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Published: December 3rd 2012
In which our heroes rent a campervan, wander here and there in Middle Earth looking for “things” and finally end up sleeping in front of awesome views.
Returning to New Zealand we rented a campervan that will stay with us almost till we fly home.
We barely found any time, or energy to write anything. We have very long and active days. The alarm is set to 7AM just in case one of the children does not wake us up earlier, and there is still some light out at 9:30PM so we rarely go to bed before 10:30PM.
We were waiting for a rainy day to relax and write but lucky we have seen almost no rain and when it came we were either in bed or driving so it never interfered with our activities
We have a few arguments in the beginning. It was crowded and we stepped on each other. We couldn’t believe we will be sharing this little space for a whole month. Over the first few days we learned what is allowed and created a routine that allows us to work as a team to do things. The first
time Hagit cooked the children interfered and almost touched the hot stove. . We learned that the children should have a place (in their bed or next to the table with the computer playing a movie) certain times we need to have order.
Our routine is It is very gender specific. Hagit in the kitchen, Yaron changes the house from day time mode to nighttime mode (there are about 50 different steps for this including moving 6 pillows, 4 blankets, 6 cushions , 1 ladder…) . Hagit takes the children to the toilet., Yaron is in charge empting the toilet at the Dump station. Hagit makes the food. Yaron planes the next day and changes the house back to day mode (50 more steps including folding back the front chairs, putting the extra table on our bed, fixing Ariel’s chair with the seatbelts, storing 2 chaired that we got but do not use…)
Next order of the Looking for things to do. On good days we are able to do 3 things. On bad days we do only 1. We have long conversations if what we are doing now is a “thing”. Surly walks and attractions are “things”.
But should a 30min walk count the same a 4hr track? We decided that every 1.hr is a “thing” so a 4 hr walk will be counted 3 times. (f you do not think this is fair to count it 3 times…try carrying 15kg on your back for 4 hrs and tell me if we don’t deserve the credit) . is a 10min view point to a waterfall a thing? No, there are too many waterfalls to count unless it’s a very important or outstanding waterfall like the Haku falls. Generally driving not a thing. All drives in NZ are scenic/historic/epic/classic. All have excellent viewpoints. But apart from one spectacular drive from Queenstown to Paradise none were counted as a “thing” because usually they are accompanied by many stops, crying and wining to be considered fun.
There are 3 kinds of sleeping arraignments we can have with the camper. The first is a holiday park in which we connect the camper to electricity. I took us a few nights to realize that we do not need to pay for these places expect for once in a while to take a shower. So far the longest we went
without a shower is 4 days J
After a few days we found the 2
ndalternative – a DOC campground. These a basic campgrounds that cost a few dollars usually in a nice picturesque place. Their biggest advantage it that there a toilets (no need to empty ours…) and it is in a safe place.
Then we found a 3
rd option – freedom camping. just find an amazing place, make sure there is no sign saying you are not allowed to camp there (not easy…) and open the shades for an amazing view. My fantasy weekend vacation in Israel s B&B (AKA – Zimmer) that is secluded with awesome views. I can spend many hours online looking for these places and pay hundreds of dollars a night to sleep there over a 2-night weekend only to have to go to work the following Sunday.
With freedom camping we get amazing views every day now!
Jeans RIP
It’s not often that cloths reach the end of their useful life. Usually you buy something newer and the old stuff gets stuffed somewhere in the back of the closet where you keep it there too long
for sentimental reasons till finally you give they away or throw them in the garbage. But my jeans are special. They got riped once and I kept on using them. A bug hole in the knee and I kept using them. A large hole in my behind showing my underwear…not very social but still going strong. Only when they litarly fell abalt to bits in the last laundry we declared their end of life. Now ill stick them in the closet and leave them there way too long for sentimental reasons.
Quote of the week #1
“oh my God” and ‘Jesus” - What people say when they see us carrying Zohar and Ariel on long tracks many km away from the car park.. To which I reply “yes my son”
Quote of the week #2
“אני לא רוצה נוף” - “I don’t want views” – Ariel telling us what he thinks of the amazing camping location we just found.
Quote of the week #3
“Golf is an expensive way to play marbles” – funny road sign
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Guy
non-member comment
freedom camping
About half of our cross america camper trip was based on freedom camping. Apart from once, when we parked near a house in Jasper village inside Jasper NP , when the officer woke us up, but eventually just told us to move (it was already 7AM) our camper instead of giving us a ticket, in all other times it was great. Even downtown Seatle , Santa Fe and more, turned up to be good spots. All you have to do afterwards, is to go to www.sanidumps.com to find the closest dump station.