With A Winner

I think a part of me judged her before I consciously realized it.  Rocky Mountain Barbie, casually beautiful without even trying.  Thankfully though, I forgot my insecurity about five seconds later: we got on famously.  She’s tender and brave, and loves tramping around the outdoors as much as I do.  Our shared humor is the perfect synergy of 70% nerd, 20% dumbdumb, 5% dirtbag, and 5% snort.  I get the distinct impression our fellow hostel-mates secretly think we’re assholes, but that’s okay: we think we are hilarious.  Together we decided to stick, as much to our mutual delight as to the chagrin of those we’d encounter along the way.  Poor guys.

We were off to a brilliant start, hiking a bit of the Queen Charlotte Track off the northern coast of this southern island, a trek without achilles-snapping tendencies, thankfully.  As if our water taxi ride through Marlborough Sound could be any more stunning, we were given a performance by a pod of Hector’s dolphins, shy little guys, but oh so graceful.  I really believe interacting with animals is the most holy reminder of all that's good in the world.  Whether squishy or fluffy, sea creatures or land, they are to me, hope personified.   

Marlborough Sound

We slowly made our way northward, on a mission to hit Abel Tasman National Park before beginning to inch our way southward along the west coast.  Unbeknownst to us, the weather would soon turn, compelling us to curl up under thick blankets in front of the fireplace for the duration of the weekend, watching rainbows flicker in and out over the barren kiwi orchard adjacent to our hostel.  Before that though, we’d kayak the park, visiting colonies of male petrels looking for a mate, and islands of baby seals whining for their mamas to return with dinner.  It was as splendid a day as I’ve had, all the more so because I didn’t barf, which is kind of my thing when bobbing along on the ocean.  Bonus. 

Our departure from this park that is a national treasure was as difficult as emerging from under our cozy nest of comforters to head out into the frosty early morning dark.  But emerge we did, in effort to maximize the dawning light of a new winter day to begin our long drive down the wild western coast.  Watch out New Zealand, we Katies are coming for you!!