Life in New Zealand with a Stroke

by David G. Ray

This month has seen the beginning of the programme for the second half of the year. The first session was a very entertaining talk by a very entertaining woman who talked about her life, first as the wife of a sheep and cattle farmer in the Marlborough Sounds and secondly, when her husband died, in a department store working up to high position in one of the sections. The second session for the year was a talk on Arthritis, which was very informative. Many of our members suffer from this crippling ailment and her talk was very well received.

Over the last few months I have given you an account of our recent trip around the South Island. Last month I wrote about the wedding of my niece in Invercargill and this month I will continue with the continuation of our journey up the West Coast of New Zealand. We had been to the West Coast over 20 years ago and we were taking the opportunity to return there.

Driving from Invercargill we headed for Tuatapere. Tuatapere is the small town for the take off point for a fairly new 4-day track called the Humpridge Track. From there we drove on to Lake Manapouri. At the head of this lake is a huge underground hydro-electric electric Power Station. There is no road to the power station but there are frequent sightseeing boats, which travel the two hour journey to the head of the lake where passengers transfer to buses and are taken underground to view the power generating unit. The water from the power station flows out into Doubtful Sound where the bus takes passengers after visiting the underground site. Some years ago we took our children on the sightseeing trip over the hill to Doubtful sound. On the return trip up the steep hill the engine of old bus in which we were traveling began to emit smoke and the driver instructed me to stand by with a fire extinguisher but fortunately it was not required.

From Manapouri we drove on to Lake Te Anau where we stayed the night. Lake Te Anau is the starting point for the famous Milford Track Tramp of four days. Trampers have to book to walk the track sometimes many months in advance. I have walked the track twice and my wife three times as by that last occasion I had the heart problem, which led to my stroke. This a most beautiful scenic walk. Some of the magnificent views can be seen on http://www.atoz-nz.com.

Next month I will continue our journey to Lakes Wanaka and Hawera.

The Stroke Network, Inc.

P.O. Box 492 Abingdon, Maryland 21009