I wake up at seven, make a quick stop at the bathroom, and head down to the breakfast room. The kitchen is empty, and I’m the first one there, aside from the reception guy getting breakfast ready.

Today there is no waiting time to get the pancakes ready. I put three fairly even batters in the pan for my pancakes, three toasted French breads and a plate of muesli and milk.

Around half past nine I check out, take my bags and bike and walk down the street towards the bus stop.

It is only about 400 meters, however, the panniers and bags bags are many so I ask at the gas station if I could borrow their trolley ….

– Is it possible to borrow the trolley standing outside the door?
– Need to carry down some panniers and bags to the bus stop!

After a few seconds of waiting, the lady behind the counter answers…

– Yes, if you promise to bring it back.

The bus to Hoketika arrived 09:15 am sharp.

The bus is quite full and I get a seat next to a younger woman. The bus driver not only drives the bus, he is also a kind of tourist ambassador and tells  with empathy about the places we pass.

The weather is autumn-like, little bit chilly but sunny. Our first stop at a glacier lake, Lake  Mapourka. It is completely windless, only the fog banks on the west side are moving.

The bus driver continues to tell us about traffic accidents, tourist attractions and everything that has to do with the region. I like that.  Our next stop  at Harihari, a small hamlet. Only few houses, gasstation with a small shop selling souvenirs, coffee, sandwiches, hotdogs and candies, etc

I think the bus driver only stops to benefit the gas station and the tourist shop, not because the bus needed fuel, but so what.

Just before noon we crosses river Hokitika before we arrived Hokitika.

Stops middle of town and I had already checked out where the bicycle workshop lies, google is a good friend. Just a few hundred meters away and I also had booked two nights at a hostel, Mountain Jade Backpackers.

I steered the bicycle into the bicycle shop and after an inspection of the rear wheel, the man in the bike shop says…

– The tyre is broken and You need a new one.
– You also need two new spokes.
– Right now, I’m very busy so You can’t get Your bike ready until morning afternoon

– Tomorrow afternoon?  I replied questioningly
– Unfortunately, but tomorrow it’s ANSAC Day and we have closed until 1 pm.

Just to accept that

So what is ANSAC Day?

Well, it is a public holiday in New Zealand, Australia, the Cook Islands, Niue, Samoa and Tonga to honour those who fought against the Turks during
World War I and landed on the peninsula in the Aegean Sea and the Battle of Gallipoli.

ANSAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.

Almost all shops will be either preferably closed or until 1 p.m. in honor of the brave soldiers and their sacrifices.

Hokitika is a small town, approximately 2900 habitants and it’s a popular tourist destination known for its stunning natural scenery. Hokitika has more galleries and studios per capita than anywhere else in New Zealand. You will found pounamu and bone carvers, photographers, painters, glassblowers, sculptors, woodturners, ceramists, jewelers, metal, stone and textile artists.

Made by textile artists.

When I late afternoon pick up the bike everything is fixed but the price was a little bit expensive, just over 1000 SEK. But then I have fresh tires front and rear, new spokes and adjusted rear wheel, also two new packs of inner tube. Be damn if it won‘t be enough until the flight from Auckland on May 15th.

In the evening, it‘s time to stand in the kitchen and prepare the evening‘s gourmet dinner. At this hostel it‘s mostly young girls between 20–27 years old that I get to hang out with.
Tonight, chef P–G has spruced up the menu. There will be smoked mussels and sausages as well as Riotta and Basli Ravioli, a Black 8.6% beer then coffee and some chocolate biscuits.
I have to tell you that it tasted really good.

Next day I just did nothing other than vistit some stores, camping  seems to be popular in New Zealand and Hokitika because there are always shops selling everything needed for a nature experience in the open air.
Weapons can also be found in some of these stores!, and many of them are American models.

In the evening and after dinner I took a walk around the city and headed towards the beach. The first thing I noticed was a huge sign above my head made of floating branches H O K I T I K A

The beach is almost empty, just me, a few young people and dog owners, to walk their valuable pets and they seem to enjoy running free. But after the very long beach, 8 km, there are lots of floating branches and logs on land.

I imagine some of these branches and logs are gathered by craftsmen to carve into works of art, later sold in one or more of the city’s craft shops. I’ve come across a few examples of this.

Same procedur as yesterday, except the food. Early bed because tomorrow I heading up north after the coast and I beeen told its goona be windy.

Talk to you later
P–G
// The Global Cyclist