Flying Spaghetti Monster: round and red as a meatball in tomato sauce
WAIAU MOTOR CAMP, HIGHFIELD ST., DOUBLE BUNK ROOM WITH LINEN AND TOWEL FOR $28
Cloudy, but very warm
I was up at 7.30, and the American family that I had been told about (Zac, Mahabissa with two little girls and a baby boy of 10 weeks) were in various stages of getting up, but Matt had apparently worked until 5 in the morning and didn’t appear for some time.
I made avail of some muesli, the very little milk that was left, made some coffee and had some toast with vegemite and engaged Zac on conversation. There was not too much to get ready this morning, but Matt had wanted to give me some tips for which he had set a time of 9 am. Eventually he appeared and without so much as having breakfast proceeded to tell me some stuff about the tracks at the top end, some place in Punakaiki and a couple of tips for Queenstown/Wanaka. Let’s see.
Then it was 10 to 10 and I had to drag my stuff out onto the street to wait for the shuttle, which was pretty much on time. Two guys were picked up from a car rental place near the centre of town. Then bit by bit we made it through the traffic to my rental car place.
Formalities were quickly dealt with and before 11 I had my vehicle, which, due to its registration – FSM 328 – already had a nickname begging for it: The Flying Spaghetti Monster. Adjusted the clocks and the trip measurer and then set off for SH 1, and then to Rangiora for a first stop.
Terrible destruction here as well and apart from cordoning off condemned buildings, little seems to have been done. I walked up and down the main street, collected some cash, and identified Sutherland & Todd in Country Lane as the hairdressers from 2009, but couldn’t seem to find a Warehouse, where I needed to buy bedding. Went to NW and bought some champagne for tonight; then some tomato sauce and a pie for lunch. Drove to Woodend and a little beyond there was a picnic place (Salty River) where I shared a table with a Chinese gent. Day was becoming quite hot, so I changed into my shorts. Drove to Amberley but was getting the feeling that I ought to search more diligently for a Warehouse, so I went to the library and went on the internet to find the nearest branch. Turned out to be in Rangiora in the one corner of town that I had missed, so I turned back, found a queen size bedding set for $13 and the sheets etc for $28. Then I was back on the road to Culverden.
Flying Spaghetti Monster: round and red as a meatball in tomato sauce
In Culverden no sign of the “Shit, you have missed the best motorcamp” signs of 2009, so I headed for the nearest motorcamp, in Waiau. Very simple place but very well kept and not at all expensive. As linen is supplied, today’s shopping was a little superfluous. Did some shopping for breakfast (sugar, lemonade, bread, margarine). Then the first data battle had to be fought – all the pictures transferred to the laptop and prepared for PPP tonight, then all of the GPS tracks (came to about 30 MB). Finally the next 3 instalments of the blog had to be transcribed. Nearest library with internet is in Hanmer Springs so I will return there tomorrow and may well take some repeat shots. Have to make a to-do list.
Two things to consider, of which one is almost decided: to buy a PAMS chilly bag to at least try to keep some stuff refrigerated with frozen water bottles during the day. And perhaps a tent. If I could find a cheap one, I could always donate it to Matt at the end. Not a comfortable way of spending a night, but perhaps a reasonable second option.
Waiau is the place I stopped in 2009 to have the oil checked – such a procedure! The diner at the north end of Amberley where I had the all day breakfast (The Spoon) in 2009 was also still there, as was the motorcamp on the main street just before the police station.
Went down to the pub for dinner, as there was not much choice and had chicken with lots of salad. Tomorrow Cathedral Cliffs (I hope) and then Kaikoura for lobster, some walks, pizza fish on fire, and perhaps whales.