our spare time we spent - no, not exploring the region because we would never be able to dry our clothes again - but comfortably installed in our dear tent. Luckily, candles have been invented and so we can enjoy good books, newspapers, a game of cards or two, and the sound of the raindrops pourring down on our home.

However, we also spend some time in civilization - in this case, we fled to Dunedin, New Zealand's true Scottish city and enjoyed not only the beautiful architecture (the building on the picture in the train station) but also a very interesting visit to Cadbury's chocolate factory (yummie, free chocolate), and the discovery of New Zealand's only castle: Larnach, built by a very successful private business man and politician at the end of the 19th century. The picture here only shows me in the gardens (fuer dich Mama, in Erinnerung an Versailles) but there'll be a picture of the cute, beautiful and very interesting castle in David's post.

Of course, we couldn't get too involved in culture and had to do some crazy stuff as well. So here goes Angi taking up some wired position in order to be the most ridiculous possible. No, seriously, the explanation for this picture: we visited the world's steepest street (in Dunedin) and David just played around with the camera and different perspectives for a bit. The street actually is very amazing, we didn't dare drive our little Casper up there because we were afraid he wouldn't be able to make it and I almost lost my balance a couple of times while walking up and down and we were truely out of breath when getting to the top! (yeah, yeah, we should do more sports...)

So, I guess for today this will be it, otherwise I'll get beaten for writing too much again. But I guess, you've got quite a good idea of how life is going for us here down South now! The last picture I have for you shows Moreaki Bolders, on our way back North to Christchurch. Those round rocks lay right on the beach and people do wonder who they got there. We wondered only a little bit, had some fun climbing them, and then fled into the car because some more rain came up. A couple days earlier than expected we arrived back at our starting point - but that story will be for another day! For now, cheers to everyone and I hope you are all doing great and enjoying life.