The Sanctuary

13/12/2022

Deception Rvr. 14/12. 7.30am
Goer

17/05/2020

Calling the T A community, especially those stranded in NZ.
Free accommodation this Winter to the T A walkers that need it. Yeah - free.
Due to the virus I had intended closing until 1st October.
There may be a need for free accommodation by the stranded T A. I support the community that supports me.
Some services at the backpackers will not be available. No access to laundry. No telephone and no internet.
You will also need to accept that I will be doing maintenance - painting / carpentry/ chainsaws. There will be tools and timber to navigate.
No more than four T A guests at a time. And I need to keep a record for contact tracing.
Bill
0274662755

"Sometimes in our lives we all have pain "

11/05/2020

Level 2 on Thursday. Great.
I am traveling from Christchurch to Arthurs Pass on Wednesday arvo. Then - on the Trail at daylight Thursday morning. Morrisons Footbridge & Taramakau. 🥾🥾
Free ride for the T A.

"In this dirty old part of the city
Where the sun refused to shine "

04/05/2020

High noon. Wide empty street. Dog scurrying away. Tumbleweed. Blazing sun. Frightened towns folk watching from behind shuttered windows and locked doors!

Bit like that at Arthur's Pass Village. No blazing sun - just sideways rain and hail. Talk about bleak and eerie. This Covid has the town shut up.
Last Saturday I drove up there ( legitimately ). Visited by the hastily sworn in Deputy, followed later in the day with a visit from the Sheriff.
Departed with the impression I had been "run out of Dodge".

Anyway, have bought all the abandoned bounce boxes back to Christchurch and found homes for all but one.

Four of the boxes I was instructed to dispose of as I saw fit.

Usually I place a "disposal" box on the table in the day room and all the other T A climb in to it as wolves. I suspect that they get a little tired of their own menu and they see this as an opportunity to taste something different.
All petrol in the tank!

Circumstances are a bit different as there is no one on the Trail.
Opened the boxes this morning. The contents will be distributed among family and neighbours.
I will keep some for myself.

As part of my contribution to the T A community I maintain the trail between Harper Pass and Morrisons Footbridge. I will spent two weeks up the Taramakau this winter and your tucker will be appreciated.
Thank you.

Best wishes.

" Do not foresake me o my darling" ( you need to be over 65 to remember this film )

19/04/2020

Best wishes to you and yours in these strange times. Disrupted lives - we will all pull through and be the stronger for the experience.
The virus is not the issue that worries. Good science will beat it regardless of the self serving actions of the politicians. What I fear is a future with high numbers of people out of work. I hope my fear is unfounded. Individuals are important.

What a season. And a big thank you to the Te Araroa Trail community for your contribution. You had it tough. More days of rainfall than over any Spring / Summer that I can recall. Flooded rivers. Skipped sections. And this virus to finish. Well done. I admire all of you and thank you for making this season a success.

Am writing too much so.
- Appreciated and touched by the actions of individuals who came back to The Sanctuary on completion of the trail because "they enjoyed the place so much".
- Great "thank you" emails from walkers - ( that is why we keep the doors open! ).
- Linda ( loml ) to run this page for I just work and sleep, & cyberphobia.
- The Sanctuary closed to casual guests until 1st October.

"We come from the land of the ice and snow
From the midnight sun,where the hot springs flow ....."

12/11/2014

Forget about your smart phones for a while and grab a guitar and share some nice melodies with other trampers! :-)

12/11/2014

It's soo cozy just drinking a hot tea watching the fire at the Sanctuary when it rains in Arthur's Pass ... :-)

29/04/2014

Bunk Room ( Dormitory )

29/04/2014