Chapter 9: Driving into the raining cloud

17/12/19

Driving into the raining cloud

I wake up in Kaikoura to my first real day of rain. The potential plan to see some seals, swim with dolphins or watch sperm wales goes down the drain. Better to prepare and try to get to the West coast of the Southern island. Destination Greymouth it is! Only 300-ish km yet it will take me close to 5 hours. After saying goodbye to Niels, the Dutch traveller, I fuel up Sparky #4 completely. Damn its true, everything on the Southern island is even more expensive than the already expensive New Zealand standards! I hit the road. First encounter with nature is Mount Lyford. On my right hand side, the mountains gently start taking over the horizon. Their peaks are covered in a thick layer of clouds, like a scarf protecting their necks from the cold winter summer. I try to take some pictures but the lightning seems to be poor (yeah totally not my expert noob photography level is the problem ‘hoor’).

The gentleness of the road gives way too curvy and steep inclines of the Island hills. Corners with indications of maximum speed down to 15 km/hour are present here showing how challenging driving can be on the Southern Island. Eyes on the road and Podcast on the speaker so I don’t focus too much on mister Tinnitus. The road

follows the Waiau river and crosses different bridges. Sometimes it is hard to believe that these can withstand fully loaded 18-wheeler trucks so I must have faith and believe that Sparky #4 will survive! On my passage I see a lot of animals flanking the mountains such as sheep, cows and even lama’s (or alpaca’s it hard to see from the inside of the car). Hawks often circle around keeping an eye me while I move forward. I stop for lunch next to a big field full of black cows. I must have been the cutest thing they have seen in a looooong time because a staring contest was in place. After lunch, I friendly say goodbye to my ‘cowpack’ and continue to drive in the direction of the West Coast.

Soon the raining begins. Driving to the top of Mount Mons Sex Millia proves to be adventurous as I hit clouded and raining roads. I am literately driving into the clouds today o_O. It feels like a grim autumn day rather than a summer day and I stay super focused on my way

downhill. The breaks of Sparky #04 hold and eventually I make it out alive and the shallow roads towards the coast begin to appear! Tasmanian Sea, here I come! I check into my hostel, which seems to be African themed. The owner, a little bit older than me, acquired most of its items on numerous holidays on the Africa continent. Apparently, this part of the island is known for its beautiful sunsets and dolphin swims but the owner informs me that tonight will not be the day. Too cloudy and too rainy keeps the dolphins away. Well, this allows me to catch up on the writing. In the hostel, a lovely crowd of Australian backpackers is eating dinner: just peas and butter, the diner for champions! I decide to cook up some pasta when heaven completely opens it gates and the rain pours down immensely. The soft southing sound of raindrops should be ideal to sleep with the Tinnitus. Unfortunately, No Tasmanian Sea swimming for me this time, just another good reason to come back to this beautiful country once more! Well first I clean up my backpack since after two weeks

it’s a bit of a rommelke (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UeSQzJ5Uacw).

First night on the West Coast,

Greeting travellers,

Steven