Wellington New Zealand Home Exchange: Sept. 2-30, 2018
The last leg of the trip was a home exchange in Wellington, NZ. AlteCocker's back was shot. She eventually had back surgery after returning with a reminder not to do trips longer than 2 months in the future. AlteCockers always have medical issues. Things went very slowly for her by the time she hit NZ. She was to thoroughly cover Wellington, the surrounding area and to do a side trip to the South Island, where her female home exchanger's sister showed her around the north portion of the South Island for 4 nights. She took the boat to the South Island and returned to the North Island by plane.
AlteCocker has traveled to New Zealand twice before (thank you, home exchange) with exchanges NW of Auckland 2 1/2 hours in Kamo and a second exchange in Christchurch (before the earthquakes), so AlteCocker did not feel the need to run around all over the two islands. Please note that roads are slow in New Zealand because, with only 4 million people, fast roads are not needed except around Auckland. There are plenty of one lane crossings of bridges everywhere. They are signposted so that you know who has the right of way. The general rule is, however to slow down, no matter what the sign tells you. No one wants an accident in the middle of nowhere.
Please note that thet, by the the time she reached Wellington, AlteCocker had a disintegrating disc in her back and a tornright bicep. She really had to slow down--and she did. Two surgeries awaited her when she returned to the US. While she does carry some sort of medical on every trip, it is for the sorts of emergencies that need immediate attention. Interestingly enough, her female home exchanger tore her right bicep in the US. Two AlteCockers!
Please note the seasons are refersed in New Zealand. Spring flowers were in bloom all over in September because it was spring!