Current Location:Mapua, Aotearoa
While riding with Matthew that one day into Greymouth I asked him after a particularly long stretch of hill how did he feel? His response was something I’ll not forget for a while, it was simply “alive.” It struck me at first as perhaps the language was getting in the way of what he wanted to say but on further thought it was the best answer to give. I have expressed here for a while that I feel particuarly free while riding and the sentiment of alive while riding simplifies it even further, I like it even more.
I like leaving wwoofing gigs up to fate as much as I can. I typically leave a post on the wwoof message board when I’ll be in an area about a week before I think I’ll make it there and let the hosts contact me if they have stuff for me to do. So far this has been a winning recipefor me. I’m currently staying with Ann and Bob Phillips, a couple of wood turners (they make bowls and plates and circular things out of wood) who have a few acres of trees and garden type things that need a little care now that the peak season is past. Figs and Feijoas are in season at the moment and I have my fair share of those every day. Feijoas remind me of guavas from home (the skin especially) and figs are something I’ve never really had except for in Fig Newtons. We also get to have peaches and pears for pudding every night which they had already canned for the year (I really like the pears jar’ed with lemon peels in them.) I am not sure why British people get tagged as eating bland food (at least that’s the stereotype I learned from somewhere) but that really hasn’t been the case with the Brits I’ve stayed with. This couple has brought with them the Pakistani influence that has come to Britain and like their food spicy as did Max and Jane which is delightful for me as it sure beats pb&j every day.
Last stop for me on the south island is Takaka in the Golden Bay region. Alex told me it wasn’t to be missed and Max and Jane also built up the area so I’ll make the trek out there after I’ve finished wwoofing and the Abel-Tasman walk sometime in the next week or so. That tramp will be a lot easier and should b able to manage it in 2 days of walking and 1 night camping in the area. The lady at the info center says that buses aren’t running to the end of the track any more as the season is over so my other option is to get a water taxi to the end of the track and walk my way back to the beginning which is probably how I’ll manage it.
It’s funny how I manage to find the tiny breweries around when wwoofing. It turns out there’sa brewery about 15 minutes walk from where I am staying now, called Golden Bear Brewerie, and even stranger still the guy who started it is from California. It’s a good beer again and even better is he brought with him a California menu, filled with burritos, tacos, and enchiladas. Even managed to run into another Doug from Minnesota while I was drinking there one afternoon. So if anyone needs to find me, i’ll be at the bar enjoying a black boy peach brew.