It was finally time to go back and revisit Arthur’s Pass, and after a long week at work I was ready to get the hell outta dodge! I didn’t particularly care where I went I just needed out of Ashvegas, the name lovingly given to Ashburton to mock it for being boring and dull. Another Laura from Britain working for one of the competing vet clinics and our newest adoptee, also wanted to get away for a relaxing adventure.
We headed back up to Arthur’s pass but the rain quickly descended into the pass and didn’t leave us much option for tramping except some short walks. Just happy to be out, we walked to a waterfall and around some hills that kicked us out onto the road eventually. Retiring to the hostel for the afternoon we drank wine, and read our books while listening to the gentle rain and seeing the clouded and misty hills out the window. We went across the road to the pub/café for supper and a night of wine drinking. Luckily we only lived across the road that had little to no traffic so we managed to stumble home and find our beds. The next day we stopped off at a few different small trails and a cave. For lunch we stopped into a very posh golf resort where there were many groups of fancy ‘ladies that lunch’. We were definitely given the up and down as we walked in kinda wet from the rain and dingy from living and sleeping in our clothes as we were expecting to be tramping in the mountains. Minding our manners as if we too were posh ladies lunching, we had a coffee and some great soup and laughing to ourselves at the eyes that spent their time staring at us.
The other British Laura, that had left a few weeks previously was back in town for one day to sell her car and catch her flight to Australia, and me having Friday off of work headed up to spend the day with her. I went up early to drop my fiddle bow off for re-hairing at a little German woman’s house that builds violins and does repairs out of her home. It was like leaving a child with a stranger, I felt very sad leaving my fiddle with someone else. I went into the city center to meet Laura but being a bit early I stopped into the pub for a drink. What the heck right? It’s my day off and nearly noon! My pint of cider was going down well while playing poker on my mobile phone when Laura texted that she was at our meet up point! Shoot! Downing the rest of my pint and ran to meet her as all her stuff was waiting to be put in my car. Luggage secured, we headed to a coffee shop for a snack then walked around the botanical gardens and just chatted. I love chatting with Laura because the conversation never stops, we’re always laughing or speaking seriously about one thing or another. My mother’s great ability of talking to anyone, even the wall if necessary, is rubbing off on me I suspect. We then headed to the cinema to see a Kiwi film called ‘Boy’, it has had rave reviews and it brings to light the Maori culture that’s all over New Zealand. Funnily enough, we had the theater to ourselves so we settled into our seats and two glasses of wine for our private showing. Afterward we headed to the alley of restaurants on Oxford Terrace that all have some kind of fire feature and outdoor seating. That was our only criteria for food, a place that has outdoor seating and a fire element! More great conversation over a wonderful dinner and it was time to drop Laura at her dodgy accommodation near the airport for her early morning flight. It was a very classy trucker like motel that reminded me of home and my reasons for sleeping in my truck while driving across the country. After reassuring her that she wouldn’t be murdered in her sleep staying here and meeting the very hospitable man that ran the joint I said my goodbye’s and started my long drive home.
The next day I went hiking with Amy and Alex, on the Wharfdale Trail in Oxford. The idea was to park a car at either end so we left Merino at the end of the long gravel road near the finish, and took Gordon the van to the starting point. It was a wonderful day hiking through beech forest into the hut which we found we had to ourselves for the night. We built a fire, made tea and supper while listening to my headphones blaring as loud as possible. With the quietness of the forest and the hut, it was actually enough sound to mumble along to some classic oldies for the evening!
The night was only eventful because it was this particular night that prompted me to upgrade to a respectable sleeping bag. After the fire in the stove died and the heat dissipated, I woke absolutely freezing at about 3am. My own fault for not having proper gear, but I decided to put on all clothing items I had brought, which was few being an overnight tramp. The hat, gloves, and raincoat all went on and I managed to sleep a little until 6am when I gave up. Score 0 for Kat.
The walk out the next morning was down through a valley and across a few river crossings that in attempting to find a better crossing point, I just ended up falling in the river feet first. I can’t quite remember if Amy and Alex crossed dry, but I think they probably didn’t care about getting their feet wet. I think it was just early training as a child, Keep your feet Dry!! Don’t get your socks muddy! There is also nothing less comfortable and harder to air-out than cold wet hiking boots. The hardcore Kiwi’s go all out, river crossings and wet feet don’t seem to bother them. Maybe someday I’ll be that cool. Before heading back we stopped in Oxford at a café and had a coffee and a muffin in all our smelly tramping gear glory, and even managed to save a few crumbs for the wee birds that kept close to our feet practically begging. That night we headed up to Methven to finish off the weekend with dinner at the Thai restaurant in Methven
After my last attempt of the Irish session I found in Christchurch, one of the players pulled me aside and said, hey there’s a more ‘traditional’ session on Monday nights if you are intersested. I think I nearly kissed him with delight! As much as the old ballads were good to hear again, the trumpet player and the 3 very simple English folk tunes that they played weren’t really my cup of tea. So I headed out to the Bailies pub, was so excited to play real tunes with real people! We had a great time!!! Jeremy, the other fiddle player, knows a little bit of everything I know!!! Its great!! I think he must photographic memory for music, because he remembers every tune he’s ever played! Its not a flash player but hey, I’m not picky. They made me play a few tunes from all my weird genres that I know, and they fell in love with Natalie Macmaster’s version of Catharsis, a great G minor tune. SO great to play a variety!
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