Debrief on week 1 New Zealand

I left home a week ago. The time in Auckland was enjoyable with a downtown hotel and good weather. All the hard pavement walking is doing a number on my stamina and it's been a mixed bag in Queenstown, with lost baggage, and carelessness, and a hostel with steep steps and cramped rooms. But I made it to Mt Cook, and the weather may be improving. So my anxiety about hut wardening should calm. I know I can f d o this, but I always have doubts. But so far I've rolled with the punches and made it through to the planned destination. And what a grand sight it is.

Killing time until I can get a table in the full service restaurant

I made a reservation for what I thought was the restaurant but they're big on buffets I guess. All the staff are Asian or Indian and they do their best but it's a brave new world post covid when service workers aren't available.

6:30 walk to The Hermitage for dinner

After the hailstorm at around 2pm, and high wind, by 5 it had cleared. It's good to be in my very comfortable motel room with kitchen after the Haka House tight 3-bed dorm in Queenstown. I think my patience with inexpensive communal stays is fraying. I'll miss the social interactions though. I wonder if ever I'll be able to score a private room. But they aren't cost effective as the price is equal to small hotels. Hmm

A showstopper

But so much snow makes me nervous.

My transport to Mt Cook

It was actually the sightseeing trip. The driver presented a mix of information abd conjecture thoroughly salted with often ignorant comments which went over the heads of all the foreigners onboard. An old school form of sarcasm that's outdated and out of touch with reality these days. Obviously no training in commentary is undertaken. But I got where I needed to go.

Saturday February 3 Lindis Pass

Queenstown to Mt Cook via intercity bus. I remember driving this.

Flax near a deer farm

In sum, the ride was worthwhile. Had conditions been better I could have continued towards Peregrine and Chard Farm wineries, and tested out the full range of power assist. The seat was too low and I had no tools to adjust, but I needed to do something that would rest the nasty blister I'd developed the day before during hard sidewalk walking and tracking down my wrongly delayed and delivered backpack. A good reminder that you really have to double check what is obvious and expect lacksadaisical "service" in NZ. Usually it's a minor annoyance but in this case it was a serious matter. But you just can't guarantee you've covered all the bases as this is a real independent traveler trip. But I think it's worthwhile to pack your bike on the plane. I need to look into an ebike Friday