Health & Fitness

Other than kiting, I’ve been walking a lot just to explore these towns. Especially in the centers where there is no parking, or not even roads where cars are allowed.

When I’m not busy I go for a run somewhere – on dirt tracks, or on the beach.
And the sea cliffs offer some excellent opportunities for bouldering – they look crumbly, but so far I’ve found they are completely reliable.

As for food, I’m leaving cheap, so nothing that needs refrigeration of course – though my insulated van and thermal-lined backpack do preserve small packs of meat, etc for 24 hours or so. But I’m on a mostly bread and fruit diet, with the occasional eat out when I want something cooked.

Bottle water is still the way to go here, so most people say. But I’ve been happily drinking from the tap with no problems so far. (Excuse me while I just run to the toilet for the 10th time this morning – no, just kidding.) The bottled water is cheap as chips, but what I’m really against is all the plastic waste. If only we could refill from a big tanker or something.

And my tan is coming along nicely. So far I’ve avoided burning and pealing – partly due to the high UV I’m used to in NZ. It isn’t so severe here: I was warned once that in Portugal the UV was very high, 7 – I just laughed (we get 10 or 11 normally in Southland, ouch!)