Nelson has a great vibe with many local artist galleries, great shops, boutique wineries and breweries, and yoga studios! It is also the sunniest spot in NZ. One could spend a bit of time here.
I found a yoga studio that offers power vinyasa classes, and the teacher had just completed her Level I Baptiste training! It was great to reconnect with my yoga practice and a real benefit to have taken a Baptiste-style class.
Old Church, Founders Park | Windmill, Founders Park |
Someone has been a bad boy... | |
South Street dwellings, deemed oldest street in New Zealand | |
Is this license plate available in PA? | It's not a shopping cart... it's a trundler, people! |
Backpackers on buses, everywhere around here |
V: Nelson has the vibe of Austin, Texas, in a village size. Anyone who's been to Austin knows exactly what I mean. We met a funky waitress in one of the bars in Nelson, an American, from Austin, Texas. No wonder she found Nelson so much to her liking. Funny, it seems like every other waitress or bartender is an American in NZ.
Eureka, at last, finally, nirvana has been found! Founders Brewery in Nelson has at least three mighty tasty brews that we imbibed. We enjoyed the Fair Maiden Ale (pale ale), Long Black (amber ale), and Tall Blonde (golden lager). They had a couple other so-so brews, Redhead, and Generation Ale. It is truly inspiring how New Zealand just kicks Australia's ass in the craft beer department! Here we have found both wines and beers that are truly high quality!
We had a very fine day biking about 20 km around Nelson.
Okay, sometimes Karen has a little trouble negotiating roundabouts ... on her bicycle. (This IS why I drive in New Zealand.) I know it was a frightening experience for her, but I couldn't help but laugh when she attempted to bisect a roundabout, and a car wouldn't yield to her, so all I hear behind me is "Damn it", and look back to see the front tire of her bike lifted way up in the air, and slammed back down in the opposite direction, as she retreats to the sidewalk, as the unyielding car whizzes by. I couldn't help myself from laughing. She crossed safely, soon thereafter.
(Oh, Chuck, Karen needs a set of stocks put in the backyard. . . in case it might be needed in the future. )
I'm excited for tomorrow's beginning of another 3-day kayak/camping trip in Abel Tasman National Park. It might rain, but should be a good chance to paddle among some seals. Update on Friday, we hope.
Highlights--
Sips: Founders Brewery beers, Tuatara IPA and Emerson's Pilsner, an award-winning NZ brew
Bites: Dinner at the Waterfront Cafe and Bar in Nelson featured a very tasty Venison Tenderloin and a nicely spiced and aromatic whole fish preparation of a Tarahiki, a local favorite. These were accompanied by a fine Nelson area Pinot Noir from 2008.
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