"Just A Little Problem" My journey of hitchhiking the north island has now come to an end. I traveled from Auckland to Christchurch with nothing but the bag on my back and the open road. For the most part it is very easy to get around and it amazed me that with the incredible amount of people traveling this country with there own cars, or rentals, that not one single backpacker or traveller picked me up it was always local people, so here's a shout out to the Kiwi's! As for me if or when I decided to buy a vehicle I have decided to make it my duty to pick up any poor traveller standing on the side of the highway.
My journey from Taupo first led me to Napier, this is where I learnt that you don't always get picked up by the people you expect. For the 300 kms of windy road through the mountains i was riding in a BMW with a doctor. After arriving in town not only did he bring me out of his way but he drove me around town for about a half an hour giving me a tour then dropped me off on the doorstep to the prison which would become home for me for the next couple days. This may have been the most interesting place I have ever slept. The prison is now a backpackers hotel but it was in full operation just ten years ago and everything in there including the paint and beds are original. So in the day you eat where the prisoners ate, hang out in the exercise yard, and smoke in the hanging gallows (that's a little weird). I amused most of my time wondering around and reading all of the carvings into the walls of all the ex inmates. Napier is a very interesting town because about 80 years ago a massive earthquake completely demolished the town so now all of the buildings are all about the same age and everything was built with a certain theme, so with that and the huge black sand beach (ya that's right black sand) it is built on it makes this little town very picturesque.
From here my travels brought me through Hastings and Palmy slowly making my way down to the capital of the country Wellington. Wellington is a very artsy place where you could spend days upon days just wondering around looking at museums, art galleries, or just watching one of the many street performer acts going on all day around the city. I spent about three nights here then decided I needed to get out of the city and head south to get to where the real action is.
So after a torturous 3 hour ferry that turned into a 10 hour ordeal, thats a whole other story, I was officially in the south and halfway across the country. Then I spent a couple nights in Picton hiking around the Queen Charlotte Sound and hanging out around the first open fire I have seen in months at night.
That brings you up to date with my travels thus far. I am currently in Christchurch after hitching the best 350 km ride of my life with a lawyer who even brought me out to lunch (again not the people you expect) and I am off to who knows where in a unknown period of time. Its a strange feeling to wake up and think should I go east or west or maybe north or south and have no set destination just you, your backpack, and the open road.
My journey from Taupo first led me to Napier, this is where I learnt that you don't always get picked up by the people you expect. For the 300 kms of windy road through the mountains i was riding in a BMW with a doctor. After arriving in town not only did he bring me out of his way but he drove me around town for about a half an hour giving me a tour then dropped me off on the doorstep to the prison which would become home for me for the next couple days. This may have been the most interesting place I have ever slept. The prison is now a backpackers hotel but it was in full operation just ten years ago and everything in there including the paint and beds are original. So in the day you eat where the prisoners ate, hang out in the exercise yard, and smoke in the hanging gallows (that's a little weird). I amused most of my time wondering around and reading all of the carvings into the walls of all the ex inmates. Napier is a very interesting town because about 80 years ago a massive earthquake completely demolished the town so now all of the buildings are all about the same age and everything was built with a certain theme, so with that and the huge black sand beach (ya that's right black sand) it is built on it makes this little town very picturesque.
From here my travels brought me through Hastings and Palmy slowly making my way down to the capital of the country Wellington. Wellington is a very artsy place where you could spend days upon days just wondering around looking at museums, art galleries, or just watching one of the many street performer acts going on all day around the city. I spent about three nights here then decided I needed to get out of the city and head south to get to where the real action is.
So after a torturous 3 hour ferry that turned into a 10 hour ordeal, thats a whole other story, I was officially in the south and halfway across the country. Then I spent a couple nights in Picton hiking around the Queen Charlotte Sound and hanging out around the first open fire I have seen in months at night.
That brings you up to date with my travels thus far. I am currently in Christchurch after hitching the best 350 km ride of my life with a lawyer who even brought me out to lunch (again not the people you expect) and I am off to who knows where in a unknown period of time. Its a strange feeling to wake up and think should I go east or west or maybe north or south and have no set destination just you, your backpack, and the open road.
The Napier Prison Gates
Street Performers in Downtown Wellington
View From My Hike Of The "Queen Charlotte Sounds"
4 comments:
Ah, the infamous Cook Strait crossing. It can be very nice - or so I'm told. Every time I've crossed its been like a washing machine bowl. Bet you're loving the views of the mountains.
Hey Bru you almost gave your Dad another heart attack! It looked like a mug shot to me.Pretty funny,hope all is well and I will talk to you soon!
Looks cool, we're here in new york, me (chris), willie,woogie. checking out your blog. woggie says have a beer for me!
Bru you busy little bee, update your blog! Be safe, don't do drugs give hugs, look both ways before you cross the street, take your vitamins and stay away from the bed bugs. I hear they aren't the most friendly creatures.
Stay awesome.
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