Sea kayak, horses and sore arms.

After Kaikoura it was off to a little place, and little really means little because I never even managed to stop in the place because I was thru it before I noticed, called upper Moutere.

The B&B was near Upper Moutere, and of course up a hill. With a swimmingpool, that was great. But water was rain water collection and no mains, so showers where limited, and tap water not drinkable. Well that was a bummer because it was hot. Over 30 degrees, very sunny and a hot wind so almost like living in an oven.

First day was just being lazy. Went for a swim, and an other swim. Second day was sea kayaking at Abel Tasman nature reserve. Came to the conclusion that I like the sea but not to kayak. Had to share a kayak. And I cant prove it of course but I am sure that the person sitting behind me didn’t row. Or just did  the motions but not put in any muscle. After the morning I felt as if my arms where falling off. I luckily had the choice to keep in the kayak after lunch or go for a walk in the afternoon. My choice was walking because my legs are stronger then my arms. And nope the person behind me wasn’t going to start paddling in the afternoon.

The walk was of course all up and down hill. And the hill was steep. Going up was exhausting but do able. Going down was more tricky and sure I landed on my ass on a steep part. Now my ass is big enough so I didn’t really hurt myself but I don’t like landing on my ass either. My ass is not a landing platform.

Got to the beach earlier then the ones still in the kayak’s. And almost at the beach I saw a pig, with also a big ass. Even managed to get a blurry picture of it. There are not supposed to be pigs at Abel Tasman nature reserve. The driver of the water taxi told me I should have killed it. Yeah sure. With my bare hands a full grown wild living pig. Not going to happen. I did offer to show him where the pig was so he could kill it. But he declined as well.

Next day was early wake up and an over 2 hours drive to farewell spit at the most northern part of the south island for horseback riding. It was a very windy and cloudy day, still warm, but at the beach sand blasting was a certainty.

The other two horse back riding guests where German girls. One had been on a horse once before in her life a few year ago and that time she got thrown off ( later on I understood why and agreed with the horse) the other one claimed to be an experienced horse person, but she clearly wasn’t.

Now I am not saying I am an experienced horse person, I know I am not, but I do know how to sit on a horse and if the horse is agreeable it even does what I ask it to do.

The ride was scary with those two girls who acted like they where john wayne, or Viggo Mortensen playing in Hildalgo. They even wanted to go onto the beach. Not the smartest idea. And the guide didn’t want to be the spoil sport to say no way. So I did. Got thanked later by the guide for doing that. Because no way am I going onto a very windy hot beach with two girls who have absolutely no control over their mounts. That is asking for a accident. And then I have to give first aid as a doctor. Nope not happening. We are staying safe and boring behind the dunes.

Up and down the dunes was hard enough for those two. Not for the horses. One almost fell of going up hill in a very very slow pace. Amazing.

The next day was a lazy day, just a good book by the pool slowly melting in the heat.

Then off to Picton to catch the ferry. Turning in the key from the first rental car was about 3 minutes work.

The ferry ride was perfect. Had some lunch on the boat. So big that I wasn’t seasick at all. But getting the new car in Wellington was a disaster. The person behind the desk was either a total novice who hadn’t been worked in properly or he was an idiot. It took him more than 25 minutes per car. While it where al people who turned in their rental at Picton and wanted the new one in Wellington, all coming in with the same ferry. The other rental car company’s where done and closing when this one still had a line.

Everybody had their luggage from the conveyer belt and I was still stuck in line. My luggage going round and round. So I left the line up and went to get my things. Luckily the man behind me in line gave me back my spot when I got back with my things.

Then finally I get my car. The parking was underneath the highway and this looks like a real highway again, multiple lanes and the traffic was standing still because rush hour. If I had gotten my car faster I would could have beaten rush hour now I was stuck in  it. After a month with very empty streets rush hour and traffic jams where a shock to the system. Even traffic lights, not just one but several in a row and all red. What is going on?

Well what was going on is that I am now on the north island and that has a lot more people and so it has traffic lights and jams and real highways in the towns.

Finally managed to find my B&B with the awesome name booklovers. And there where books everywhere. In my room there where two book shelfs full of books, no three. Could it get any better.