One of my very first walks in Raglan when I first arrived was a mild little bush walk on a reserve. There were two little birds about the size of a golf ball flittering around in front of me on the pathway. They were playing with me, they would land and as soon as I walked forward they would fly to the next spot and land again. They flew in front of me for about an hour criss crossing along the way. Later I learned these birds are called fantails, because of their white tail feathers that spread out like a fan. I liked the way they were so free and so careless so I got one tattooed on my foot as an always reminder. Today I woke up and walked through some private farm land to a pathway leading into a cave. 3 minutes in I saw a fantail, 10 minutes in the path became narrow, steep, and technical. The little birds were forever moving forward, it is very difficult to snap a picture, yet I swear they want you to follow them as they go along. It was a good sign, they mean luck, and I know that this was a sign, this is where I am supposed to be right now. I am happy exploring land, and finding caves, hiking, and even sleeping in my car. Everyday is a new day, I don't know at all what it brings, I feel like the fantail.
"Sometimes you meet people and you know your life has changed because of them"
Three days ago, I walked Abel Tasman. This national park is one of the nine great walks in NZ and one of the two that I personally wanted to do. The trip was 50 kilometers and 2 full days of walking. My bag was heavy with camping gear and they days were hot. Arriving in Abel Tasman they brought us to Tutranui via water taxi, the boat ride up was almost enough. At the start of the trip I met Ondrej and Zee, from Czech Republic and we did the two days together. What could make Abel Tasman more exciting then it already is? Starting it off by not hiking the path. Instead we made our way around the edges- shore side- up and over rocks. Late into day one and my shoulders were not comfortable, and at a point I very much considered having my bag brought back by boat however the boys were encouraging and by 8 p.m. the following day we made it back Marahua, where the cars were parked with no boat. That night we stayed in a camp near Abel Tasman and the next day I took off to head North. Not too far north and I was in Takaka, and in an instant I felt at home once again. You can buy apples, pears, nashi, free range eggs, horse poo, and worm fertilizer from road side stands by putting your money in "honesty boxes", there is a local raw milk factory (new and very difficult to do here in NZ), and the views of mountain, stream, country side, and ocean just begin to describe the beauty that is. I've explored "The Grove", Rawhiti Caves, Labriynth Rock Park, Pupu Springs, and Pohara beach community. The town bulletins read: banjo lessons, yoga retreat, luminate festival, and story telling. The shops are secondhand or handmade, whole organic food, SOUL, and... well you get the idea. Ran into my Czech loves outside the grocery shop and we did some more wondering before they headed South. I will be spending the next few days with a family just North doing Wwoofing work in their gardens and with their piggies. Elda, Kevin, and their son Alexis live in a home 25k North of Takaka near a town called Collingswood. They are the kind of family that takes you in at once, I know that the next few days will be good for all of us. :)
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