hail all,
This poste restente lark is most inginious. just hop into the main post office and collect the bevy of mail waiting for you!!!! I’ve just scooped in two letters from nelson from dod ans mama. no sign of liv’s and jul’s to date…
well, i have an unfinished letter in the car which i never seem to have time to write to you guys and one to granny. so many post cards, the good old diary and all the activities get in the way of leisure time at the mo.
South island started of sunny. when we arrived on the boat it was dark but there was a clear sky, and we could see all the stars from the deck. we looked out for orca as there are suposed to be many frolicing in the waves, but didn’t see any.
we headed streight out of picton and along the scenic route to nelson. it soon became obviouse why it was the scenic route as geoff was turning the wheel constanrly. I have developped some sort of car alergy. as soon as i step into the car i begin to feel sick, so these road were most quese making from me. i lay groaning in my seat until geoff spotted a classy little sleeping spot. we nestled thwe car in and i leaped out for a breath of fresh air. Most healing – it smelt of warm pines leaved and the sea which was beating on the rockes below us. the view must have been great, but we couldn’t see any of it as it was dark.
i cannot praise the car enought for comfortablness (?). after sleeping like a log we rose to the sounds of birds chirping in the trees and started the day with a hot milk. talking of milk, did i tell you that while at Regula’s we drank milk streight from the cow? very very creamy and most tasy it was too. not her cow, but she used to go and collect milk from the farmer who rented her land. he had to give it to her for free as it is against the law to sell unparsturused milk. anyway, we the heded on along the scenic route checking out the breathtaking scenery along the malbourough area (geoff would know the exact name). we wanted to check out queen charlotte walkway, and it turned out to be a bright sunny day ideal for a walk. as we began out little section of the four day long track we met a pair of ciclists with all their worldly good on their bikes! They seemed to think it was a great way to travel but that it took a long time to get anywhere. they stayed mostly in backpackers i think (all are $20 a night). they looked fairly fit and we envied them not a little as they cruised of on thir bikes. all the walks here are great as they are so well looked after. even when it has rained for days they are hardlt ever muddy because they are layed with gravel of wood chips and all have sign posts, and there is never anyone else on them!!! a healthy sweat inducing scramble to the lookout point and back, and them we headed onwards, smelling slightly of old goat! WE offten go without showers for a few days – good for the skin i say!!
we stopped of for lunch at a cosy little cove with taps!!! i pegged it out with my towel and a soap and instructed geoff to hold the towel, obscuring me from the road as i began to lather the armpits!
unfortunatelly, in mid lather geoff started waving the towel around saying there was a big group of people coming. just my luck. we hadn’t see anyoner all day and just when i decided to wash a whole group of army cadets turn up! i managed to rinse of and get back to the car in time though!!!
That was the only sunny day we ahve had t=so far in sunny nelson. it’s rained constantly ever since. we ate mussels in havlock which were deliciouse, and are going for sea food for lumch i think as it is raining again. nalson itself is a nice town to wonder round, and goeff has just booked the able tasmen walk for tomorrow. it will take three days and i hope the weather improved considerably!!1 geoff opted for tent and ai said the huts would be nicer as we could dry of properly – nothing worse than putting a wet tent up in the rain and them cramming all your wet belongings into it as well as yourself!!! no thanks! we no longer envy the bikers as they splash past soaking wet, heads down against the rain.
Mama, have you got laurences new address?? I think you should go to saychelles to see mamie, what’s wrong with you dod??? a spot on the crystal beaches a little too much like hard work for you? i will go with you mama when i get back. maybe laurence and mireille could come too? whats happening with babs? whats this about a wedding? not befor i get back i hope. all is silent on the french e-mail front. cheers for all the letters and cheers for the one dod! most amusing about the monk!!!!
Love to all,
tanya
