[Nz2003] Queenstown -> Dunedin

[Edmund A. Hintz]

    From Queenstown we headed East to the Pacific Ocean and the East
coast. The drive out is pretty interesting, over the course of just a few
hours there's some wildly different scenery. The first 1-2 hrs is a lot
like the US West, similar to the high deserts/forests of New Mexico/
Arizona. Then, rather abruptly, it gets more woodsy, sort of like Montana
or Idaho, and just after that you're on the East Coast with a very rural
British feel. Rolling hills, farmlands, small towns, that sort of thing.
The diversity down here is pretty cool, makes for much more interesting
driving. As the song goes, I've seen miles and miles of Texas, and as far
as I'm concerned, they can have 'em. Even the CA valleys get old at
75+mph, but I've yet to get bored down here even though I seldom exceed
110kph, and that only for short periods of time. 

    The first stop was Dunedin, where we got one hellva view. Our motel
was on the Esplanade, out our bay windows was a one lane street,
sidewalk, and the local surf beach. Our first night in I noticed an
outfit on the corner renting wetsuits and gear, so I got myself a 1 hr
rental of suit + boogieboard + fins. I like surfing, but as a kid I never
had the cash to get a board nor a car to carry it, so I never got
particularly good at it, and these days I live too far away to take it
up, hence the boogieboard. With a pair of fins I can usually do pretty
good... Had a good bit of fun, but it was short lived. I'm not in the
same shape as I was when 16, and to make matters worse the last time I
was in the surf was around 10 years ago. Too many hours in front of
computers and too many beers have taken their toll, and I got tired
pretty quick. Once we get ourselves a home closer to the beach I'll get
back into shape but for this trip I'm afraid short runs will have to do.
Our second day turned into a bit of a down day. Sam's ear didn't equalize
properly on the flight to Milford, and began to get a bit painful, so she
spent most of the 2nd day sleeping and eating decongestants to try and
clear it up. More on that in the next report.

http://www.hintz.org/photos/public/3-29/

Regards,

Ed Hintz
ed@hintz.org