the gentleman Rue

The last couple of days I've been riding Rue. He's bigger than any horse I've sitten on before. But he's a gentle giant. Even though I lost my balance when he decided it was easier to trot up the step hills than walk he has never given me a reason to be scared. It's been a pleasure that will continue a few more days.

By the faultline

Today I had no work. So I went for a walk across the paddocks up to the faultline. It's massive. Even bigger in reality than what it seemed on TV. I haven't seen what it looked like before the earthquake, but people have told me it was just normal grass clad hills.



It makes you understand why New Zealand is so hilly. I had a beautiful day and enjoyed the scenery. Here's Clarence river:

Sunrise

Sorry for being quiet!
We had a very windy night and I lost internet access, now it's back :-)

I've just been down to the beach and watched the sun rise.

Grattis på födelsedagen Ellen!

Idag blickar jag tillbaka och i fjärran. Mina tankar stannar till i min födelsestad hos min kära lillasyster. Hoppas du har det bra Ellen! Gott nytt 25:e!

As I walked back along the beach I met another solitary traveller on this lonely planet. We greeted each other shortly before our paths parted. Twice I saw my temporary friend resurface before I moved on.

Avocado

Not much to do today. Anna, the other wwoofer left this morning. Then we painted the Todhunters new home. The outside of the house is almost finished now.

In the afternoon I baked two banana breads and then I went for a walk and fed the horses. I passed by an avocado orchard.

Earthquake victims

Today my host Vicki Todhunter took me and the other wwoofer for a ride down the closed road. Vicki had to give her name and phone number to two road workers just after we'd passed Clarence river. After that the road was single file most of the way and parts of it was strewn with boulders and cracked. On a short stretch half the road had fallen away. If you go further there's a big gate shutting off the road. Beyond the gate there's been a huge landslide covering the entire road. Unfortunately I had to charge my phone so the memories of that lives in my mind only. But here's a picture of the Todhunters destroyed house.

15 January

It's been a hot day today. It's so quiet here. There are so little traffic here that each passing car makes me turn my head. I'm right next to the main highway. But due to the earthquake it's only drivable a few more kilometers. And there are no trains at all. Which makes balancing on the rails a fun game.

From shore to shore

Where I woke up this morning:

Beautiful Arapawa island, where I Wwoofen with the nice Radon family at Arapawa seafarm.

 Where I'm going to sleep tonight :

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