Steampunk and heading north

Following the good news regarding my eyes it was time to head north. First stop Oamaru, Steampunk Capital of New Zealand.

I'd been to Oamaru before, and had enjoyed wandering around the Victorian era wharf precinct, full of whacky galleries, but hadn't visited the Steampunk HQ Museum. This time I did, and I can highly recommend the place if you like the quirky and weird.

It's easily possible to spend an entire day wandering around the exhibitions, galleries and shops of the area, which is exactly what we did, including a walk out to the penguin colony to see the sea lions lazing around, and an obligatory seafood chowder at a harbourside cafe. Even the kids' playground is steampunk themed!

Another day I drove down to the Moeraki Boulders to view them at low tide, went for a nice long walk along the beach, then had an awesome lunch at Fleur's Place. This is a well known restaurant at Moeraki vllage, where the fish comes fresh off a local boat, and the weather was stunning! We finished off the day with a drive out to Elephant Rocks to watch the sun setting over the Southern Alps.

After Oamaru I continued north, to Geraldine in Southern Canterbury. It gave me the opportunity to do a few day walks, to Peel Forest and Kakahu Bush.

Then it was on to Christchurch, to catch up with friends, meet new additions, and do a few chores, like get a new passport. My current passport expires in October, and again I am out of the country when it needs renewal.

From Christchurch it was northwards again, this time inland to Hanmer Springs, where I made preparations for another multi-day tramp.

That's next...

Cutting the cord

Not long after returning to NZ I had laser treatment to my right eye after its retina started detaching as well. Harry seemed quite concerned at the time that his treatment may not be enough and told me to ring him should I get any worsening of my vision. I simply trusted him and went tramping instead.

But the anxiety is infectious. The ongoing saga of more and more detachments makes it hard to remain upbeat. When will I be able to be worry free and not need ongoing surveillance? When can I travel further without needing to return to Dunedin or Wanaka for another review?

Nevertheless, I walked the Copland Track, the Humpridge Track, and took an impromptu helicopter and jet boat ride into Fiordland.

I returned to the eye clinic 3 weeks later for my checkup, and this time I got awesome news. The right eye has settled down nicely, there's still a little ongoing inflammation in the left eye, and Harry had at last put in the request to ACC to fund my lens replacement surgery. I totally understand that he is a very busy man, it's only taken him 4 months....

I'm no longer on regular review, and am just awaiting my final operation, so the cord has been cut and I am now free to head further afield. With 6 weeks until I intend to return to Wanaka, the plan is to head north, and get the operation done once I'm back down south for the winter. I know I can ski with my current set up, but the contact lens I'm wearing to bridge the gap isn't exactly comfortable to wear.  But it will suffice for the time being, and let me do a bit more adventuring.

The news that I am no longer umbilically tied to Dunedin for eye reviews is a huge relief. I'm so happy I just needed to celebrate with a bottle of champers.

Cheers!