#161 Nomad Diary. 18-24 November 2023. New Zealand Road Trip. 160 miles Hanmer Springs to Christchurch. Small Church in Christchurch. Hokitika. Franz-Josef and Fox Glaciers. Makarora. Fairlie.
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| Driving Hanmer Springs to Christchurch We Stopped for a Picture of this View |
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| Having Take-Away Lamb at Our B&B Shared Dining Area. Saturday. 18. Most days before breakfast we do an exercise routine. We have about 7 DDP Yoga recorded routines. Some are easier and shorter and some are more difficult and longer. Today we did a difficult one. It’s a personal accomplishment and I do a personal happy dance for my achievement! Lol. For the 3 previous days I had what I call an episode. Thursday was my worst day. During an episode I get uncomfortable emotionally, don’t make decisions well, and my happy personality isn’t with me the same. I’m not energetic or interested in doing much except waiting to feel better. Early this morning I was awake before Darrell. I prayed as is my habit when I am awake during a sleeping time. I asked God for help, for healing, for wisdom. A scripture came to my mind: “man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” Jesus said this to Satan during his temptation. He was quoting Deuteronomy written by Moses. My wise words in my tough situation. I was able to say ‘thank-you’ and sleep a couple more hours. I was some better by morning. Better enough to do the tough exercise routine. I decided not to drive today to relieve that stress. Other thoughts I had were to increase my time with scripture. While I was cleaning up to leave, I was playing scripture songs from YouTube. I was singing along and this lifted my spirits and thoughts. Today we are driving 160 miles from Hanmer Springs to Christchurch. The skies are sunny and blue. We are able to stop and take scenic pictures during our slow travel road trip. We drove over a river with mountain views and pulled into a parking lot to go look at the river and stretch our legs. As we were walking up to the bridge we saw bungie jumpers getting ready to go and got a picture of them in mid-jump! They were two girls going together. This is one of the crazy things they do here in New Zealand. In Christchurch after 2pm we checked into our Bed and Breakfast. It’s an old house that is set up with several rooms and bathrooms. We have a roomy bedroom with a nice ensuite. Breakfast will be served to the group in a garden breakfast room. Once we were checked in we walked a couple of miles to downtown Christchurch. We went through the central business district (CBD) which was like a huge shopping mall with pathways and sidewalks going different directions and some pedestrian only zones. It was beautiful weather and very enjoyable. We went to a fun gelato shop and I also bought 6 hand made Belgian dark chocolates for treats along our trip. On our way back to our BnB we went to a take-away roast lamb restaurant. We each got a lamb meal with a different side. We went on back to our BnB and had dinner in our guest dining room. Our meals were twice as much as we could eat so we put them in the fridge to take in our cooler tomorrow for a picnic. I wrote in my notes that I’m feeling so good this evening after my ‘episode’ days. For the 3 previous day I had what I call an episode. Thursday was my worst day. During an episode I get uncomfortable emotionally and my happy personality isn’t with me the same. I’m not energetic or interested in doing much except waiting to feel better. Early this morning I was awake before Darrell |
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| Kura Tawhiti Conservation Area. 1 hour 20 minute Drive on Hwy 73 from Christchurch. We Stopped for a Picture. We Would Have Loved Spending Hours Exploring Here! |
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| Hokitika's Clock Sunday. 19. We are staying just a couple minutes away from the Sydenham Community Center where the church of Christ meets on Sunday for worship. We arrive and meet the others who are setting up to begin at 10am. We enjoy time and study together. Darrell is invited to preach. We are leaving afterward to drive on to our sightseeing road trip. Next Sunday we will return and get to know these new friends a bit better. Drive Christchurch on the east coast to Hokitika on the west coast over Arthur’s Pass. One night in an airbnb. |
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| Woodsy Walk Stop Driving Hokitika to Franz Josef |
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| A Nice Stop on Our Drive to Franz Josef |
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| Our Airbnb at Franz Josef |
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| Darrell Napping at Franz Josef Airbnb and a View of the Glacier |
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| View from Our Franz Josef Airbnb |
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| Lake Matheson near Fox Glacier |
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| A Picture at Lake Matheson Near Fox Glacier. The Woman Who Took This Picture Shared It With Us. I Love It! |
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| One of the Many Warning Signs. Darrell's Picture. |
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| Another Warning Sign. This Bridge Was Closed For Repairs. It Made Us Laugh. |
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| Hokitika Gorge. Beautiful Water Color! (photo out of sequence) Monday. 20. Drive from Hokitika to Franz Josef. Went to a couple waterfalls and scenic walks. Two nights in a 2 bedroom cabin airbnb at a small ranch with views of the glacier! Amazing view! Evening walk to the glacier. Nice restaurants in town. Tuesday. 21. Drove to the next small town to see Fox Glacier. Went to a nice restaurant and a couple of scenic walks. |
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| Beef with Potatoes |
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| Pleasing Springtime View From Our Fairlie Airbnb Kitchen Window. |
Wednesday. 22. Drive from Franz Josef to Makarora for one night stay. Enjoy the scenic drive and stopping along the way for short walks and scenery pictures. Today we drove over our third mountain pass since being at Punakaki and Pancake Rocks: Lewis Pass, Arthur’s Pass and today is Haast Pass. I’m deeply impressed with the ongoing beauty and the good roads too! There is also frequent picnic tables, and just enough public restrooms. We stop and take short walks, see waterfalls and lakes and mountains often clearly marked with information signs. It’s been lovely. We have amazing and beautiful mountain views at our airbnb behind someone’s house.
Thursday. 23. Today we drive from Makarora to Fairlie. We drive in and around several large lakes with mountains in between and small towns here and there. It’s a stunning scenic drive! The most stunning in color is lake Tekapo. We stop to take in the views. There are flowers in bloom called lupins. I take loads of pictures! The colors are just gorgeous! The town with this lake is a tourist town with hotels and restaurants. We are driving another 30 minutes to a much smaller town called Fairlie. We arrive to our 3 night stay 10 minutes beyond Fairlie. It’s on a farm and is a newer one bedroom airbnb near the farmhouse.
Friday. 24. Today is cold and overcast. We did a scenic drive, at lunch at a restaurant in Fairlie, went to the next town Geraldine and went to a museum there and a cheese shop. We had the famous Fairlie pies for dinner at our house. They were fabulous and filled with a salmon filet, ham and cheese!
Nomad Notes. On Saturday morning as I was recovering from my ‘episode’ I wrote down several notes to remind myself about my self-care.
I will acknowledge my needs.
I will speak and sing Psalms, Hymns and other spiritual songs (increase my mind into living on God’s word and focusing on it as a life-giving source).
I will reduce non-essential physical add-ins to my life.
I will look to identify the spiritual reality in my relationships and give to encourage and feed my spirit with goodness, kindness, and truth.
I will give gratitude to God. A sweet smelling offering.
I will thank God and others who feed and encourage my spirit. (friends who are steeped in scripture and focused on peace and beauty in nature and in creation. Dawn R.; my mother; my husband; my teachers; my friends; Laura B.; my son Eric; my grandchildren and other children who listen with their child hearts; fellow worshipers)
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