spare_day – Wanderings

Day 6: Milford Sound, maybe?

9:30am

I’m still in bed.

Whilst having lunch at the Classic Motorcycle Mecca, I decided to book two nights at a motel that looked as though it had a private bathroom. That was my only requirement.

It seems I scored with the Anchorage Motel. The first thing I noticed was their URL – ‘teanaumotel.co.nz’. Somebody got in quick.

Right now, I’m sipping on a coffee in a mug from the fully stocked kitchenette. They even supplied a little bottle of milk 😍

It’s the simple things…

The bed is warm thanks to the heated mattress liner.

The tiles in the bathroom are heated, as is the towel rack.

There are coin operated laundry facilities on premises, just a few steps away. They supply the washing powder.

As already mentioned, they have a fully stocked kitchenette with pots and pans and cutlery and crockery just ready to go.

Ohhh yeah. They also have a freaking hot tub out the back.

What do?

It’s raining quite heavily, on and off. Ruby is parked undercover, just outside the front door.

I understand the road to Milford Sound is quite entertaining, with multiple slow speed switchbacks, which seems like something better enjoyed in the dry.

Bah, I’m just making excuses because I don’t want to say that I just want to laze about for a while and recharge.

You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to go shopping. I’m going to buy some veges and eggs and spaghetti, make myself a breakfast, edit some videos, do some laundry, update yesterday’s post, recharge my drone batteries (because you never know when that may come in handy 😤) and listen to the rain.

More later…

11:00am

I can’t help but feel that a person with some local knowledge, a car decent enough for Uber and with drone photography skills could make a killing in places like this.

🤔

I’ve also just noticed that ING is refunding my overseas transaction fees AND the ATM fees on my Orange Everyday account. ING being amazing, as always.

1pm

I went shopping.

I made a hearty lunch.

See, this is another thing I didn’t consider. Accommodation with cooking facilities 🤔

Cart whatever leftover ingredients I have from point to point. It’s camping without the tent.

Do people do this all the time? This is brilliant.

Yeah, nah

I did this instead:

PG version. The original cut contained gratuitous scenes of extreme relaxation that would’ve been completely NSFW.

A mountain called John – Part 2

The sign says it’ll take one hour and 45 minutes in total. I’ve got that to spare.

I’m going to do a walking up a mountain thing!

So lonely.

Up until this break into the open, it was all trees and an incline. Much incline 🥵

I genuinely forgot to take any photos.

Up the stairs I went, the One Ring clenched firmly in my palm.

But how easily I was distracted by the view!

I’m told it’s called ‘hiking’.

Once I got to the southern summit I just sat there, staring at the area around me, so far below.

I felt a sense of accomplishment and I was overwhelmed by the view.

The Southern Alps looked majestic. Clouds covered the very tops of the mountains and I couldn’t help but imagine being drawn to Sauron’s Eye atop one of the peaks.

It was an experience

The longer I stayed, the darker the sky became and the fiercer the wind blew. It began with deep groans, then rose to tormented wails as it sliced between the rocks all around me.

I stood against the onslaught as steadfastly as I could, imagining myself a warrior against a ghostly enemy. I tried to shout it back – I’m still alive! I’m still here! – To my surprise, it came out in Japanese.

I was moved to tears. I was alone as a human, but more deeply connected to the natural world around me as I’ve been in a long time.

Still, as energised as I felt, my strength was hardly enough against the pummelling, frigid gusts.

Before long, I retreated to the shelter of a nearby ridge and became myself again. I sat for a time and stared back towards Lake Tekapo, soaking up the experience.

I felt something up there on Mount John’s southern summit. It began as a hike to pass the time and it became so much more.

At the very least, I learned why people go on holidays. Truly. It’s something I never quite understood before.

Now, I’ll be one of the many, working hard to make time to seek out more of these incredible experiences.

And finally, so as to not have to end on too deep a note:

Tomorrow, it’ll be time to leave Lake Tekapo and seek out different experiences.

The Met Service says Lindis Pass won’t have such severe gusts as it did today – up to 56kph steady with gusts over 100kph 😳

I can’t wait to find out what it’s like in the morning.

A mountain called John – Part 1

Just like Frodo and Sam, I’m heading up a mountain.

Unlike Frodo and Sam, I’m not going to meet Arwen 😕

The guy at 4 Square told me that it’s about a three hour round trip to the Mt John observatory. Let’s see about that…

11:10am

There are flowers down by the lake that have grown up from between the rocks and pebbles. They’re thriving.

Why shouldn’t I go about my life in the same manner, relentlessly seeking to grow? Stubbornly existing in my own way.

I have the ability to think and I would choose to waste it on doubt, frustration and anger? It seems a shame.

Choose life.

11:20am

In the following clip, a second bird flies right into the middle of the shot. I didn’t see it and so cut the clip when I did.

As I looked up, the bird dove into the water and came up with a fish larger than itself. The fish struggled, the bird lost its grip and it came away without a catch.

Initially, I was disappointed that I didn’t capture the event, but I took it as a great reminder to observe things for myself as well.

“Remember to look for yourself”.

Part 2

Day 2: Stuck

7:30am – The gusts have set in.

I don’t very much feel like riding Ruby through these monster gusts.

Checkout is at 10am, so I’m going to freshen up, grab a bite to eat, then decide on my next move.

I hear Our Dog Friday (the bar downstairs) makes a decent coffee 👌😉

In the beginning, there was coffee…

8:30am – The bean juice kicked in and the brain turned over with a decision.

My choices for handling this situation were many, but I opted for the easiest – stay in Tekapo for another day. When I checked the YHA website, there was another room spare, so I jumped on it.

I actually have several days up my sleeve for these very occurrences, so I cashed in my first straight up.

I wonder what there is to do around here?

In case it wasn’t clear from the earlier clip – it’s windy.

Scut with the Wind

10am – Completely checked out.

I feel naked! I’m temporarily homeless.

I jammed most of my belongings into Ruby’s panniers and top box. I’ve decided to keep my backpack on me, along with the drone and camera.

11am – A new adventure begins!

I went to the local Four Square for some sun cream, because I got a little baked on my trip yesterday.

Whilst I was paying, I decided to ask the person behind the counter if there were any decent walks around the place. He excused himself and grabbed a map. He then marked where we were with an X and highlighted a few options for me:

The chapel nearby.
Mt James.
A longish inland loop.

Knowing that there is an observatory at the top, I decided on Mt James.