We’re calling today Day 0 of our NZ bike trip, as we plan to leave tomorrow, bar any additional unforseen illnesses.
Today’s focus was preparation, preparation, preparation. First, we prepared to leave the house. This was only the second day of outdoor air for Dena since arriving 5 days ago. Once out, we bussed into Christchurch to collect information from the DOC, or Department of Conservation, on camping around the South Island. It seems that the DOC sites are some of the most scenic – and cheapest – in all the land. What could be more up our alley than that?
The DOC was followed by a targetted strike of the local Vodafone outlet. Who would have thought that understanding internet Broadband plans in Australia would be child’s play compared to New Zealand? There is the locking of this, the unlocking of that, the maybe-it-would-be-cheaper-to-just-start-over-with-a-new-stick plan until you realize that the math that plan is based on amounts to solving Fermat’s last theorem, which means you’ll never really understand what you’re paying for, only that it seems way more than what it’s worth. We left empty-handed. For you, this means that blog updates may be farther between, for we will be at the mercy of local internet suppliers. Fortunately, I like coffee and Neighbor Cynthia made it very clear to Gina before we left Sydney that if there’s an ice cream budget for her, then there must be a Flat White budget for Dena. Coffee often equals WiFi – score two for me!
In between these errands we did take time to enjoy a lovely picnic lunch in Christchurch’s Cathedral Square.
Santa was also downtown to greet us. (Jury’s still out on whether we’ve been naughty or nice.) Curious that only one reindeer showed up, but maybe the rest got their Poles confused.
Damage from the recent earthquake was, sadly, evident throughout the downtown district, but kudos to the kiwis for livening up the scaffolding.
The bus ride home came with a stop at the neighborhood Woolies or “Countdown”, as they call them here. We thought it might be wise to pick up a few supplies for the bike in case we get lost trying to meander our way out of town tomorrow. Having been reading a lot lately about One Pot Meals, we’ve decided that rice needs to be a new staple on the bike. Rice goes with everything and only requires the ability to boil water. Once again, what could be more up our alley than that? Gina, apparently as concerned about starving on this bike trip as if she were stranded on an episode of Survivor, picked out this 10 kg (22 lb) bag.
She put it back after giving the situation a bit more thought.
Tonight we’ll finalize our packing and hopefully a route out of town. Tomorrow we ride!