Wednesday, January 31, 2007

The People on the Path

Such wonderful characters everywhere.

Peter ... the 71-year-old Scot who has cycled in NZ or Thailand or Malaysia for 5 months these last 16 years, and has been a YHA member since '51. His deep blue eyes sparkle as he gushes over humanity ... how terrific people are, how interesting everyone is, how great it is to be alive.

Isobel ... the 78-year-young tennis playing, Eric-bashing, entertaining lady of the lake from Wanaka.

Qin Chong (Cindy) the 24-year-old Chinese girl studying English here in New Zealand. She laughed heartily at my 'women are a complete mystery' joke (you want that bridge two lanes or four?) and then turned to me in all seriousness and said 'Eric, you know ... that's true. I don't even understand myself about half of the time.'

Peter ... the solitary squatter whose dancing blue eyes revealed an amazing life on the path less traveled. He's lived in a 6 x 10 foot shack on a hillside north of Kaikoura for over 25 years now, with permission. The land is too steep for sheep, so Peter has made himself a home. He lives on $20/week, going into Christchurch once a month for supplies. Sadly, he lost his wife 8 years ago when she was headed to the ocean on a stormy day. The wind was gale force, the surf pounding, and she stepped on the railroad tracks at precisely the wrong moment. Yet he continues to laugh, tell terrific stories, read his books, and enjoy his hermit existence.

Maria ... the 25-year-old Sweedish fashion designer and ex-model. She told me could have been a very rich girl by now had she continued with her modeling career. But she hated the objectification and the fact her wicked intellect wasn't appreciated. So she became a fashion designer and is changing the industry from the inside. She's just sold everything and is moving to Australia to start over, tired of the long Scandanavian winters.

Peter (yeah, a load of them on this trip) from Austria. He's about to build a health center in Nelson after having an early and successful career in building and construction in Vienna. He gave me one of the deepest massages I've ever received at the end of my cycle tour.

Cathie ... the elegant, artistic, Chagall loving, creative woman who so graciously entertained us and who has a terrific website at www.jumpingtangents.co.nz for interesting and different gifts.