Where have all the Good Underwear Gone?

Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes.
– Herny David Thoreau

Lesson learned – never wash all your clothes at one time.
– John White

Howdy yall! Hope this latest entry finds y’all doing well. Nadine and I are currently in Lake Tekapo, New Zealand. This little town of a couple of thousand Kiwis is located on the South Island and surrounded by towering mountains covered in snow and sheep.

Since our last entry from Taupo on the North Island, we visited Wellington, Christchurch, and now Lake Tekapo. Nadine and I have started a new tradition. Not a climb to the top of a mountain celebrated with a photo in the buff (à la Machu Picchu), but the day that we leave a city or town, we enjoy an early morning stroll.

History Lesson

Now it’s time for a quick geography lesson, and there is no better place for some learning than New Zealand. As we were leaving Taupo, our favorite spot on the North Island, we took a nice long walk through a park that ran along side the Waikato River. This body of water is the longest river and originates from Lake Taupo. Let’s go back a bit further in time. Lake Taupo was created 26,000 years ago, bout the time my parents were kids, when the largest volcanic explosion on earth occurred. The result was Lake Taupo, which created Waikato River, which created a perfect place to take a walk during the day. Several miles down the road from the lake, there is a spot where this mighty raging river is forced into a narrow slalom of rocks. Crammed tightly together. The result is a mighty, baby blue waterfall that you wouldn’t want to kayak on your best day. These falls are called Huka Falls.

Holy Experience

Any experience with locals outside the tourist industry is always a pleasure. This past Sunday, we had searched for a church, but couldn’t find one in any yellow pages, maps, until Nadine luckily located one near our hostel. Without any idea what time it started, we headed off. Mass started upon our arrival as it usually should. After church, we chatted with some local Kiwi ladies in the conference room who just happened to be part of the same family. Give or take a few degrees. And this was a big family. They were a family of 9, and they easily had enough for a basketball team with plenty of reserves. From experience, you take advantage of any silence to share a thought. After each inquiry, we intended to answer, but it was futile to get a word in edge wise. Here is a blurb from one of our conversations:

• So where are you heading to next?
• Well, we were . . .
• Hey Lisa, here are two Americans traveling around our clean water country. Where are you going next?
• We were thinking of . . .
• Stop that Margaret, be nice to your little sister.
• thinking of filming the next Lord of the Rings movie and slapping a few sheep around, you know, the usual.
• That sounds great, enjoy your time here.

Come to find out, they gave us the location and lift to the Brooklyn Cafe, a great little diner full of large, greasy sausage links and eggs.

Driving On The Wrong Side Of The Road

All across the North Island, Nadine and I traveled by bus. The South Island would be traversed not by scooter of the Cook Islands, but, brace yourselves, an actual rental car. It’s the first time while traveling internationally that we have rented a car. Identical to the Cook Islands, everyone drives on the left side of the road, and the steering wheel is on the right side of the car. Fortunately, we have an automatic transmission, and if not for that, we would still be in Christchurch a couple of blocks away from the rental facility grinding through the gears. From Christchurch, our 3 hour drive was filled by Nadine screaming to avoid that concrete barrier, that sheep, as well as that 18 wheeler. The car tends to pull to the left a little more than I am used to. Oh, one other thing, I can’t say that I am too accustomed to driving on the left side of the lane. You can probably understand Nadine’s preoccupation with my driving. It’s her turn today!

Naked New Zealand

Last of all, as we sat here relaxing in Lake Tekapo with nothing more to do than read, we decided to wash our clothes in an actual washing machine. Not in a sink and line drying, but an actual sink. Since we had a room to ourselves, I decided to wash ALL of my clothes aside from a red rainjacket. While our clothes were washing, I played backgammon naked with a fully clothed Nadine. When it came time to put our freshly cleaned clothes into the dryer, Nadine and only Nadine went to do the transfer. Come to find out, washing machines can be temperamental. The spin cycle did not work . . . at all. Thus, our clean clothes were nice and clean, but still sopping wet AND freezing.

No worries, I was stuck in the toasty room naked and unable to help. I would love to, but, hey, I’m naked Nadine had to do it alone. Her frustration boiled over with my lack of assistance. Being the problem solvers she is, she dressed me nice, real nice. I was off to assist in my red raincoat and her only pair of white long johns. This quickly changed her mood, and her laughter almost caused a serious asthma attack. Over the next 2 and a half hours, I folded clothes and pranced around the hostel dressed like an elf at Christmas time. Did I mention that it was cold?

Life is good, we are heading to Wanaka for some coveted time on the Southern hemisphere slopes for Nadine. Enjoy!

The human race has one really affective weapon, and that is laughter.
– Mark Twain