Life in the van (part 1)

Fill your life with experiences, not things. Have stories to tell, not stuff to show.”

by Unknown

On Tuesday, 26 January I picked up a white Ford Transit camper-van in Christchurch.  This van is to be driven back to Cambridge over the coming weeks.  The opportunity to drive and live in a camper-van for a couple of weeks was presented to me before Christmas by Claire, a cycling friend.  When she asked if I was interested – well, you can guess the response – “ooh yes, I’d love to!” I’d been thinking about trying one out for some time and now that opportunity has appeared.

Claire had given me a guided tour of the van several weeks ago and now I was wondering would I remember everything she told me and where to find what etc etc.

So far I’ve loved driving the van, it is so easy.  The manual transmission is a piece of cake, really enjoying the physicality of driving – the changing of gears.  I reflected on the teachings and learnings of driving the ‘horse truck’ my father used to own when I was younger.  He encouraged me to always think about the load I was carrying and how that affects your driving, especially going down steep hills and coming to stop signs; double-declutching; it was interesting the memories that came to mind.

Picton to Christchurch by bus

To get from Ngakuta Bay to Christchurch I travelled by Intercity Bus which was a very enjoyable journey that enabled me to freely view the scenery and just relax, reflect and be in the moment.  I had a front seat so my views were unbroken.  Interestingly the bus driver used to be a school teacher and now loving his job driving buses.  As he put it “when I get home in the evening, my job is finished, not like my wife who is a teacher, she still has to prepare for the next day or do some other teaching-related tasks.”

The Link Pathway

To catch the bus I had a beautiful walk along The Link Pathway (this 42 km walking and cycle trail runs from Picton to Havelock). From Ngakuta Bay to Picton is 10 kms of beautiful mostly beech, manuka, and regenerated forest shading you from the intense summer sun.

I stayed in an Airbnb in Halswell, Christchurch which was close to where I had to pick up the van.  My goodness, how Christchurch has spread and it is looking great.

Ground Effect

I’ve been a 20 year plus customer of Ground Effect and it had always been on my list to go and see their operation that is located out towards Ferrymead in Christchurch. They design and make cycling gear and I think their gear is the best (for me anyway).  It is not cheap but lasts for years and years.  They make everything in Christchurch, in a small factory, and also out-source some sewing.

After chatting they invited me to stay for morning tea (which I was told doesn’t normally happen for customers) but they were keen to hear about our recent Rainbow Valley and Molesworth adventures.  The ‘flat white’ was the best and it was great to be able to share our stories.  They thoroughly enjoyed hearing about our stay in a nudist camp ground. My time spent with Ground Effect staff was enjoyable and worthwhile.  I’m now pleased to remove that item from my to-do list.  I did buy a new pair of blue cycling gloves which was long overdue.

Great news for Ground Effect clothing lovers, they are in the process of designing a new range of cycle clothing with more size options for women.

Taylor’s Mistake – Godley Heads Walk

With my ‘caffeine fix,’ in the system, I was ready for a walk around to Godley Heads.  What a stunning walk, the track is well compacted and maintained with easy gradients.  It was a stinking hot day and I hadn’t planned my trip that well but hey it was last minute decision to walk it and I was pleased I’d finally visited Taylor’s Mistake after years of hearing about it.

I spent my first night in my van at Helen’s (a long-ago work colleague from Wintec),  She lives on the outskirts of Rangiora on a lifestyle block.  We had a wonderful evening catching up and sharing events and experiences of the past seven years – we both were surprised how time has flown by, both promising to catch-up more regularly.

It was a very hot night, fortunately, my little van has a window (with a fly screen covering) that enabled a light breeze to flow over my face during the night thereby stopping my body from over-heating.

 Rangiora – Kaikoura

The road from Rangiora to Kaikoura via the inland route was another part of the South Island I had wanted to see.  I had dreamed of cycling it one day, that idea has now gone from my “must-dos”.  Sometimes I need to justify my excuses:

1. there are no verges on the edge of the road
2. the trucks and traffic seem to drive fast
3. the hills are relentless, and
4. the head-on northwest winds are horrendous – why would I go there?

But in my little van, I thoroughly enjoyed the drive.  I had plenty of practice changing gears, taking my time, and admiring the surrounding range of mountains – Inland Kaikoura Range.  To realise the week before Sari and I was cycling down the valley just over the other side of those mountains, but no snow-covered peaks this week!

As I wasn’t sure of where I could stay for the night in Kaikoura, I decided the Top 10 Holiday Park was my destination.  It was easy to find and I felt it would enable me to start making the most of the camper-van facilities.  It was everything I had hoped for.  And my neighbours for the night was a young family from Raglan!

Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway

Kaikoura seemed to be bustling.  The businesses have had a hard time over the past few years, with the 2016 earthquake and now no international tourists, so I was determined to support them in any way I could.

If you have 20 minutes or three hours to spare I highly recommend the Kaikoura Peninsula Walkway.  It is promoted as a family walk, (10 kms if you do a full round trip).  You get to see seal colonies; a variety of sea birds; historic pa and whaling sites, with stunning views of the sea and mountains. Plus the resulting uplift of the earthquake, which brought home to me the reality of what actually happened.

A very pleasant few hours were spent here exploring Kaikoura.

Blenheim

Blenheim is surrounded by vineyards, my brother Ben was saying “85% of NZ vineyards are within Marlborough.”  There is very little bare land that doesn’t have grapevines growing on it. I had two wonderful days there catching up with Ben and his wife Fran and some of their family.  It was great spending time with them and seeing how their business Ormand Nurseries Ltd is continually developing and growing.  We talked, walked, coffeed, cycled, and dined out at Saint Claire Vineyard Kitchen.  The food there was superb, highly recommend it.

No sleeping in my van – I was spoiled, I slept in a beautiful room with a view that enabled me to have drapes and windows open so the full moon could shine in.

Mt Cawte – Moetapu Bay, Marlborough Sounds

I had one night staying with Sue (she came and stayed with me while I was in Laos. Her sister was one of our neighbours in Singapore, 1996).  Sue lives on Queen Charlotte Drive and recently brought a section, which she is going to build on.  She currently lives in a beautiful wooden tiny house.  We made the most of our time together catching up on the news, happenings, and events since we’d last seen each other a few years back.  In the morning she took me up Mt Cawte (474m) climb.  The construction of this track involved Outward Bound volunteers (over a two year period) to establish a pest management access track.  This then enabled the removal of wilding pines, banana passion fruit vine, and other noxious plants. The views at the top were stunning as you can see in my photo below.

Port Underwood bike ride

Sari felt to ‘complete’ our adventure we needed to ride the Port Underwood loop which meant riding from Rarangi around the east coast to Picton and then on to Ngakuta Bay, close to 60  kms.

I admire Sari for undertaking this ride for the fourth time yesterday.  Having completed it I’m not sure I’d be that keen to do it that often – unless of course it was sealed.  The views were stunning when we could see the coast and ocean, otherwise, it was concentration and focus – the gravel road had many corrugations and was either uphill or downhill.  I’ve since read where it is recommended for only “fit cyclists”, I guess you could say we met that criteria.

The little bays we cycled past were quite beautiful and peaceful.  The water crystal clear in various shades of blue and green – depending on the angle of the sun.  Whatamango Saddle was the climb of the day, 4.5 kms steep uphill often in the full sun.  We climbed over 1200 m and descended the same amount – was I glad when we finally rode into Waikawa Bay, just before Picton.

Two cups of tea later at a friend of Sari’s and we were ready to complete our little adventure home to Ngakua Bay.  As I cycled home, on this now familiar road I realised I’m getting very comfortable in this location, knowing the different road corners, how far to the top of Wedge Point, knowing the names and location of different bays.  Perhaps it is time I moved on before I become a “local”?

Where to next?

On Thursday I start my journey north.  Have an early morning ferry crossing and hopefully drive over Martinborough or somewhere close by.  No more friends or family to visit and hang out with so I will be “embracing the van lifestyle”.

Thank you Sari and Norm for your hospitality, generosity, and putting up with my coming and going.  Thank you Sari for all the wonderful walks we’ve shared along the Link Pathway and for showing me your “trap run”.

I’m beginning to love this special place.  Check out my photo below, this is what I wake up to each morning here in Ngakuta Bay, two-minute walk down to the water edge.

Till next time, hang in there – GoldCard Gal 🙂

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