Life here is so very good and I can’t wait to return home to the Tasman Region we love. But first, there’s a wedding to attend and we’re busy packing for this momentous event. Twelve years it’s taken Michael to replace his old suitcase. Twelve years! He’s driven shop assistants mad with his exacting specifications. Yet here he stands, as proud as ‘punch’.
Before we continue our travels for another couple of months, we’ve been resting up in an apartment located behind the City’s Cathedral in central Nelson. Each morning we’ve been treated to a beautiful view of trees, reluctantly dropping their Autumn leaves…
Every now and then the Cathedral bells call to the faithful (and the not-so-faithful). This always seems to happen when I’m about to watch the news. When I was a child, church bells were commonplace and no one would dare complain about something so trivial.
Yesterday we walked the Grampian trail from Collingwood Street. It was steep and it made me realise that yes, I am getter older. I’m greatly inspired by the woman in the apartment opposite. She’s my age group and has the physique of a ballerina. Every day she sprints up this track! Michael patiently waits for me until he catches sight of the top…..
…and then it’s every man for himself. The reward is the panoramic views from the resting platform.
We managed to fit in a short part of the Mt Arthur walk a couple of weeks ago. Beautiful area where the bush is mossy and the mountain air is crisp in the shade. Glad I dressed warmly.
This tree sure made a statement:
When we made our first stop at the Flora Hut, just in from the Carpark, we met interesting people and chatted for a while.
That’s the great thing about the outdoors in New Zealand – the people you meet on the way. They’re loving the experience just as much as you.
People are so right when they refer to travelling as a ‘bug’. It gets under your skin and while I’m still challenged by living out suitcases, I’m discovering this amazing country in a way that many of my fellow Kiwis will never experience. The biggest reward is sharing it with Michael who loves this country so much. Quiet moments like these are priceless so I’ll retreat for a while and just let him enjoy.
Happy travelling.
