ON THE MOVE: FIRST WEEKS IN KIWILAND

It´s Saturday the 4th of February and we have just arrived to Mount Cook Village, our home for the next few months, so I can sum up the past two weeks and maybe mention a few highlights. Let´s get it started.

In Christchurch dad bought his truck and because mum didn´t want to fall behind she got herself literally the first car she saw – despite the fact it didn´t start right at the seller´s place and again the first things next day so she had to leave it by the road. Later on dad equipped the car with a starter spray and jumper cables and figured out a special procedure - consisting of two to three quick depressions of accelerator pedal followed by its full depression, turning the ignition key and praying a lot -, which worked quite well and which we still use, mostly successfully.

Then I was given my car seat, we left mum´s ancient Honda behind again and set off for 350-km long drive to the West Coast. There in Westport I finally got to know my New Zealand family (for the record: for mum it was the first encounter with dad´s relatives as well). We spent a few nice days at their place but, as you surely acknowledge, family matters can sometimes be a little bit tiring and one simply needs a rest.

Karamea is just a little settlement where – apart from every second house for sale – one of the well-known tramping tracks starts. The weather was not ideal and I walked only the first tiny part of it but it was nice. In Karamea I was also familiarized with famous NZ bush and got to see the impressive Oparara Arch, the largest natural rock arch in the southern hemisphere.

On the way from Christchurch to Wanaka, where we headed next, there is the farm where Dave, dad´s best friend and my god father, lives. We stayed overnight but don´t ask me (and don´t try mum either) what dad and him were discussing all the time – it will take me a lot of Kiwi English learning to get even a basic idea!

Wanaka is THE PLACE. The place where mum and dad met ages (ehm, not even two years) ago. Here lives dad´s friend Susan who makes awesome deer and who accommodated us for a few nights. Wanaka lies on the shore of a beautiful lake surrounded by hills and mountains and is ideal for walks. Walking we were – mum and I -, while dad was sorting out his shed and life.

And then the time came and we set off to settle down.

Your Annie

Some facts

When: 19. 1. – 3. 2. 2017 Where: Christchurch - Westport - Karamea - Wanaka (New Zealand) How: car

How long: 4,5 hr. + 1,5 hr. + 9 hr. How far: 332 + 95*2 + 761 = 1 383 km