I finally (what is it 2.5 months into this adventure?) figure out how to navigate by having the sun AHEAD of me when going north. This may explain why I have had to backtrack so frequently. My internal default direction finder expects the sun to be in the south. One more time and I get it. Driving is such a great meditation until the next stunning view appears around a corner. I must be getting jaded I only saw a few! Stop to pick some apples from some trees beside the road, a late Gravenstein and Cox's Orange Pippin. Yum! Passed a cob cottage in Amberley and thought about declaring my intention to go forward with a certification to become a Permaculture ..... practitioner? Whatever. I have some ideas and a desire to implement them.
And I want to acknowledge how truly inspiring you have been for me Brandy McPherson! How your dedication, commitment and perseverance in pursuing your vision has been a source of inspiration and modeling for me. I have much and huge gratitude for encouraging me to pursue this path. Thank you Brandy.
I have spoken to many people about OUR Ecovillage, encouraging folks to visit the website if not the physical location. New Zealand has had a community friendly climate and although some are successful there are challenges. I realized part way into the course at Tui that everything I have been interested in, studied, read about and practiced is part of the Permaculture reality. With my knowledge comes some wisdom and a desire to implement. I have a big vision of how that will eventually manifest, it needs more work, but I am excited about creating and collaborating to make it real.
Other trains of thought around men's weekends, initiation loyalty, commitment. It is all connected to the idea, the understanding of community. My excitement is palpable, these folks I am speaking with in communities all around get my enthusiasm and passion.
I stop in Cheviot and chat up some ladies selling homeknit hats, scarves and sweaters of Cheviot, Romney and Leicester wool. I cage some spun wool for my weaving and continue on. Take a side road down towards Gore Bay and the mouth of the Hurunui River. A great campsite there, my reconnoiter of the South Island keeps inspiring me to pursue Mike and Ikes Hike, Bike and Kayak the world company. The inaugural trip with the principle players, a co-operative ad/venture would be to discover what we need to provide for folks who come to visit Vancouver Island by experiencing what WE need when traveling. Who is interested? How am I going to finance this? got any ideas?
Kaikoura is a great spot to stop, I check out the beaches , shops and crayfish at the takeaways. Unbelievably (yah right!) I buy two books at a used bookstore (open on Sunday? amazing) and wrestle with buying stuff for all my kids and best friends and close acquaintances deciding in the end ( I hope) you will just be glad to have me back home and with lots of pictures. I did buy something for myself though...
The road along the coast here is spectacular, huge crashing waves against the rough boulders strew about the beach, layered headlands jutting into the Pacific. The railroad hugs the coastline here too, making it impossible to access the beach (with a vehicle) in places. Around a corner and I see three tunnels and a cave on the beach. More tunnels as I snake back and forth along this wild coastline. The spray is creating a mist, the tide is full.
I pick up a hitchhiker, Eric from New Mexico who works "on the ice" cooking for upwards of 11000 at the American Base in Antarctica. Flights home and back are free and the time in between he explores, traveling mostly it seems in NZ. He was off to visit some folks near Dashwood at the Oak tree Cob Cottage. I got to visit briefly too, a 100+ year old cottage being renovated on 5 acres of well kept grounds surrounded by vineyards. At the moment some are draped with hats, pants or full body suits to keep out the birds although some are bare and employ guns, warning signs at the corners. I managed to sample a few varieties, by reaching under and helping myself. Crossed the Redwood Pass 197M nestled into the yellow brown rounded hills of dried out pasture, eroded cliffs with hoodoo like arroyos right up against the switchbacking road. My lack of camera may be an asset to my writing eh? or not.
Blew through Blenheim and parked near the ocean at Rarangi. Watched an amazing red sunset and spoke on the phone with Bill from Christchurch who I was meant to stay with. He is off to China leading a garden tour at Easter. Then texted some Permaculture friends and wrote into the night. Picton is just around the corner...
Sunday 14 March 2010
Christchurch
It was noisy in the morning. The gravel pit across the river was in full operation at 7 am with trucks loading up. I was cold. I didn't want to emerge from my cocoon of sleeping bag and duvet but of course nature calls. Ate some breakfast and then drove where the sun was shining to evaporate the condensation and do my writing.
Found another library but not open so did some writing over a chai in a local cafe. Turned out I shoulda gone online too, no wifi at the library, "try the coffee shop across the way" So back to South library in Cashmere. There I contacted a fellow at MensTrust, and when I got there found a number of men's and women's organizations all under one roof. Gordon and I had a good chat, I collected some pamphlets and flyers with info on the various possibilities for men's support. Unfortunately funding is drying up here too. Gordon talks about the connections and working relationships between men and women in the domestic violence field. How supportive some women's organizations are/were in creating support networks. He tells me a warrior brother lives in his community and that I am welcome to come to stay the night. Serendipity! Robina had told us about this community- Heartwood, and here I am! There are a few residences here, two official houses. One is a large brick mansion, Chippenham one of the oldest in Christchurch built in 1860. Lots of gardens, a few fruit trees and many buildings. I am entertained by Dave who is the historian and has lived here the longest. Unfortunately I miss about a third of what he is saying, he is listening to some tapes talking nonstop and making dinner. Ursula from France originally and Sheena an Australian architecture student join us. Also connect with John a fellow warrior who tells me about the other part of the community, land wise out in Oxford.
The Gypsy Fair is in town so in the morning I arrange to drive Dave to work nearby. Unfortunately the van has other ideas and refuses to start. We push it out onto the street and the battery dies. Dave borrows a car (he is now going to be late) And I look up repair places in the phonebook. John and Thomas come out and push me down the street. It starts and I head off to not finding the fair. Go to library (this pattern keeps emerging!) where I research possible camera repair places and Skype with Elke, Nicolette does a cameo appearance. Load some photos, write, then back downtown. Camera guy tells me it is an easy fix but I will need to get it done on Monday or Tuesday in Wellington...Locates the gypsy fair and off I am again. House trucks galore, imported cottons and the usual stuff. Some locally made handicrafts, leatherwork and the kids perform on stilts and with flaming batons (not at the same time) a couple of fortune tellers, Madame Feather and pony rides. I move on after fingering a few items and choosing not to buy. Head back to Heartwood having decided to visit the farm-Cricklegrass. Dave calls and sets it up. Drive the longest straight road in NZ to get there. 18miles. He described it as ramshackle, oh yeah.
Old buildings, neglected gardens and orchards, chooks and a milking cow. Paul makes me welcome. Certainly work is being done; gardening, milking the cow plus there are 5 kids here. Two young boys are target practicing with pellet rifles in the scrub. I do an explore and meet Briar, mother of two of the girls, living in her bus on the edge of the property. From Vancouver originally we talk awhile. She doesn't seem to mix much with the folks in the farmhouse although her eldest daughter spends most of her time there.
I was invited for dinner so bring my Monkey Wizard Stout from Motueka and share with Paul, Paul and Louis wwoofers from England and France respectively. I wash up after when eldest son goes to town to hang out with his mates, Paul returns with ice cream, scrumpie and more beer.
Mother Meghan, not well, emerges later and helps me get online. The evenings entertainment a Mike Meyers movie with a cameo by Deepak Chopra.
They offer me a bed, great offer but mossies and leg cramps plague me.
In the morning a red sky, I do my writing. Eldest daughter off to work at hospital, Madeline and I eat breakfast together. I call the ferry, work out the miscommunication and Meghan shows me some books. They are off to an auction, heritage animals, chooks and cattle in Christchurch. I say my goodbyes and promise to keep in touch.
Found another library but not open so did some writing over a chai in a local cafe. Turned out I shoulda gone online too, no wifi at the library, "try the coffee shop across the way" So back to South library in Cashmere. There I contacted a fellow at MensTrust, and when I got there found a number of men's and women's organizations all under one roof. Gordon and I had a good chat, I collected some pamphlets and flyers with info on the various possibilities for men's support. Unfortunately funding is drying up here too. Gordon talks about the connections and working relationships between men and women in the domestic violence field. How supportive some women's organizations are/were in creating support networks. He tells me a warrior brother lives in his community and that I am welcome to come to stay the night. Serendipity! Robina had told us about this community- Heartwood, and here I am! There are a few residences here, two official houses. One is a large brick mansion, Chippenham one of the oldest in Christchurch built in 1860. Lots of gardens, a few fruit trees and many buildings. I am entertained by Dave who is the historian and has lived here the longest. Unfortunately I miss about a third of what he is saying, he is listening to some tapes talking nonstop and making dinner. Ursula from France originally and Sheena an Australian architecture student join us. Also connect with John a fellow warrior who tells me about the other part of the community, land wise out in Oxford.
The Gypsy Fair is in town so in the morning I arrange to drive Dave to work nearby. Unfortunately the van has other ideas and refuses to start. We push it out onto the street and the battery dies. Dave borrows a car (he is now going to be late) And I look up repair places in the phonebook. John and Thomas come out and push me down the street. It starts and I head off to not finding the fair. Go to library (this pattern keeps emerging!) where I research possible camera repair places and Skype with Elke, Nicolette does a cameo appearance. Load some photos, write, then back downtown. Camera guy tells me it is an easy fix but I will need to get it done on Monday or Tuesday in Wellington...Locates the gypsy fair and off I am again. House trucks galore, imported cottons and the usual stuff. Some locally made handicrafts, leatherwork and the kids perform on stilts and with flaming batons (not at the same time) a couple of fortune tellers, Madame Feather and pony rides. I move on after fingering a few items and choosing not to buy. Head back to Heartwood having decided to visit the farm-Cricklegrass. Dave calls and sets it up. Drive the longest straight road in NZ to get there. 18miles. He described it as ramshackle, oh yeah.
Old buildings, neglected gardens and orchards, chooks and a milking cow. Paul makes me welcome. Certainly work is being done; gardening, milking the cow plus there are 5 kids here. Two young boys are target practicing with pellet rifles in the scrub. I do an explore and meet Briar, mother of two of the girls, living in her bus on the edge of the property. From Vancouver originally we talk awhile. She doesn't seem to mix much with the folks in the farmhouse although her eldest daughter spends most of her time there.
I was invited for dinner so bring my Monkey Wizard Stout from Motueka and share with Paul, Paul and Louis wwoofers from England and France respectively. I wash up after when eldest son goes to town to hang out with his mates, Paul returns with ice cream, scrumpie and more beer.
Mother Meghan, not well, emerges later and helps me get online. The evenings entertainment a Mike Meyers movie with a cameo by Deepak Chopra.
They offer me a bed, great offer but mossies and leg cramps plague me.
In the morning a red sky, I do my writing. Eldest daughter off to work at hospital, Madeline and I eat breakfast together. I call the ferry, work out the miscommunication and Meghan shows me some books. They are off to an auction, heritage animals, chooks and cattle in Christchurch. I say my goodbyes and promise to keep in touch.
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