#destitute sandflies

[pratchettquotes]

"I thought we got rooms to ourselves," said Teppic.

Chidder, who had laid claim to the least exposed bed in the whole refrigerator, nodded at him.

"Later on," he said. He lay back, and winced. "Do they sharpen these springs, do you reckon?"

Teppic said nothing. The bed was in fact rather more comfortable than the one he'd slept in at home. His parents, being high born, naturally tolerated conditions for their children which would have been rejected out of hand by destitute sandflies.

Terry Pratchett, Pyramids

[aeshnacyanea2000]

His parents, being high born, naturally tolerated conditions for their children which would have been rejected out of the hand by destitute sandflies.

Terry Pratchett - Pyramids

[roseknows20-blog]

Day 1 South Island- Picton to 1715 km Endeavour Inlet

Tuesday, January 10th 2017 After 488kms of hitching, we finally made it to Picton! It was definitely a memorable experience and I'm bewildered how we made it in one day. Especially in only 7 car rides, oh, and one yacht. Lolz. Only us. We had the pleasure of meeting lots of interesting people along the way though, like Hamish and his dad. Shout out to two of the nicest/coolest kiwis we've met! We spent the previous night camping right outside Picton, and in the morning did a short hitch into town. In Picton, we did some last minute shopping for supplies and planning at the library. I finally finished my blog from the North island! Only after like 4 weeks of binging and being a lazy bum! Wahoo! We bought tickets for a 130pm water taxi from Picton to Ships Cove from Beachcombers for $50. The company has boats that go to Ships Cove at 8am, 9am, and 130pm. All you have to do is just show up a half hour before and purchase a ticket right at the travel agency next to the Picton marina. FYI the only means of getting to Ships Cove is by boat! The boat ride took two and a half hours, and was a pleasant little unexpected treat, bobbing in and out of the many coves of the Queen Charlotte sound. We thought it was gonna be a small little dingy to the start of the track, but the boat was more like a tour ship. The captain even offered us facts and such about the surrounding area. Once you get to Ships Cove, there are some unique Maori art sculptures, and a monument to check out, which recognizes Captain James Cook and other explorers that came to this area a few hundred years ago. So many people were so friendly on the boat, asking us where we're going, and wishing us luck on our journey ahead. I forgot how kind kiwis are. Eventually, we were off, beginning our next adventure, and conquering the rest of the long pathway through New Zealand. The start of the track leads to a steady incline, where you ascend upwards for approx 2 kms, until you reach the top of the hill. There's a lookout and small deck at the top (240m). The lookout offers stunning views of the Queen Charlotte sound, as the mountainous landscape continues to reveal its beauty along the way. The immensity of the ocean is also a sight to see, unveiling a picturesque teal aqua blue color. After reaching the top, you drop back down and walk along the shores of Resolution bay, passing the 1st DOC Campsite (SchoolBay). This section of the trail is fairly straightforward, and is actually commonly used for mountain biking. We chatted with some friendly kiwis along the way, feeling empowered and ready to take on the next chapter! It also felt great to just be back on the trail, and amongst the magical remoteness of the forest. Even though it was good to be home in the US of A for a bit, it was also very stressful, for both Dyl and I. America is a crazy place, everyone is so aggressive and stressed out all the time! Take a chill pill people! My anxiety level increased by ten fold when I was home, and as soon as I landed on NZ soil, a weight was lifted off my chest. We're both relieved to be back into the solitude of nature/not dealing with BS back home. It's so much more peaceful leading a simple life on the trail, and just focus on walking aimlessly through this beautiful majestic country. After we passed Resolution bay, we noticed that there are lots of different accommodation options, such as cabins, tent sites, hotel rooms, backpackers, etc,. We originally aimed to get to the second DOC campsite (Camp Bay), but it was too far, and the sun would be setting soon, so we decided to freedom camp at the Rimu viewing point around km 1715 in Endeavour inlet. Of course, we weren't going to pay for accommodation when you can just set your small abode called a tent wherever you'd like ;)! And the fact we're destitute children added to our decision making! One thing to be aware of is the murderous sandflies!! They seem to live near bodies of water, so make sure to pack plenty of repellent. Even though I swear it doesn't even work! Unfortunately, I think I'm extra allergic to the sandflies, and the bites sweet up to the size of golf balls on my skin. What a bummer! But there's nothing much I can do. Anywho, we cooked our simple yet nutritious couscous dinner, and sipped our tea under the prodigious Rimu tree. After our meal, we completing a brief yoga stretch sesh, while meditating and listening to the sweet soothing sounds of the native birds. (13 kms)