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Hi all!
Well I have a fair bit to update you about from the past couple of weeks. Firstly, I have just had a super weekend away in Abel Tasman NP! On Saturday, I went on a day's kayaking trip all along the coast from Onetahuti beach, through the Tonga Island Marine Reserve and all the way down to a large bay called Anchorage - it was brilliant! We saw seals with pups hopping about the rocks and blue-footed penguins crusing along beside us. As it was high tide in the afternoon, we were able to paddle in and out of some cool lagoons and up Falls River which I crossed on a really long swing bridge last time I was in the Park. We hopped out on some lovely deserted beaches along the way for pit-stops and saw some great geographical features - like granite arches and caves - oh yeah! It was overcast most of the day but fortunately the sea was very calm and it was nice and warm, plus we paddled with the prevailing current so it wasn't too challenging although Anchorage Bay was a bit choppy. I certainly felt an amazing sense of freedom paddling along and really got to appreciate the beautiful coastline from out on the water.
I stayed the night in a backpackers in Marahau, at the start of the Park and took a water taxi back up to Anchorage on Sunday morning. The water taxis are so much fun, they bomb along so fast! I walked a lovely trail around some headlands and found the most idyllic bay I have ever seen - it was virtually deserted, with golden sand and an amazingly clear sea - wow! So I went for a dip, it was pretty freezing at first but warmed up quick - I loved it! I walked the coastal track back to Marahau which wound in and out of tropical inlets and saw some cool birds (which I must find the names of). So a super weekend, probably my last visit to Abel Tasman - definitely one of my favourite places on my travels so far.
I've also been on a wine tour of the Waimea plains around Nelson which was pretty cool. I had decided that I couldn't leave Nelson without sampling some of the fine local wines. We zoomed in a minibus from vineyard to vineyard and sampled about 24 wines in total, which equals about a bottle of wine! Red wine is certainly not my thing, and as for white wines my favourite was Riesling, especially riesling ice wine, a sweet 'dessert' wine full of sugar - mmm! I sampled some local avocado and olive oils too, fed some hungry llamas and had an amazing boysenberry ice cream sundae at a berry picking place - yum! I wouldn't call myself a wine connoisseur yet but I'll certainly be looking out for NZ wines in the future.
I've been out and about on my bike a bit too. Last Sunday, I went on a long ride to Cable Bay, the next bay north from Tasman Bay. It was about 12km away in total, about two thirds of which involved a jaunt along State Highway 6 - it was perfectly legal but exceedingly hairy - the speed limit was 100km/h! So I zoomed along as fast as possible on my prehistoric bike in the narrow lane beside the main road - I must have looked a sight and laughed the whole way. I walked a nice track up into some hills above the Bay, dodged some humungous cows and went through some native bush to a great viewpoint. Afterwards I cycled back and stopped for a wonder along the Boulder Bank - a natural spit that separates Nelson Harbour from Tasman Bay, and then around Nelson Haven where I stopped for fish & chips at what I'd heard was the best fish & chip shop in the 'Top of the South' - and the fish sure was super fresh :).
Other than some trips out, I've done a few more days volunteering at the YMCA which is always good fun. Once day we went to a campsite up a lovely valley with a lake, adventure playground, swimming pool etc - I got stuck in of course, in the swimming pool as well as the playground! Another day was outdoor sports and another pool where I spent most of my time dragging kids around the lazy river and jumping in the waves. I've done a bit of cooking too - I cooked eggplant for the first time (the weird Kiwi word for aubergine), and some more pumpkin of course. I am saving my Angel Delight for this weekend - my last in my house as I'll be moving out early next week :(. I've been swimming lots at the Riverside pool, mooching about the art galleries and gardens in Nelson, and run up the Centre of NZ a few times. Work at Macpac is good but has slowed a bit now that the peak summer sale season is over. I've had a few days where I have been 'in charge', they went well except for one day when I managed to get the till jammed - I freaked out big time and frantically clawed at it with my friend Becky who somehow managed to ram it open after about 15 minutes of panic - relief! We spent the rest of the day in hysterics thinking about it, made worse after I also managed to break a walking pole whilst trying to demonstrate it to a customer - oops - no sale!
As work is slowing up I have decided its time for me to move on from Nelson. I will give in my notice at work tomorrow and plan to set off around the 15th February. I have been planning my route around the South Island lately, studying my Rough Guide and checking out bus passes. I have a rough plan in mind and will buy my pass next week. I'll hostel hop for my last 2 weeks here and then head off.
So I'll update you all with my plans soon. I hope everyone is well in the meantime - Spring is on the way for you - yippee, and more importantly, the Saints are through to the fifth round of the FA Cup - come on you reds!
All the best for now,
Grace xx
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