Hello again. . . . . Just a short and sweet one, I hope you are not getting bored with my ramblings? Whatever. . . . . ! Anyway, I am beginning to wonder why I did the Tranz Alpine train crossing?! Yeah yeah, the scenery was great, but nothing I haven't really seen before. . . . . . It did seem like a bit of a waste of time to say the least, as I got to Christchurch early evening, the friends I was hoping to meet had prior engagements and the train was leaving again first thing, so I didn't really have time to do much. Having said all that, there isn't really much to do in Christchurch anyway!

I did however manage to get a new phone charger, as I had left the last one in a hostel somewhere?!?! One thing a bigger city has to offer I suppose?!?!

So, that was Christchurch, I didn't do much, just had a meal and chilled out reading a new book. . . . Another Jack Reacher story! I was up early and away to the train station as the train set off around 8am. . . . The journey was ok, same site, but just a different time of day. . . . . I got back to Greymouth and didn't really have a plan of what to do. I was considering staying around to try and do some fishing, but the weather wasn't looking too promising, so without thinking too much I jumped in my car and started driving further up the coast towards Westport.

I stopped on the way at a place that was called Pancake Rocks, which are these crazy formed rock sculptures and blow holes. It was a nice place to have a stroll around and take a few pictures, but I didn't stay long as I wanted get further on.

As I was leaving the Pancake Rocks place I noticed a guy and girl hitchhiking ], so did the honorable thing of picking them up. . . . . As I slowed down and got closer to them I realized that they were proper travelers, sort of like gypsy's, but cleaner. . . . . Turns out they were a German and a Swiss German and doing some kind of traveler tradition. Basically they have a trade, one was a carpenter and the other a stone mason and once they have learnt there trade, they can then travel and learn more about that trade in other country's and to show their commitment, they have to be away for more than 3 years and 1 day. . . . . There was a bit more to their story, but I did find it quite interesting. They are also allowed after a certain amount of time to wear the traditional clothing, which they were. So they were dressed in pretty much gypsy gear as I would know it, they even had a stick each and bells. . . . . !

I had them in the car for about an hour and dropped them off at Westport. They were really appreciative and thank me as I said goodbye! Westport looked a bit dull, so I decided to fill up with petrol and hit the road again and try and make my way as far north as I could. . . . . . I ended up doing some serious mileage as I made it up to Nelson on the north coast, managed to get in a really nice hostel and crashed for the night.

The next day I wondered in to the town and booked myself a little adventure around the Able Tasmin National Park, so basically I am kayaking for a day to a beach and spending the night in a hut, then walking all the next day to the next hut, then walking again the following day to a beach pick up point where I will take a boat all they way back. . . . Should be great fun if the weather stays fine (It's forecast rain?!?). Later that day I did a bit more planning as I need to hire some camping gear, then got myself a massage for an hour as the drive really took it out of me. . . . That evening I just chilled around the hostel, chatting to all the others guest, etc. It is a really nice, comfortable homely place!

So that's me for now. . . . I'll tell ya all about my trip in a few days. . . . ! Take care you crazy people!