Kayaking in the Abel tasman...

I tried to post this yesterday but for some reason it didn't work... Here it is again.

On Tuesday my friend Rita and I departed for a few days of camping in the Abel Tasman. We rented a tandem kayak from Southern Exposure, and packed it all up. (and went through the "test" to determine we were competent enough to do our trip, of course- after all the safety info.)

After that, we kayaked over to Anchorage Bay... The waves in the mad mile were rather nasty. They were coming right into us, so for all our hard efforts we weren't moving very fast. Needless to say- it was fantastic to arrive. We pitched our tent around 3, and made some dinner. It's a great little campsite with everyone moving in and out usually by the day. The sky was clear at night, and amazing... So many stars, and Orion's belt was clearly visible.

Rita and I did a little walk to a lookout the following day, and I had a number of dips in the sea. Yesterday evening we went on a little evening walk and saw the glow worms, as well as some very large beetle like creatures, which I think were called Wetas. I didn't scream!! We also saw the cool I forget what that basically look like sparks in the sand. (the evening was dark enough to see it.) We also visited with some neighbours who had started a fire.

Today we had a leisurely breakfast, and kayaked back with the waves. Hurray... Still feeling rather tired... And rather full of sandfly bites. :) But the weather was great, and it was a fantastic mini holiday. It's hard to describe the amazing colour of the water, and the great golden sand... Worth every bit of the hard paddles. :)

Kiwi fun...

This week has been a week of a lot of firsts... Including my first time getting a pedicure.  This was today... Very nice. :) 

 

I also picked up my car papers and strolled on over to the something or other, where they viewed my Saskatchewan drivers license and changed registration ownership to me... Yes, interestingly here in NZ you keep the plates and WOF (warrant of fitness) that come on the car, and just fill out a form to change from one owner to another.

 

I then strolled on down to AMI to buy insurance.  This is novel for me, as of course in Saskatchewan we all use SGI for insurance. I didn't feel like shopping around, but have heard good things about AMI, and they have a great commercial about smiles... I was delighted to learn that even without discount the insurance piece is only ~$650.  And if you have a clean record for 5 years you can get a 60% discount!!   Quite big.  I then strolled over to AA to buy that here, and again found it was cheaper than I remembered in Canada at only ~$77.  (The great thing here, too, is that quoted prices include taxes... Even on the cars you buy.)  Nice.  :)

 

Now I get to go pick up the car, getting ready for my big move over to Blenheim on the weekend. I contacted the landlord and he'll be able to drop me off keys.

 

My time in Nelson winds down.  How I've loved this place...

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Another wee update...

Time chugs on and my time in Nelson draws to a close in under a week.  A week from today I'll be living in Blenheim and on my first day at the new job.

 

This weekend I tried a few cool things that were going on in Nelson.  Saturday night was Sealord's Night with the Stars, a very cool outdoor show, with a variety of opera and classical talent.  It was really enjoyable, and although rain threatened, it held off.  The price??  An affordable 10 dollars.  Really, really enjoyed it.  Attendance, I have no idea... Maybe 1000, maybe less, maybe more.

 

Yesterday the flatties and I went out to the Brightwater Wine & Food Festival. I must say, that ciabatta bread with feta & roasted red pepper, and the one with tomato & basil were absolutely delicious!!!

 

In the "getting ready to move" front, I finally went out and bought a car.  (After much agonizing... and I mean MUCH!!! And also much reading of the car buyers guide, and much internet shopping!!!)   A 1996 Toyota Camry GLX, green in colour.  The nice salesman took me for a very long drive, which was good practise in terms of getting comfortable with the car- as well as beginning to get comfortable on the left side of the road... I kept hitting the windshield wipers instead of the signal, since it is in the wrong place. :)   I ended up buying from a dealer, due in large part to the convenience. And because it was as close to what I wanted as I could find... (was kind of after a corolla, but this was 2nd choice.)  After they get the WOF (aka warrant of fitness) on the car, I'll be able to pick it up. (Well, I'll have to go and get insurance first...)  A further delay from pick up will be caused as my friend Rita and I are planning a 3 day camp trip in the beautiful abel tasman area over the next couple of days.   Too bad my digital camera conked out...  I shall have to shell out on a few disposables, I think...

 

 

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A little Kelly update

So... First things first...

 

I'm done work in Nelson officially!!  Time has absolutely flown here and my days in the sun shine here are on the decline.

 

On to the half marathon-

I caught a ride to Westport with a bunch of the former employment gang Friday night.  We were up and to the grounds by 7 to catch the bus to the half marathon start sight.  I tell you that bus ride seemed very long- it was going to be a LONG 21 kms...  Imagine something like 2500 runners assembled on a road... It was quite the sight.   We set off slowly, slowly, slowly across the start line.  But only after squeezing to let a cop car through.   Anticipating my slow time I had attempted to push myself to the back of the pack. This was aided by the wee path we created for the cop car.  The sun was out early and it was quite warm- was very happy to encounter the water/ sponge station which must have been at about kms 3 or 4.  Very happy to see them every same distance interval.  The first 12 kms went quite well.  There were some ups and downs which were a little hard for me who trained only over the flat.  I also found the lack of my normal route a bit of a challenge. The first bit was quite scenic, right along the Buller river.  At half I was way ahead of my practise and normal 8 kms extrapolated time, however I started feeling it for about the next 6 kms.  So very happy the sun went under a cloud for a good part of the next bit.  Happy for all of the road signs that were a nice distraction.  Happy for the runners who happened to run beside me at the same pace, if only for a time.  Impressed by the speedy walkers who went blowing by!!  Very happy to see the 3kms sign left. At what I thought was about 2kms picked up the pace to try and put on a finish...   Running past town quite happy to hear the claps and cheering realizing the finish line must be in sight...  Being sprayed by water right near the end- lovely... Finally- turning off the street and towards the finish. Going through the shoot, getting the medal, and stretching and off to find the rest of the crew I travelled from Nelson with.    Enjoying the afternoon out in the sun in good company... Being so pleased to have finished...  And hurting the next days... oh yes. :)  But it was worth it... I finished in a personal best of 2.40 far ahead of my practise times.  Slow for the runners, and in the bottom 150 or so of around 1400, but fantastic for me... who couldn't comfortably do the Centre of NZ climb when I moved here, or run for 5 minutes.  Special thanks to Michelle for driving, Bev my roommate and encourager, Rita for the energy to start my runs one fine Sunday morning a few months ago, and Shaz and Amanda for suggesting the Buller when back in December I threw out the idea of running one.

 

We toured the pancake rocks before returning on Sunday.  Or should I say punakaki? (spelled wrong, perhaps??)  I love the sea... I love the sea... I love the sea...

 

And a few comments now on the immigration business, for anyone thinking of doing NZ.  First- if you're here more than a year you need a NZ drivers license.  This means you need to have proof you've had your drivers license for over 2 years. IF you're from Alberta with a multi year license this is easy.  If you're from Saskatchewan it means requesting things from back in Saskatchewan...

 

Also- for the canadian criminal check I today visited the Nelson PD and got led back into the fingerprinting room to get my prints taken. Exciting!  :)  Now I get to sent them off to Ottawa... the website says it can take 150 days... A bit of a hold up to the immigration process- you see- so do it early!

 

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Another update

I accepted an accounting position in Blenheim NZ so will be making my way there in the next couple of weeks, and soon will be calling some new place there home... Stay tuned.

 

On the weekend my friends Rita and Karl and I headed out for an overnight camping trip to some campground north of Takaka in the Golden Bay area. It was lovely!  Moonlight across the bay, a clear night with stars, the sounds of waves crashing... Absolutely wonderful...  (Although my tummy doesn't exactly love driving over the curves of the Takaka hill very much.)

 

In other interesting learning about NZ news, it doesn't appear basements are overly popular here. A large number of homes are built without them, and I can't think off hand of anyone who has one.

 

Less than a week away until the half marthon. YIKES!!!

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