Ｆｒｏｍ Ｔａｕｐｏ ｔｏ Ｗａｉｔｏｍｏ

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Hey everybody,
This entry had already been written in full length at the library (free internet) but for some stupid reason was deleted and unable to be retrieved. So excuse me if I can't be bothered to elaborate on my tellings in the same fashion as previously.
As previously stated I ventured to Napier to potentially go and see the Commodores and Cape Kidnapper. I arrived late and in my search of a hostel couldn't help but notice a big sign saying: "Beds from 19$ per Night, FREE Super Fast 24Hour Internet! and guitar!!!" Well thinks I, that sounds rather good, doesn't it. So off I go, booking a room etc.
Now let me share two pieces of advice with you:
1.There is always a reason for why something is cheap. Either there is an abundance of it (which there wasn't) or it sucks
2. Avoid anything advertised with more than one exclemation mark

The room was damp, smelt like a bus full of soggy boys returning from a rugby game after a two hour journey, didn't supply any bed linen and had no heater. In a room of 8 people, not having a heater shouldn't be too much of a problem, the body heat naturally warming up the room. However! Insulation is unheard of in some parts of this country. So any sort of warmth went right out of the windows, roof and 3cm Gap underneath the door.
Essentialy I got what I payed for. A barely defrosted Pizza (the oven didn't work), a guitar missing a string and a machine head and a terrible night of sleep. After then finding out about the birds having flown away to Australia (wrong season) I decided to get out of there at the speed of a thousand gazelles to go to the great town of Wanganui.

The DOC (Departyment of Conservation), which takes care of all walking paths in NZ, classes kayaking down the Wanganui river as one of the 10 "Great Walks". Havinbg half informed myself on where these trips may be undertaken from (Wanganui Town apparantly) off I go, never doubting or double checking it, because it seemed to make a lot of sense to me to have a trip on a river named Wanganui depart from a town called teh same. As it turns out this is not the case. After making enquiries at the tourist information in Wanganui I was told that my quest of Kayaking down the river was destined to fail for several reasons:

Worker:"At this time of year!?! Are you crazy, its freezing out!" Lucas: "It's 12C..." W:"Well exactly! No company runs at this time of year. If it rains and you're out on the river all by yourself you could freeze!" L: Well i do have a good rain jacket and warm clothing you know..." W: Well non the less you can't do it from here anyway. All the companies ar elocated in taupo" L:"..." W: "Oh you didn't know that? Well they really should tell you guys when you're up there but oh well..."

So after having wasted my time going to towns/cities(?) where I could do absolutely nothing for 4 consecutive days I decided that it was time for me to something exciting. Not having spent any money, apart from accomodation, I decided that maybe it'd be a good idea to go adventure caving in Waitomo. So up I go, 4 hours from Wanganui, to Waitomo.

Considering 600 000 tourist or more pass through that town every year, the least one could expect is a small grocery store. But no. There is nothing other thhan backpackers, a cave museum and underground caves with sheep running around on the top. So arriving with nothing but flour, butter and Nutella isn't all too helpful. Thankfully I manage dto buy some eggs and milk off the pub down the road. (Of course there's a pub but no grocery store...) So I　ａｔｔｅｍｐｔｅｄ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ａｔ　Ｋａｉｓｅｒｓｃｈｍａｒｎ，　ａ　ｔｒａｄｉｔｉｏｎａｌ　Ｇｅｒｍａｎ　ｄｉｓｈ　ａｎｄ，　ｈｏｗ　ｅｌｓｅ　ｓｈｏｕｌｄ　ｉｔ　ｂｅ　ｏｎ　ａ　ｄａｙ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｎｏｔｈｉｎｇ　ｇｏｅｓ　ｒｉｇｈｔ，　ｍａｎａｇｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｍｅｓｓ　ｉｔ　ｕｐ．　Ｓｏ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｓｔｕｃｋ　ｉｎ　ａ　ｔｅｒｒｉｂｌｙ　ｉｍｐｅｒｓｏｎａｌ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ，　Ｈｏｓｔｉｎｇ　”Ｋｉｗｉ　Ｅｘｐｅｒiｅｎｃｅ”　ｔｒａｖｅｌｌｅｒｓ　（ｔｈｅ　ｗｏｒｓｔ　ｋｉｎｄ），　ｈａｖｉｎｇ　ｔｏ　ｅａｔ　ｍｙ　ａｗｅｆｕｌ　ｔａｓｔｉｎｇ　ｄｉｎｎｅｒ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗａｓ　ｊｕｓｔ　ＮＯＴＨＩＮＧ EＬＳＥ to be found (and I'm too stingy to throw ｉｔ　away）．　So my expected awesome experience didn't start off too well. At least　Ｉ　ｈａｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｆａｃｔ　ｔｈａｔ I'd managed to secure myself the 20% off my Ａｄｖｅｎｔｕｒｅ　Ｃave trip because I'd booked in advance　ｔｏ　ｓｔｏｐ　ｍｅ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｃｒｙｉｎｇ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｔｏ　ｂｅｄ．
So after making sure I wouldn't have to spend another night in that aweful place I　ｍａｎａｇｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｇｅｔ　ｍｙｓｅｌｆ　ｓｏｒｔｅｄ　ｆｏｒ　ｔｒａｎｓｐｏｒｔａｔｉｏｎ　ｔｏ　ａ　ｍｕｃｈ　ｎｉｃｅｒ，　ｃｏｓｉｅｒ　ｈｏｓｔｅｌ　ａｆｔｅｒ　ｍｙ　Ａｄｖｅｎｔｕｒｅ　Ｃａｖｉｎｇ．
Ｔｈｅ　Ｃａｖｉｎｇ；　ｗａｓ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ａｗｅｓｔｒｉｋｉｎｇ　ｔｈｉｎｇ　Ｉ’ｖｅ　ｄｏｎｅ　ｈｅｒｅ　ｓｏ　ｆａｒ．　Ｓｔａｒｔｉｎｇ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　１００ｍ　Ａｂｓｅｉｌ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｂｏｔｔｏｍ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｖｅ，　ｉｎ　ｗｅｔｓｕｉｔｓ，　ｈａｒｎａｓｓｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ａｌｌ，　ｓｌｉｄｉｎｇ　ｄｏｗｎ　ｉｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ａｂｙｓｓ　ｓｅｃｕｒｅｄ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｂｙ　ａ　ｒｏｐｅ　ｙｏｕ’ｒｅ　ｌｅｔｔｉｎｇ　ｓｌｉｐ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｈａｒｎｅｓｓ　（ａｎｄ　ａ　ｍａｓｓｉｖｅ　ｓａｆｅｔｙ　ｒｏｐｅ　ｓｅｃｕｒｅｄ　ｔｏ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｇｕｉｄｅ．．．　ｔｒｙ　ｔｏ　ｉｍａｇｉｎｅ　ｉｔ　ｗａｓｎ’ｔ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｔｏ　ａｄｄ　ｄｒａｍａｔｉｃ　ｔｅｎｓｉｏｎ　ｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｃｅｎａｒｉｏ），　ｔｈｅ　ｐｏｓｓｉｂｉｌｉｔｙ　ｏｆ　（ｎｏｔ）　ｃｒａｓｈｉｎｇ　ｄｏｗｎ　ｏｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｏｃｋ　ｆａｃｅ　ｂｅｌｏｗ　ｂｅｆｏｒｅ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｖｅｒｙ　ｅｙｅｓ，　ｓｃａｒｉｎｇ　ｙｏｕ　ｏｕｔ　ｏｆ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｗｉｔｔｓ．　Ｎｅｅｄｌｅｓｓ　ｔｏ　ｓａｙ　Ｉ felt downright heroic after that descend and was willing and ready to tackle any obsticles in my way, whether in form of a crashing waterfall or pebbles, ready to trip me at any minute.
Moving on... So after a wonderful "Gourmet Sandwich" lunch (consisting of two ordinary sandwiches, cookies and tea) we got down to business, plunging into the (1)5C cold water, struggeling against the rapids trying to push us back down the stream. After hopping out again a brief 5 minutes later I realied that this had simply been a test for our physical abilities so they could fix their route. Well I guess I　ｐａｓｓｅｄ，　ｂａｒｅｌｙ，　ｆｏｒ　ｔｈｅ　ａｄｖａｎｃｅｄ　ｔｒａｃｋ　ａｎｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｇｕｙ　ｄｏｉｎｇ　ｉｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｍｅ　ｍａｎａｇｅｄ　ｔｏｏ　ｓｏ　ｏｆｆ　ｗｅ　ｗｅｎｔ．　Ｎｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　”ｒａｐｉｄｓ　ｗｅｒｅｎｔ　ａｃｔｕａｌｌｙ　ｑｕｉｔｅ　ｓｏ　ｒａｐｉｄ，　ｂｕｔ　ｎｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ｌｅｓｓ　Ｉ　ｓｔｒｕｇｇｅｌｅｄ　ａｔ　ｔｉｍｅｓ　ｔｏ　ｋｅｅｐ　ｍｙ　ｆｏｏｔｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｄ　ｔｏ　ｃｌｉｎｇ　ｏｎｔｏ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｏｃｋｙ　ｓｉｄｅｓ．　Ｗｈａｔ　ｙｏｕ　ｄｏ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｉｓ　ｗａｄｅ　ｕｐｓｔｒｅａｍ　ｔｈｒｏｕｇｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｔｅｒ，　ｍａｋｉｎｇ　ｙｏｕｒ　ｗａｙ　ｏｖｅｒ　ｒｏｃｋ　ｔｈａｔ　ｆｅｌｌ　ｄｏｗｎ　ｆｒｏｍ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｖｅ　ａｂｏｖｅ　ｏｔｈｅｒ　ｎａｔｕｒａｌ　ｂａｒｒｉｅｒｓ．　Ｏｆ　ｃｏｕｒｓｅ　ｔｈｅｓｅ　ｉｎｃｌｕｄｅ　ｐａｒｔｓ　ｗｈｅｒｅ　ｔｈｅ　ｗａｔｅｒ　ｈａｓ　ｈｏｌｌｏｗｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｒｏｃｋ　ｙｏｕ　ｗａｌｋ　ｏｎ　ｆｕｒｔｈｅｒ　ｔｈａｎ　２　ｍｅｔｒｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｈａｓ　ｆｉｌｌｅｄ　ｉｔ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｗａｔｅｒ，　ｆｏｒｃｉｎｇ　ｙｏｕ　ｔｏ　ｓｗｉｍ　ｏｒ　ｐｕｌｌ　ｙｏｕｒｓｅｌｆ　ａｌｏｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｓｉｄｅｓ　ｏｆ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｖｅ，　ｕｓｉｎｇ　ｏｎｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｎａｔｕｒａｌ　ｈｏｌｄ　ｇｉｖｅｎ　ｔｏ　ｙｏｕ．　Ｉｔ　ｗａｓ　ｐｒｏｂａｂｌｙ　ｔｈｅ　ｍｏｓｔ　ａｄｖｅｎｔｕｒｏｕｓ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ　Ｉ’ｖｅ　ｈａｄ　ｈｅｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｉｓ　ｒｉｇｈｔ　ｕｐ　ｔｈｅｒｅ　ｗｉｔｈ　ｗｉｌｄ　ｗａｔｅｒ　ｒａｆｔｉｎｇ　ａｎｄ　ｋａｎｉｏｎｉｎｇ．　Ｂｅｉｎｇ　ｉｎ　ｎａｔｕｒｅ　ａｎｄ　ｓｔｒｕｇｇｅｌｉｎｇ　ａｇａｉｎｓｔ　ｉｔ　ｔｏ　ｒｅａｃｈ　ａ　ｄｅｓｔｉｎａｔｉｏｎ．　Ａｆｔｅｒ　４　ｈｏｕｒｓ　ｕｎｄｅｒｎｅａｔｈ　ｔｈｅ　ｅａｒｔｈ　ｗｅ　ｆｉｎａｌｌｙ　ｒｅａｃｈｅｄ　ｔｈｅ　ｃａｖｅ　ｅｘｉｔ，　ｏｕｒ　ｈａｎｄｓ　ａｎｄ　ｆｅｅｔ　ｎｕｍｂｅｄ　ａｎｄ　ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔ　ａｎｙ　ｍｏｔｏｒ　ｓｋｉｌｌｓ．　
Ｔｈｅ　ｄａｙ　ｆｉｎｉｓｈｅｄ　ｗｉｔｈ　ａ　ｗｏｎｄｅｒｆｕｌ　ｂａｒｂｅｑｕｅ，　ｐｕｔｔｉｎｇ　ａ　ｓｏｌｉｄ　ｐｉｅｃｅ　ｏｆ　ｍｅａｔ，　ｐｏｔａｔｏｅｓ　ａｎｄ　ｍｏｒｅ　ｏｎ　ｏｕｒ　ｐｌａｔｅｓ．　Ｔｈｉｓ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ　ｓｈｏｗｅｄ　ｍｅ　ｔｈａｔ　ｓｏｍｅｔｉｍｅｓ　ｉｔｓ　ｗｏｒｔｈ　ｓｐｅｎｄｉｎｇ　ｔｈｅ　ｅｘｔｒａ　ｍｏｎｅｙ　ｉｆ　ｙｏｕ　ｈａｖｅ　ｉｔ．　Ａｌｌ　Ｉ　ｄｉｄ　ｒｅａｌｌｙ　ｗａｓ　ｆｏｏｌｏｗ　ｔｈｅ　ａｄｖｉｃｅ　Ｉ　ｗａｓ　ｇｉｖｅｎ　ｂｙ　ｓｏｍｅｏｎｅ　Ｉ　ｍｅｔ．　Ｈｅ　ｓａｙｄ：　”Ｗｈｅｎ　ｙｏｕ’ｒｅ　ｂａｃｋｐａｃｋｉｎｇ，　ｓａｖｅ　ａｌｌ　ｙｏｕ　ｃａｎ　ｏｎ　ａｃｃｏｍｏｄａｔｉｏｎ，　ｆｏｏｄ　ａｎｄ　ｔｒａｎｓｐｏｒｔ，　ｂｕｔ　ｎｅｖｅｒ　ｓａｖｅ　ｏｎ　ｔｈｅ　ａｃｔｉｖｉｔｉｅｓ　ｂｅｃａｕｓｅ　ｙｏｕ　ｔｒａｖｅｌ　ｔｏ　ｍａｋｅ　ａｎ　ｅｘｐｅｒｉｅｎｃｅ，　ｎｏｔ　ｔｏ　ｓａｖｅ　ｍｏｎｅｙ”

Ｉ’ｌｌ　ｓｔｏｐ　ａｔ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｐｏｉｎｔ　ａｎｄ　ｃｏｎｔｉｎｕｅ　ｌａｔｅｒ　ａｎｄ　ｌｅａｖｅ　ｔｈｉｓ　ｆｏｒ　ｙｏｕ　ｔｏ　ｒｅａｄ　ａｓ　ｙｏｕ　ｐｌｅａｓｅ．　
　Ｈｏｐｅ　ｅｖｅｒｙｏｎｅ　ｉｓ　ｋｅｅｐｉｎｇ　ｗｅｌl, so keep trecking!

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Photos

Wanganui
View from the Water Tower

The Water Tower
Metal construction covering the top of the Water Tower