Last night in the van was the battle of hf.style vs the blood sucking insects...As I was quietly reading before going to bed, I hear a buzzing noise in the van (I've come to learn that not many insects make buzzing noises in NZ except for the mosquito). The first one was a simpleton - I was able to smash him mid flight with a clasp of the hands. I thought it might be over, but then that buzzing sound returned so I turned on the inside dome light (as my headlamp was the only other one on and I didn't want him flying straight at my face). This one must have been related to the first, because he came crashing down mid flight and I again had him killed in the palm of my hands. Finally some peace, back to reading...but there it is again (its like they are multiplying). This one was a bit trickier. At first I kept trying to slap it with a book against the window but he was too fast. Then I went to for the magazine slap (since its bigger) but again no avail.
So I waited..gave him five minutes fore each of us to regroup (or to trick him into believing he had one and would get the feast of a life time that night). Then I spotted him sitting on the front seat curtain and I swooped in with a quick standing hand slap...he sure didn't see that one coming and I was victorious. Cautiously I sat there listening, looking for a sign that the battle wasn't over. Then there he was sitting on the ceiling. i couldn't do any hand clamps on this one - so I had to use the book. SMASH, but I thought he got away; he wasn't on the ceiling and he wasn't on the book..so again I start to search the van...low and behold I had hit him (not exactly a kill strike, but a valiant maiming) and there he was lying on my bed spread. I flicked him to the floor and finished the job.
Final score: hf.style - 4 blood sucking insects - nil
Luckily because of my mad insect killing skills I was able to sleep in peace (plus it rained all night so that was a plus). I woke up, feeling good - cooked some brekky and headed out. I was contemplating hiking (they refer to it as tramping) some more of the Kelper track, but by the time I got there it was raining quite hard so I pushed on to Queenstown. I knew there was a hike there which looked pretty good.
Along the way I stopped in Kingston for a coffee and figured I should start planning my drive back to Christchurch. The scenic route looked awesome - but it was over 10 hours drive, which is a lot in one day for a girl 6 days in on holiday.
I made it to Queenstown and to the Queenstown Hill / Te Papunui Time Walk (3 hour return). As the guide describes it,
This scenic walk climbs over 500m to the summit of Te Tapunui - mountain of intense sacredness. At the summit, rock tors provide grandstand seating to take in the 360 degree panoramic view that includes the Remarkables, Cecil Peak, The Frankton and South Arms and Queenstown Bay.
It was a hike that is for sure, but had some of the best views of Queenstown and surrounding mountains. By the time I reached the top I was hiking in the clouds (which is pretty surreal), but still got some good pics.
After the hike I headed to the Caravan park (again not much camping in Queenstown) checked in, and decided to see what campsites might exist along the scenic route to Christchuch. I headed to the department of conservation and got a booklet with all the campsites in the south island. There were at least three in the general direction that I was heading and the perfect distance (i.e. if I start driving now I can get there in time to make dinner and cut my 10 hour drive down to about 6).
Well after finding that out, I figured I should just start driving tonight (plus I've stayed in Queenstown for two nights already it was time to move on). I made a quick dash for the caravan park, took a shower, ate a snack (salad in fact and it was a treat!), used the internet and was telling them I was out of there. And wouldn't you know it - they were nice enough to give me a refund (those Kiwis sure are nice).
Now I'm driving, heading to Christchurch on Hwy 6, through Mount Aspiring national park, up the west coast and over Arthur's Pass. First stop was the campsites at Mount Aspiring. The first one I stopped at wasn't so pleasant - just a large field for you to park in. After camping at Henry's creek I really wanted a bit more. So I drove on - got to the last campsite (which would have to do b/c it was the last) and it was adequite.
There was a 5 minute hike to the river and plenty of trees and scrubs around. The drive has been well worth it, with all the rain in the past week the waterfalls are plentiful. They literally come out of no where and it is an amazing site to see.
Crazy that I only have one more day. I have very much enjoyed this trip. I didn't know if I could do it, or if I would enjoy my own company for a whole week - but it wasn't that bad. What I'm not going to enjoy is turning my phone back on and entering the "real world" but I guess that is the price you have to pay to be able to have these adventures.
Tomorrow shall be interesting - a quick 6 hour drive to Christchurch where I have no hostel booking. The city had another earthquake on boxing day which was dead in the centre of the city so a lot of the hostels are still being inspected...I guess we'll see what happens. Tonight I actually have to set an alarm (I want to make sure I get to Christchurch in time to walk around a bit).
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