Last I left you all, I was just about to leave Blenheim to go to Kaikoura via train to meet up with Kristin and her friend Claire.
The train really was the way to go! I cannot even explain what a difference it was. The cost of the ticket was about $3.50 USD more than the bus, and in return for my investment I got a nice, full seat with tons of leg room, a 1 hour shorter overall trip with none of the sickness and cramped conditions, and I got a really neat experience to boot. The Lonely Planet guide says that the trains here are not to go anywhere so much as they are to see places, and now I see how true that is. The train has 3 passenger cars, and one car that is the observation car. The sides of the observation car are open to the air, and allow for stunning views as the train makes its way from the vineyards of Blenheim to the rocky coasts of Kaikoura. The engineer would come on the speakers throughout the trip, announcing good photo opportunities and explaining the scenery. For $3.50 more, I got a narrated train tour of some of the most beautiful land I have seen. Definitely worth it!
Kaikoura was great, and Kristin's friend was a joy, even though she was still getting over the last of her bout with H1N1! (which neither Kristin nor I managed to get) Our day in Kaikoura was spent visiting the beaches, seal colonies where there were seals lounging willy-nilly, and was finished by a presentation of sheep shearing. The presentation was extremely educational, with the presenter, a former shearer with awards for his shearing, going through each of the types of wool, the shearing process, the packaging, etc. I was very skeptical at first, but I was actually a blast.
The next days were spent getting Kristin's friend off, and relaxing a bit.
Next stop was Akoroa, a tiny little town about 75 km east of Christchurch that was settled by the Frenchs, and maintains its French heritage. All the architecture is French, and all the roads named in French as well. Despite the wonderful weather and 70 degree temperatures, however, everyone in the town insisted it was in fact winter and refused to open most of their businesses or rent any equipment for exploring the area. Most of our questions were met with a shocked, "Well, of course no one is open... IT IS winter, afterall!" Finding food was tough, and most of our time was spent exploring on foot (sometimes barefoot on the beach, much to the dismay of the locals... Who goes barefoot in winter?)
Our lodging in the town was a farm stay at the Tree Crop Farm, a unique little place overlooking town. The owner was a hippy woman who implored us to go naked most of our stay... and seemed distressed when we did not. (Not even joking! When she saw me in the morning, her exclamation was "People! And with clothes on!") It was bizarre for sure, but fun none the less. Kristin and I had a great 1 year anniversary filled with lots of French food and lazy beach combing for pretty shells.
Two days ago and on the way back from Akoroa, I check out Kristin's car and found it was low on coolant. Over the course of the trip it overheats, and I begin to suspect a blown head gasket. This is bad news as the repairs will cost about $400 more than the car is worth. Poor Kristin dealt with it very well, even though she was due to drive a newfound friend up north for the last week of her break, and this would leave her high and dry.
Unfortunately, she no longer has to worry about that...
Today was my planned day to leave Kristin and head out on my own in search of a car and such. She was due to head north to meet a friend towards Nelson. At 5 am this morning Kristin wakes with a heaviness in her chest and difficulty breathing. By 6:30 am we have gotten the NZ 24 hour health hotline's advice to seek medical attention immediately and are on our way to the nearest open medical clinic 45 minutes away in a car that might overheat or die any minute. Talk about excitement!
The clinic decides that after a battery of tests there is nothing wrong with her, and diagnoses it as a panic attack (despite all indications that it is not and is getting worse). They send Kristin out the door with the advice to just go home and relax. By the time we are back to her room on campus, she has developed crippling stomach pains that leave her barely able to walk. Thankfully the student health clinic is open by this point... By the time I got her there, she cannot move and can barely speak... is crying doubled over because the pain is so sever. Kristin is a pretty tough cookie and not prone to crying over anything, and especially not in front of me. At this point, I am reasonably terrified.
After many more tests, they decide she most likely has sever gastritis, and start to medicate her. After 8.5 hours of many medications, several incrementally stronger pain medications, followed by meds to combat the dizziness and puking caused by the pain meds, and lots of general poking and prodding, blood tests and consultations, they finally have Kristin well enough to be wheeled out in a chair and for me to get back to her room and into bed.
Her tummy seems to be feeling better at this point, and although she is extremely loopy from the meds and exhausted by her ordeal, I think they have it sorted out. She is absolutely passed out, and will likely be for a while. There are still lots of questions about why it developed so suddenly and so strongly, and without any real contributing factors (alcohol, spicy food, age, etc.), and there are many blood tests to be run and sorted out before she meets with the doctor again Monday morning. The doctor has put me in charge of taking care of her until then (since there is no one on campus and she is not much capable of taking care of herself at this point)... so I guess I am not leaving quite so soon.
Really, though, the timing could not have been better. The rest of her school is on break, and her residence hall and most of campus is completely deserted. All of her friends are out of town till the end of the week, and she was in no shape to be doing anything. I am really really glad I was here to help her... I am frankly not sure what could have happened if I were not here. Yikes! Besides, my plans were to regroup and seek out a car and reliable enough internet to continue my efforts with wineries.
So, I am making her soup and picking up her medications. While she sleeps I am continuing my efforts with wineries and trying to line up a car of my own to buy. It is giving me lots of time with fast internet and time to run errands, which is very helpful. Hopefully by Monday I will have a car and Kristin will be feeling better. :)
Then off to Dunedin!
All and all, it was actually a pretty good week, though...
~ matt
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