mrsjono

Last night, Cora jio me to do part of the Kepler Track. It was a no-brainer; I agreed immediately as I have always wanted to do it anyway and it was so close to where we were staying. I jumped into her car with Carla at the back in her baby seat and set off to Rainbow Reach. The track starts at a swingbridge and wanders through beech forest with a few glimpses of the Waiau River along the way. Cora had Carla on her back and she was faster than me. Power!





Lunch at the kettle bog - lecker!


We walked along the shores of Lake Manapouri and came to a nice beach with clear waters - Shallow Bay. I watched Cora played with Carla in the water and started swinging her so that her little feet were brushing against the water. Despite being just 19, Cora's maturity was evident to me and I felt that she has more life experience than most girls of her age and even myself in some ways.


We are great babysitters!


Carla slept most of the time when I carried her back to the carpark.


Last photo with blur-looking Carla who had just woken up from her sleep lol

Cora from Germany was the only other "woofer" at Freestone. She babysits the owners' 18 month old daughter Carla in exchange for food and accommodation. She loves riding horses and exercises horses at a nearby farm during her spare time.



Big brother looking out for baby Carla


Kerstin looking pleased that she found a secluded spot to anchor for the rest of the afternoon


I had no idea they had prepared and brought these food onto the boat



I went for a row while Cora went for a dip

She said it was cold


Afternoon tea before heading back to shore

The first guests I met at Freestone were Josef and Thomas from Germany. I hardly ever see father and son on a holiday together and I was really amazed how friendship-like their relationship was. On the surface they would annoy and make fun of each other but Thomas would still cook for his dad while Josef does his best to keep up with his son when they go sightseeing. When I asked what were their plans today Thomas said he wanted to go to Fuel Hill. I laughed when I realised he meant "view" and it was just the way Germans pronounce "v" as "f". They let me tag along; I was eager to get out and was quite surprised they weren't taking their car given we were in a remote part of the country.

They stopped at Frasers Beach for a look. This was taken yesterday when Kerstin brought me to the same place with her baby daughter Carla and I was swarmed with sandflies.


Me trailing behind as I was busy taking photos and them giving me the "hurry up" look lol. There were no signs along the way but Thomas still managed to get there using a handwritten map.


Based on this survey mark, I finally managed to retrace my steps years later. It is located near the Moturau Heights subdivision and west of the Te Anau airport.


This little known lookout offers an overview of Lake Manapouri


Fuel Hill 😉✌


As we were making our way back, Josef stuck his thumb out for a ride. He gave up quickly and told me it was super easy to get a ride in Bavaria. As we walked along the highway, Josef laughed at my English and I laughed at his English while Thomas translated what I was saying from English to German to his father and translated what Josef was saying from German to English to me.


See that tiny white triangle in the middle? That's Jimmy's house. We have to walk back there. Groans!

It's only after I got to Freestone that I realised how comfortable, cosy and clean Poplar Lodge was. The owners don't seem to get along with each other and the place hasn't been up to scratch. It was quite dirty and untidy and they don't even have proper cleaning aids! (Kerstin told me Jimmy uses the dish washing liquid to clean everything.) It's remote here and I miss having other woofers around.

I lived in the bottom house on the right. Cleaning a village is tiring because I had to climb up and down the hill every time I forget to take a pillow case or plastic bag.


Kitchen and fridge space was insufficient in a 4 bedroom house that can sleep up to 8 guests


The uninviting lounge with mismatching pieces of furniture


Kerstin was so pleased with my housekeeping work that she gave me a thank you hug even before the end of my stay.


Old coin operated washing machine and dryer. There is a key hanging behind the washing machine that opens the money box so that I can slot in some coins to get the laundry going.


Hang laundry also can slip and fall T_T


The owner's house and individual huts are up on a hill and quite spaced out. The huts are pretty basic with no electricity - similar to DOC huts on the tracks.


I have a room to myself but can't enjoy surfing the net from the comfort of my bed. I have to climb up to the owner's house with my laptop and would hide under the deck to use their wifi.

Two and a half weeks flew past and it's time to leave Arrowtown. I carried a heavier load than from Christchurch to Arrowtown with the sun burning at me as I waited for my first ride. Waited 50 mins opposite Frankton Hub bus stop with no luck. Walked further down past the airport and waited by the road for an(other?) hour... Finally got a ride from Anaud and his parents from France! I had a seat to myself at the back and it was quite difficult to hold a conversation with them sitting in front. So I just sat through this 2 hour ride in silence, checking my GPS location on my ipod from time to time.

They dropped me off at Te Anau. A lady stopped right after I alighted. She thought their Jucy vehicle broke down and came to help. She had no intention of giving me a ride. I waited for awhile without success again...



Walked further down along SH95 and Syd stopped. He said he knew Jimmy & Kerstin (owners of the hostel I'm heading to) and offered to let me stay a night at his house if I can't make it to Manapouri tonight. He gave me a short ride (on his way home I think) and I continued to wait aimlessly for an hour or so... until Susan & Gilbert, retirees from France (FRANCEF🇫🇷🇫🇷ROCKS) sent me all the way to my final destination:



Long and tiring day!