New Zealand 46 Poor Beast

 My pack essentially held my clothes and the daily supply of drinking water. My camera equipment was in a separate pack I carried on my front. Matt carried everything else, poor beast. So we set off around noon, eager to get on the track. At first it was a pretty easy walk but it didn't take long for the weight of the packs to make what should have been easy not quite so. We stopped for lunch at a beautiful beach spot, secluded except for a few kayakers and day walkers.

Matt and Cynthia (to be continued) 

New Zealand 46 The Saucepan

 Today was the first day of our first overnight hike and we were so excited! We had a very short walk to the first hut so we took our time packing the backpacks and getting everything ready. Matt had to pack and re-pack his bag several times because we had more stuff than he had room for. 

We decided the best thing to do was to tie one of the sleeping bags and the saucepan (not the lightweight, camping kind but the heavy, kitchen kind that came with the van) to the outside of his pack. This proved to be the center of endless jokes, laughter and lots of strange looks to come.

Matt and Cynthia (to be continued) 

New Zealand 46 Lots Of Food

 Relieved, we re-focused on the walk preparations and found a very nice girl at a place called Wilson's Experience who could actually help us get organized. We booked a water taxi with their company, rented the necessary gear and bought lots and lots of food at the local supermarket. I think we kind of spaced out because we weren't really thinking clearly that one of us would have to carry all that food. Apricots and walnuts sound cute and yummy but, believe me, they are heavy. And I didn't even have to carry them.....

Matt and Cynthia (to be continued) 

New Zealand 46 Portfoliooooo

 You can not imagine my delight when I walked out into the street to see Matt, proudly holding the leather portfolio high in the air, waving it around madly and smiling. Someone actually turned it in to the police station! We could hardly believe it. He even left his name and address. Apparently, it fell out of the van at the Swinging Sultan (I swear I don't make this stuff up!) kebab restaurant. The van was locked so it must have fallen out. We promptly went to the post, bought a thank you card and dispatched some cash to the very honest person.

New Zealand 45 Portfolioooo

 No worries, they said (if I had a dollar for every time we have been told this.....) it will turn up at the local police station. Yeah, right. We drove back to Motueka and we were both so upset we just didn't speak. We were beginning to feel that maybe the New Zealand leg of our tour was cursed and we were going to get the hell out. Matt drove straight to the local constable (police) station while I went across the street to use the restroom.

Matt and Cynthia (to be continued) 

New Zealand 44 Portfoliooo

 Both in a state of complete panic, we decided to remain calm and retrace our steps. We had it the day before and we had not been to many places. I was sure he must have left it at the DOC. So we called and they insisted that they did not have it.

Not willing to take their word for it, we decided to make the 45 minute drive there and make sure. No, they assured us in person, they did not have it.

Matt and Cynthia (to be continued) 

New Zealand 43 Portfolioo

The panic set in when I realized what, exactly, we were missing. I said a little breathlessly, you mean, the leather portfolio that houses all of our documents, copies of our passports, credit cards, social security numbers, drivers license, checkbook and passwords to all of our financial banking? Do you mean that leather portfolio? Matt just looked at me.....I knew it was bad.

Matt and Cynthia (to be continued)