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Published: December 13th 2013
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Roughing it in Napier
Backpacking hostels are going downhill! Lonely Planet describes it as a white knuckle ride, and because the Tasman sea and the Pacific ocean meet here, the straits can be very rough. Shirley was not looking forward to the crossing, especially since the other ferry snapped its prop shaft half way over 1 month ago and has been in dry dock since. On the day, it was a pussy. Calm as a milk pond and a very pleasant 3 hour crossing from Wellington on the North Island to Picton on the south. Shirley actually enjoyed it. The scenery coming into the South was stunning. Fantasmagorical. In fact I really have no appropriate words, which is unusual, I know. Nufff to say that we are now half way through our NZ episode and switch to camper van mode in Christchurch in 3 days. Will our relationship survive 10 days in such a restricted environment? Probably not if it rains for more than 3 days....time will tell.
Now, this next bit's only for my good seafood seeking, shellfish sooking, marine munching mate Badger. Please don't read this if you are squeemish...which of course means that you all will! You have been warned though. Since leaving home I have
Wellington tram
What can you say....its yellow enjoyed raw catfish, eels, calamari spaghetti ( a squillion times better than the Northern), prawns, scallops, blue cod, gunard, amazon river snails in the shells, and in the last week, green lipped muscles 6 different ways....muscle chowder, battered muscles and chips, smoked muscles, smoked and pickled muscles, muscle fritter topped with fried egg ( for breakfast!), and my personal favorite so far...muscle pie in the green lipped muscle capital of the world...Havelock...or so the brochure said. Bazza...pack in that job and get your arse over here!
For the rest of you, who skipped the last paragraph, as advised, the food here is lovely....I'm now officially a fat bastard (sorry mum), but hey, somebodys got to eat it. Yesterday we were in Nelson, a really smart wee town (they call it a city but its about the size of Arbroath) in the north of South Island. Big fishing port but there the similarity stops! Its full of parks, smart bars and restaurants, lovely people, and the river doesn't have a singleTesco trolley in it. But it does have a lovely riverside bar tht serves a nice cold crisp Nelson Sauv blanc and ducks and proper river stuff like that. Oh
Windy Welly
From our motel room. and it was hot and sunny...result! Our digs were a B & B par excellence, superb old villa with wonderful hosts who provided our first cooked breakfast for 2 weeks. Heaven!
Some of you may now be thinking that my travel/ holiday experience revolves around food...those of you who have had the misfortune to have shared travel / holidays with me will, of course, know that this is nonsense...I just appreciate the local gastronomic cultural thing....and lots of it..and frequently...especially, did I mention, seafood.
Today traveled through the stunning Able Tasman National Park, lazed on the gorgeous Kaiteraiteri beach, drooled over the Nelson Lakes Nat Park, and now resting up in Murchison, a quant tiny crossroads town of 800 people en route to Christchurch. And the sun is shining even hotter...but some flying, biting little bugger's beginning to appear also..thankfully the Amazon strength repellant seems to work..mostly. Tomorrow, onward and upward to earthquake smitten Christchurch....and switch to Campervan.....and possible divorce. Unless the sun keeps shining and I can escape to the great outdoors......
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Kelly & Cris
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Food Glorious Food
Just a reminder that we are currently sans kitchen, so if you could tone down what good food you are munching on... that would be great. Green lipped muscles vs pot noodle for the seventeenth time? Glad you're both still having a great time though. You'll be back just in time to help us redecorate throughout!