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Published: January 7th 2018
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Now I have connection !!!!
Wow! it feels like we have been on the road so much longer than we have. Our little home on wheels is cool (not as in cold) the only negative is they haven't put an awning on the back so when we have the cooker/sink out (they actually pull out of the back of the van from beneath the bed),and if it is raining as it is now!, you get wet.
The van is huge (as you can see from the photo), it is also an automatic so I don't like driving it (I have but not for any real distance) Toria has done most of the driving - she is very fast and confident in it - I on the other hand am slow (well slow for me) and hesitant. It feels too big to me and I worry the whole time that I will hit something either above or on the sides.
The porta loo is surprisingly low - the bed surprisingly comfy - the van surprisingly warm - I over packed and will probably only wear 6 items of clothing the whole time we do this !!! - there is
a gas hob - a little sink - lights and chargers - the only thing I have had to buy is a thermos to keep the water hot over night as I wake up before Toria and I want a cup of tea in the morning. We have plenty of seating with chairs, bean bags and seats plus a fair amount of storage - in fact I could get used to this for camping rather than canvass.
As you may have gathered the weather has changed ;-( it was cloudy and cold yesterday morning and it is raining now but we have had sun in between.
What I have been up to since I last updated you all
Where I was when I last communicated - apparently Milford Sounds - lovely place stunning - well prior to my long coach ride back to Queenstown I thought I would go for a walk (even though my shins still hurt from my bad bungy). Shortly after my foray into the pretty countryside, I fell off a curb - hurtled to the grown in a most ungainly fashion - twisting my ankle, cutting my knee, ripped my trousers, bruised my inner
thigh, pulled my shoulder and grazed my palms on the gravel. Even less attractively, if that was possible, I was unable to get up and squirmed around underneath my blue backpack, like a harpooned whale. All of this was to the obvious awe/amusement of a local bus driver (who watched whilst he eat his sarnie). Finally, I freed myself from my great blue load and rose un-majestically to my feet and I limped off for coffee and to feel sorry for myself dragging my blue nemesis behind me.
Then I caught the coach to Queenstown.
Met V and we went and picked up our roaming home.
Which we then had to take back (after hours) to have the Sat Nav fixed.
Before we headed off to Tekapo our first overnight stop. We stopped off on the way for dinner in a beautiful little road side picnic area and we arrived in Tekapo very late to find the campsite shut and no freedom camping anywhere (apparently McKenzie doesn't have any). So we just parked up in a car park and hoped we wouldn't get caught - we didn't - apparently they have to fine you on the
spot. Then came the task of campervan Tetris; as we had to work out which bit, of what, went where, in order to stop anyone looking into the van and keeping the light out - it took a while but we managed it. In the morning we drove to Tekapo (which is just shops on the side of a pretty milky turquoise lake). There is a tiny church to see - so we did - it has stunning views of the lake from the alter.
There is only one thing to do at Lake Tekapo and that is go to the Spa/Springs - so obviously we had to. We swam in the hot pools (well only those that did not have children in) we had a Sauna and a Steam and a massage and a facial. Well a girls gotta do, what a girls gotta do, hasn't she? (please ignore how ropey I look - I failed to mention the contact lens that folded itself in half, whilst I was wearing it, on the van pick up/fall off a curb day didn't I - well that's why I look like that !!).
I had hoped to go to
Mount Cook but we had passed it and Toria want to get to Christchurch. So we took the 76 and headed for Geraldine and on the way what a find the 'Three Creeks Service station' an homage to all things 1950's, such a fun funny little place on the road side a proper treat. We went to 'Geraldine' in hope of going to the vintage car museum but when we got there it was closed ;-( but we had a look around and bought some very yummy cheeses to keep our strength up on our travels.
We then headed down to Ashburton where we spent the night camping in a ladies field. Heaven only knows how it happened, but after we parked up and paid, I came back to find the tiniest baby bird pulling itself from under our van. We rescued it (picking it up in a tea towel making sure we didn't get our smell on it) and asked the homeowners for help. They said it was a one or two day old quail and brought their quail dog out. He found the quail nest (which was a really, really, long way away from our van) and
we popped our little quail back into the nest and can only hope that he/she survived.
We are in Christchurch now
This morning we headed off for Christchurch where we are for two nights - tonight Victoria has left me home alone so that she can meet up with friends - and so I can write my very important blog.
As I promised V that she could shop when we were in Christchurch - as there is very limited shopping in Queenstown - and as shopping includes getting your nails done and your eyebrows and stocking up on make up (the girl on the benefit counter was such a sweetie but she spends 40 to 45 minutes a day on her make-up before work. Made me laugh. I spend about 4 minutes a day and if I am really going for it I may be able to stretch it to 8 - What can take 45 minutes?) Anyway that is all we have done today - we went to the Westfield shopping centre and then into Christchurch itself.
I bought my nieces birthday present - she now has something that no one else she knows is likely to have and I am expecting this to give me millions of cool Auntie points. I am very excited about giving it to her I do hope she loves it as much as I do. It is shiny !!!!
Our only slight problem now is that I am bored of shopping and Victoria is bored of seeing things (lakes and mountains and scenery - it is everywhere over here) I think we may need to find culture and/or animals to keep us both happy.
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Steve
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Some collection of bruises you are amassing, Annie. Keep up the brilliant blog, really enjoying it.