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Feb 2003 - March 2003

RTW 2002/03: New Zealand

Andreas Mayer
2005-12-04 11:30:13

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looking for work in Wellington) listening to a pretty cool local band, Kate jumping round. Next day long bus ride to StArnaud, before starting the Traverse-Sabine Walk.

The walk was pretty good, all in all. A bit too much forest, the alpine parts not that dramatic, but we had good weather, mostly good company, and as always there was lots if nice swimming in lakes and rivers as well as a 10m+ jump into a gorge with amazing crystal blue water.

The people? Kate, obviously, I got to know pretty well. Definitely different, energetic, playing the clown a bit, but good fun to be with and a good hiking partner. She had blisters, a sore hip, dodgy knee, a pack that did not fit, but she hardly complained, very impressive. We talked a lot while walking, about everything, often arguing but never really falling out. Got an email from Antonia, saying she wanted to meet up in Picton, so we talked about that as well. Met Garry, a Yorkshire guy working in Blacks in Leeds, and Sarah, an English girl who wanted to immigrate to New Zealand.

Met Yossi and Michael, two Israeli guys, quietly spoken but dead on, talked a lot about the Israeli/Palestine conflict, the Dusky Track (why did I not do it?) and god and the world. One of the best parts of the whole trip was jumping off a little footbridge into the river far below, very scary, very cold; I had never jumped off anything so high in my life, but after Yossi and Michael jumped I felt I had to as well, and went back for more.

Met Petra, a 33-year old German girl who had fallen in love with a 19 year old Columbian guy she met at the language school in Auckland, and now wanted to go and live with him in Columbia (did not really work out as I found out later).

So good fun, lots of talking and walking in beautiful scenery, healthy and happy living.

Anyway, left Kate at Blenheim (sad good-bye, especially ...