Woke up, made and ate breakfast, sipped our coffee while packing and preparing the car, packed up the chilly bin, headed to the store for a few last minute groceries and ice, filled up on gas and got on the internet to post the last blog and pics before hitting the road again. While hanging out under the warm sunshine sipping drinks, looking at the mountains behind us and ocean in front we decided it would not be smart to leave and not stay another day in Kaikoura. Change of plans, finish sipping coffee and posting, u turn, drive the half a block we had gone, checked back into the holiday park and unload our chilly bin into the park refrigerator…. start from the beginning again….
We decided yesterday was on the ocean so today we would get into the mountains and get some views from above. We had heard of a hike up Mt. Fyffe which is the dominant peak on the skyline behind town. We quickly changed made some lunch for the hike and headed that way. After a short drive on asphalt we hit some country gravel road which of course consisted of the expected 1 lane bridges, river fords (this time dry, but full of nice big rocks and ruts) and dust… oh yeah this time we saw the random hippie on his bike who seamed to be upset we took the right of way on a one lane bridge when the sign clearly gave it to us, damn hippies never read signs! Finally we reached the trail head and headed out.
The hike climbed quickly which we both liked because the views came quick and we were out of the forest and in the sunshine within 10 minutes of hiking. The hike then continued to climb steeply up the mountain and did not quit. We climbed steadily up the steep grade while in full intense sunshine beating down on us for a solid hour and a half before reaching a DOC hut that offered some shade. We were both hot and a little pinker than when we had started the hike, the sunscreen we had put on had sweated off in the first couple minutes and we had both wrapped shirts over our heads to try and give some relief from the southern sunshine. At the hut we chatted it up with a NZ couple who we had passed on the way up (they were staying the night so were loaded down with packs) and arrived shortly after us. They were really fun to talk to, about our age and we all found good conversation discussing the intense sun, steep hike and some of our travels. They also had just bought a new tent and were super excited to set it up while we all admired it and discussed the the features, size and so on, fellow gear junkies are always a good to run into, they just get it! After a little conversation and lunch we decided to head for the summit, they took our info and gave us theirs and offered their house for a night or two (and their washing machine!) when we come through Christchurch next week, this invite I think we are going to follow up on…
We started to climb again and soon after Shabree's stomach started to hurt, we made it to the false summit and took a break. Shabree found a little spot of shade under some scrub brush and curled up. I went the 10 more min to the top. While hiking the last little bit I began to feel nauseous as well. I think it was a combination of intense sun, pb&j in the hot sun, and dehydration, thank god for the little snow patch I came across so I could cool down with a pile on my head. The top was beautiful and the summit was higher than we had thought, we had climbed over 5000ft.
Running down to meet up with Shabree, I ran into her higher up the trail, she had tried to climb but just felt very nauseated. We walked down to the hut at a slow pace and when we arrived we filled up our water bottle and started to drink it down in the shade. Our kiwi friends asked us how the top was and how we felt. Shabree said she was feeling a little sick. Rebecca gave her more sunscreen, and a sugared ginger treat, and a hart shaped marshmallow, she said this would help take the nausea away. She also offered a variety of other remedies including two different types of pain killers, this chick was prepared! She was very sweet and helpful, and when we were leaving she reminded us to call her when we are in Christchurch.
Within 10min of taking the sugared ginger Shabree felt better, and we were able to pick up the pace, at this point its about 4:45pm and we passed 9 people with full packs heading to the hut. We thought they were crazy since we passed them so close to the bottom, and some of them were already dying! At the van we decided we had to go to the Donagle house, that is not far from the car park. Rebecca our kiwi friend told us it is a great Irish bar and it's the closest thing to an Irish pub that you can finding NZ (she lived in Ireland for two years.)
The Donagle house was very charming, the front door was painted with "Welcome and a thousand hello's" we walked in and each ordered a beer and took it outside on their huge deck in a nice shaded area. We were very tired from our hike so we just zoned out and listened to the Irish music in the background and taking in the big gardens and pond they had on the property, all of this while in the shade of course! We left right after our beer's because people were ordering dinners around us and they looked so good, but we had left over chicken curry in the fridge at home (our motor camp.)
By the time we pulled into our spot for the night Shabree was just about asleep and I was not far behind her. We took showers and ate dinner and were ready for bed, but since it was only 7pm we tried to stay awake! I think we will leave tomorrow and hit up a DOC site, even if it is another summer day outside but we'll see...
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| Kaikoura below, the bay where we swam with the dolphins to the right |
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| see shabree? |
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| summit |
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