Planning a vacation

Yeah, ok, so I left Arthur’s Pass today and I was supposed to WALK here via the Harper Pass Track over 4 days, but I wimped out and hitched here in 4 hours. Hey, I AM on holiday here. The weather today was great but the forecast for the next 2 days is terrible, and I just didn’t want to walk in the cold rain again. This so-called NZ summer weather has burned me out. I need a vacation from travelling. I realized there was no point in doing the walk feeling this way so I found myself hitching away from Arthur’s Pass and the trailhead, still unsure of where I was going really. What a great feeling to just look at the map and choose a destination. I love that freedom. In the end I chose here because I’ve already been up the N-S West Coast road but I haven’t been on the road to here via Lewis Pass. Destination decided then, easy enough.

Made it here in 4 rides, all men – first an Italian guy, then a local Kiwi who runs 4WD trips, then another Kiwi who’s a truck mechanic in Christchurch, and finally 4 Kiwis who are vactioning here in Hanmer. It’s so much warmer here than in Arthur’s Pass – an immediate welcome. Set up my tent in the backpacker’s, relaxed in the afternoon, went for a short walk in the evening, and here I am. Tomorrow I’ll head to the east coast to Kaikoura, and then probably up to Picton, Nelson, and Golden Bay. I need some time to recharge and not think about where I’m staying, what I’m doing, or where I’m going. A much need rest for the weary traveller.

Add comment February 16th, 2003