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Cycling from Twisel to Lake Tekapo was one of the nicest riding days I've had yet. It was a balmy 22 degrees along a teal colored glacial fed canal with a stunning mountain range in the near landscape. Mount Cook was my view for a while until it disappeared in the distance of miles passed.
The weather was finally so warm I thought it was time to give camping a go again. So far every time I attempt tenting I end up going back to hosteling because I hate feeling like I've never left the arctic.
I set up my tent and had one of the warmest camping nights but coldest camping mornings. I scurried into the hostel, went to the washroom and when I came back.. It was snowing. Seriously?!?!!!!! UGH.
The troops rallied to help me get my stuff in and tent down. Luckily there was a nice warm fire going to help me defrost and my things dry.
The underlying beauty of this seemingly obvious misfortune is that it was quiet nostalgic. It was reminiscent of both the North and Newfoundland; of good friends and family; of past loves, winter sports, warm fires, bundling up and... Christmas.
Outside my bedroom window the snow softly fell and when I awoke and drifted back asleep into that vivid dream-like state I was in my family home and my mom was downstairs making cookies and my dad was gathering firewood from the shed. So simple and so comforting...
Some things are just engrained in us.
I later phoned home and my parents were thrilled to know I have warm fuzzy memories to reminisce about. I have to agree.
When I actually awoke, it was not to home baking or a fire, but to my super hot shirtless new friend and dorm mate, Nathan. Way better than cookies! Haha... (ps: Nathan, if you're reading this, lucky you're attractive... wouldn't you hate if I said you were ugly! ;)
I had breakfast with an awesome couple from Edmonton. We bonded over peanut butter. After exchanging contact info I was off on a bus again waving goodbye to a now very white Lake Tekapo. My road bike (and me) wouldn't have gotten very far with 10 cms of sloppy snow on the ground.
Destination: Timaru, to get back on track and back on my bike. Gotta get to Dunedin by Sunday to watch The Final rugby game!
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Z I hope Nathan reads this and then sends you cookies.