Yes, my hiking shoe/boots are waterproof!

Today was a fabulous day. It's sunny and warm and we went for a nice long hike along a lake in the Nelson Lakes area. It doesn't hurt that we woke up in real beds again this a.m. (and even had our own bathroom for 1 night at no extra cost due to a booking snafu by the hostel.

Luckily, today there were no weather surprises. I've learned, however, to expect anything in NZ. I pack everything in my daypack in a garbage bag first to make sure it's all dry in case of sudden downpour. I also keep my passport, wallet and phone (if I carry it) in individual ziploc bags inside the garbage bag just to be extra safe. Even on days like today when it's reasonably warm out I pack: at least 1 fleece (today I packed 1 and wore a fleece vest), my rain coat, my hat, my glove liners and my new "fresh-as-sheep" glove/mittens. I decided today that I also need to start packing an extra pair of socks.

The one surprise we did encounter today was due to the crazy amount of rain that fell yesterday (and led to us not hiking). The trail was pretty much ankle-deep muddy patches or trickling water for about 75% of the time. That doesn't include the streams and small rivers we had to cross (it was kind of like Oregon Trail but without the wagon). At first we did our best to stay on drier or less muddy land (like when you hop from pillow to pillow on the floor to avoid alligators or monsters under your bed. Other people did that right?). Eventually we gave up and just forged ahead through puddles and mud. Both of our pairs of goretex (sp?) hiking shoe/boots survived and so did our (dry) feet.

I am not really as graceful as Evan at all this water and mud crossing. Somehow he managed to come out with spotless legs and mine looked like I'd been mud wrestling. I did get to wash them off in the crystal clear (and chilly) lake water at the end and that was pretty refreshing.

Oh, and a small side note. Our campervan has decided it no longer likes to climb hills (quite a problem in NZ, land of mountains and crazy steep roads over them). It smells bad and won't really accelerate. We need it for 2 more weeks...Evan thinks it will survive. I'm deferring to him but secretly I'd like to bet against him if I wasn't so worried we're going to get stranded in the middle if a flock of sheep.

In other news, going back to things I updated you all on during my Europe travels, I did my first underwear wash in our private bathroom yesterday. I currently have 16 pairs of hanky panky underwear hanging to dry in the back of our campervan (I'm sure Evan loves that). We were supposed to be in a shared dorm room tonight (where I did not want to hang it out to dry) but Evan decided we should be big spenders and get our own room for $10 NZD more per night.

I also have gotten to see my feet the past few days now that it's warmer. Toes: ok. Bottoms of feet: still clean and soft. Toe/foot hair: needs a trimming.

We decided during dinner tonight that due to rain heading our way we're spending 2 more nights at this hostel before heading to Abel Tasman park to do more camping, hiking and some kayaking. We'll head to the beach tomorrow before the rain starts and maybe make some bone carving jewelry (yes, I have animal cruelty issues with that as well) on Wednesday when it really rains.

Regardless, that's real beds and a toilet I don't have to walk in the cold (or rain) to in the middle of the night for 2 more nights. Or, as Evan pointed out, 2 more nights of free hot chocolate pudding and ice cream. Yipee!