Being Still : Free Your Inner Maude

Riding the West Coast Highway on the fifth rainy day in a row!

It’s raining. It’s been raining for about seven days now. Rivers are flooding, bridges all over the island are out. I’m practicing being still.

Coastal View near the famous Punakaki (pancake) rocks which I didn’t walk to this time, as it was pouring rain when I arrived.

I’m actually quite good at doing nothing, as long as I don’t start concerning myself with the opinions of others and what I “should” be doing. Theoretically the rain and wind will let up a bit this afternoon and I could dash a few more hours down the road, but then again it might not. Whereas, tomorrow’s forecast is for mostly fine! And since I am staying at the most lovely and peaceful hostel I have ever encountered (in the not so lovely Greymouth) I am staying put for one more night. Tomorrow I ride! I have some exciting tracks and hut stays planned as long as I can get through the mud.

Today I will continue to study Spanish, write, read, chat with other travelers, and perform self-care in the form of stretching. It’s not so bad this life. 💕

I’m honestly not sure I nor my tent would have survived the storm that raged this night. I was so incredibly grateful for the affordable upgrade at Charleston “Motorcamp”.

I LOVE New Zealand signs I general, but this is definitely my favorite so far this trip!

I attempt to leave you with an image I did not capture with my camera:

Riding along the coast in a light rain and high winds I observed waves large enough to make me feel sea sick from the shore. Tide was high and crashing waves sent up a spindrift of sea foam into the air. It appeared as if someone had just blown the world’s largest dandelion pappus and I was joyfully riding though the puff dancing through the air! I hope the sea goddesses wish came true!