So slightly going back in time here (how cool is that?) But just a couple of pictures from the one walk we got out on while up in Palmerston North. It was with two friends of my Aunts who had visited my parents in Ireland (and had embarrassing pictures of me from when I was about 6, no copies sorry)

It was along a nearby gorge – a 4 hour walk… good for working off the Christmas over-indulgences). The friends were in their 70s I think.. but certainly walked the legs off us. Sigh!

We also spent a day in Fotxon – a nearby town. Can’t quite remember why, but they built a windmill there – pretty interesting to walk around it and see the workings. They also had some displays on the windmills in The Netherlands and how they’re set up to drain the place.

After that it was time to leave the N.Island and catch the ferry down to Picton. It’s a beautiful crossing coming into the sounds.. well worth doing. The drive to Nelson (well, Mapua) was lovely too – it really is a stunning part of New Zealand. We were staying in a Bach (holiday home) of May – one of my Aunts friends. Lovely place.

The wonderful surprise was that we’d just arrived and I got a call on my mobile from Morgan – a great friend from college who is here touring about with his lovely girlfriend Becky. They were just finishing on the Abel Tasman (kayaking and walking) and were driving past Mapua – so we all met up for a drink. It was just SO great to see them. Unfortunately our touring plans won’t allow us to meet up again so it was just wonderful to see them up in Nelson. Hopefully Graham and Myra will convince them to move out… ;)

Spent the next few days exploring the area. I took my parents and my Aunt out to the Riverside Cafe for dinner. Unfortunately I don’t have any pics of the place – nor from the hike Dad and I did on the Abel Tasman because my battery is completely useless. Not sure whether it’s a short curcuit in the camera – or just that the non-canon replacement batteries suck – but either way I get to take about 5 pictures and it gives up. Harumph.

We did walk up to the Centre Of New Zealand.. which conveniently happens to be situated on the top of a hill in Nelson! Hmmmm. Still, it gives nice views.

Ok… so just in case anyone was upset by my Vipassana post there… sorry!. It’s my way to make light of serious things. I remember a scout cycle-orienteer event and this guy came flying down a hill – either with no brakes or with feeble ones – hit a fence and was catapulted over it and into a field. I .. umm… laughed. Didn’t know what else to do!.

Not really making myself look any better here am I? So yes, I’m sure quite a few of you were worried about me last year so no offence was meant by joking about it – I’d just rather laugh about these things than anything else.

Anyway, here’s a limerick I saw today.

There was a young man from Japan,
Whose limericks never would scan,
When they said it was so,
He replied, ‘Yes, I know,
But I always try to get as many words into the
last line as ever I possibly can.’

So it has been a lovely Christmas with mum and dad over. I flew up to Palmerston North on the 22nd and have thoroughly enjoyed the week so far with my family. It has been a pretty lazy affair really, many bottles of wine have been consumed, and games of scrabble played.

I’ve also decided to go and try the Vipassana course again like I did last year… I feel it’s something that I need to try and get on top of. I mean the effects last year were certainly intriguing and powerful – so maybe there is something to the whole thi..

Just kidding ;) heheheheheh… ehem, sorry, couldn’t resist. No, there’ll be no more 10 day silent retreats for me. Silence (of that length) and me, obviously don’t mix. Nope, going to be up here for a few more days and then catching the ferry down from Wellington to Picton on the 3rd I think it is. Having about a week in and around Golden Bay before heading down to ChCh (Christchurch) and picking up the camper van for more touring excitement.

Anyway, I hope everyone has had a very happy Christmas – and will have a wonderful 2008.

So yesterday was both a happy and a sad day. Sigh. Two of my bestest friends over here are leaving me. Well, ok they’re leaving NZ and I happen to be caught up in that. I’m sure it’s not particularly personal. So yes, first I met up with Jana at our usual haunt in the University.

She has been a complete rock this year and we have had lots of chai lattes together and talk about pretty much anything and everything. So I will really miss her a lot. She is off to Germany with her wonderful boyfriend Julian (another great loss to NZ there!) where she is going to do a PhD – so won’t be back for at least 4 years. Sigh. Anyway, I wish them all the best (in a GodDamn you’re leaving kinda way!).

And then there’s my other bestest mate Dave – who has also been completely wonderful and is just a source of boundless energy and enthusiasm… Some of my favourite trips have been with Dave – I mean who else would pop themselves in a dinghy in the middle of the Foveaux Straight (the water between the South Island and Stewart Island)

And amongst numerous kayaking, mountain biking, skiing – in fact just about everything except tramping ;) – he did take my friend Mhairi and I up Humanality in tonsai which would have to go down as one of my favourite climbs. So yes, Dave will be missed greatly. He is off to kayak the grand canyon (takes 3 weeks!), and then is moving to Vancouver – well, he’s arriving into Vancouver – whether he will stay there is anyone’s guess – though it is a lovely city with plenty to occupy someone like Dave!

So yes, I will really miss Dave and Jana.. but I’m perfectly sure that I will see them both again for more adventures!

So I had been looking forward to getting out on a decent tramp for a while… and with Maaike back for the weekend it was time to show this Dutch hiker what NZ Tramps are really made from. Her last couple of tramps had been the Routeburn and the Kepler. Both decent enough tramps – but also both Great Walks. Now the great walks are a cunning trick of DOCs (Department of Conservation) to lure large amounts of unsuspecting tourists onto the same tracks – leaving the rest of the country nice and free for the rest of us to enjoy.

Ok, that’s not strictly true, the great walks are beautiful – but it’s not quite the same experience as Mt. Fyffe was to turn out to be.

It’s a bit of a slog for the first 4 hours – up a track which takes you from 200m to 1602m at the summit of Mt. Fyffe.

This was my third time doing the tramp. Once with Mhairi and Marcel a few years ago we got turned back by snow. And then a couple of years ago I did it with the tramping club. That turned out to be a little more interesting than I had anticipated as we were a little late starting and ended up having to do the last 3kms down the river by torchlight. Lots of fun.

For Maaike and I though, we had perfect weather. Almost too perfect for me though as I got reasonably sunburned and probably a little dehydrated (though I had drunk about 4L of water!). Once on the top of Mt. Fyffe the route heads North around some lovely aretes and then drops down a scree slope to Kowhai Saddle.

After that it’s a boulder hop down the river. Not your manicured tracks on the great walks… Maaike seemed to enjoy herself though. Being in daylight definitely helped!

I pretty much flaked out after arriving at the hut (9 hours). Completely wussed out on going for a swim to clean off in the pretty freezing river outside. Dave Aubrey would have been in there in a shot! Definitely going to miss him when he leaves NZ (end of Dec).

The next day it was a pleasant walk out along the river. There were lots of river crossings but seeing as it hadn’t rained in a while it was all very manageable.

Maaike has now left to Marlborough Sounds where she’s working in a hostel. Sounds pretty good though – mountain biking, water skiing, mussels on Fridays.. One wonders what the transition to South America will be like. Still, I suppose there are worse trials in life to overcome.