Tag 128 - cold

05.09.19

- Alex

Despite feeling a little uneasy last night, we survived the night unscathed. As always, we make breakfast and realize that we're the only ones at the rest area around 9:00 AM, as everyone else had already left. We enjoy the morning sea air and during a short walk through the park, directly between us and the sea, we notice a car parked at the end of the ramp that is actually used to launch boats into the water (it extends about 50 meters into the sea, allowing boats to be launched even at low tide). Not too bad; the only problem is that the tires are already half submerged in seawater and the tide is still coming in. Before we can panic, the driver calmly reverses the car out of the water (felt like in the VERY LAST second), turns around further up and drives away.

We pack up our stuff and continue to the next town, hoping to spend a few hours in the library there. However, when we arrive in the town, we realize that there are no free parking spaces in the "downtown" area. So we continue on and of course, check out a few second-hand shops (since we're already here). We leave the town and continue into a wooded area where there are supposed to be great hikes. We park our van, are greeted by a curious chicken, and set off (we decide on a 1.5-hour hike to a waterfall).

We are absolutely thrilled; it is one of the most beautiful hikes of the entire trip. Everything is very pristine, incredibly green and magical. We climb under fallen trees and jump over muddy sections. The sound of the river gets louder and we cross a ford where you can see three smaller streams converging into a large river, signaling the end of the hiking trail.

Just around two bends and down a small slope and we're there. We are completely alone in front of a heavenly waterfall, right in the New Zealand jungle, and for a few moments we enjoy the unique atmosphere. On a whim, we decide to take a dip in the river. The air is probably only 15 degrees Celsius and the water is at most 7 degrees, but you're not "young, wild and free" for nothing. I realize that "young, wild and free" is not the best motto in the moment when I struggle in the water, cramped and frost-shocked, like a panicked dog, gasping for air - Jonna laughs at me from the shore; my life flashes before my eyes. I manage to pull myself out of the water and remember what a wise person once said, "Before you freeze to death, you'll get really hot first", and I was feeling very, very hot just now!

I can only convince Jonna to also completely submerge once by threatening to publicly brand her as a wimp. When that's done, we dry ourselves off, take in the view and tranquility one more time, and then head back to the car.

We drive out of the nature reserve, only to enter the next one half an hour later. This time it's a pine forest and you immediately feel like you're in Canada or Norway. The van is parked at a completely empty rest area and we explore the area on foot. Back at the vehicle, we make tea and have a cozy dinner in bed.

- Alex