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Hash-Packing the World
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
  • Nancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

Hash-Packing the World

Whether you know me as Nancy Webb or Pat Bonetar, I hope you enjoyed my trip through 4 continents and 17 countries! I can't wait to do it again!! En savoir plus
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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    On On to Waiau!

    31 janvier 2019, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 86 °F

    Our walk around Wharariki Beach and Cape Farewell was terrific! There were even seal pups on the beach with mom watching from the rocks above. So sweet.

    After that, we loaded up the vehicles are made our way to Nelson. We had a great time with the Nelson H3, but it was a short evening. I was in bed around 23:00.

    Today's destination is the Waiau Lodge Hotel/Tavern for the Fat Catz (Hashers who weight 100 kg and up) and Fat Catz Wannabe (under 100 kg) hash. Easy is riding with me on this leg.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the SEAL PUPS. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Get Out of Camp

    4 février 2019, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 81 °F

    Xerox, Meat, I, and many others had epic jam sessions yesterday afternoon and evening! The practice time Xerox and I put in at his house really paid off. We had to shut it down at 22:00, though, just as we and the crowd were really starting to get into it. Oh well.

    After registering for the next Kiwi Nash Hash, packing up the vehicles, and hugging everyone so long, Soak and I are headed south to Amberley where I'll drop him off before heading up north towards my ferry on Wednesday. I'm not sure which road I'll take to Picton.

    What a terrific time with terrific people!! On On to 2021!!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Blenheim

    5 février 2019, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ☀️ 79 °F

    After kicking Soak out of the campervan (I stopped first 😉), I decided to back track some of the roads north. I took the Lewis Pass back over the Southern Alps, then turned off the previous road to stop off at Nelson Lakes National Park. What a beautiful, secluded place. With kiwis, too!

    After a quick.stop, I continued north to Blenheim where I parked the van overnight in the Visitors Center across from a 24-hour Mobil petrol station.

    I was wide awake at 03:30 with a horribly painful earache. I thought it was just my earbuds or sinus congestion from a little coughing over the past few days, but nope. I drove to an Urgent Care center and waited for them to open at 8. I have an ear infection outside but affecting my eardrum.

    Now, I'm sitting in the campervan outside the store where I filled my prescription for ear drops and purchased over-the-counter head/chest decongestant, but I'm really worried about flying to Fiji on Friday. [First World problems, right?😁] Don't worry, Mom! I'm sure it'll be fine by then.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Laundry & Packing

    7 février 2019, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ⛅ 66 °F

    Well, I made across Cook Strait without anyone throwing up on me. One close call from a kid, though. It was a rough crossing. I was planning to drive north until dark, then pull over to sleep in the campervan before finishing the 450 km drive. Turns out, since I rested so well on the rocking ship, I drove all the way through without any issues and very little traffic. So, I got to sleep in a proper bed last night at Xerox's. Yay!

    I was up early this morning to start cleaning up the van, do laundry, and pack for my flight tomorrow morning. I also got a new pair of Reef jandals (a.k.a. sandals, flip-flops, not-underwear-thongs, etc.). Don't ask me why they're call jandals in NZ; no one seems to know.

    After putting on laundry, I took the van for a fill up and swung by the hospital to see Jubes, the one who owns the van, the one who broke her leg, and the one who beat me here because hospital flew her home. She's as well as can be for someone who will spend the next two months in hospital. Ugh.

    I just got back and am doing laundry. A little later this afternoon I'm supposed to meet up with more Hashers I haven't seen yet. If that goes the way the past week has, then my packing may not be fully done when my taxi collects me at 02:30 in the morning. Yikes!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Barefoot Kuata

    9 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    Yesterday, I arrived to the Smuggler's Cove hostel in Nadi (pronounced NAN-dee) without issue. I immediately met an American, a Brit, and a couple of Aussies. We spent the afternoon/evening just sitting on the deck bs-ing about everything and nothing. It was terrific.

    But after being up since 02:00 Kiwi time (an hour ahead of Fiji), I was exhausted and crashed around 21:00. The two-bunkbed room was stifling despite the air conditioning, but I managed to get some sleep anyway. I was up again at 05:45 to pack for my boat trip to the first of my three-island hopping adventure. Fiji is made up of 333 islands, so I'm only scratching the surface.

    I arrived at Kuata Island around 10:45 after having chatted the whole trip with two Americans, a Brit, a German, and an Aussie. I'm staying in lucky tent #7, which is right on the beach. Wow!

    Now, I'm at the bar waiting for lunch service at 12:30. This is so awesome!!!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    2

    Barefoot Kuata Day 2

    10 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ☁️ 86 °F

    Yesterday's lunch buffet and beach-front dinner were great. (Walking you through the pictures after the noon selfie:) The best thing about yesterday was snorkeling with black- and white-tip reef sharks! Some were so close! Wow! Then, to top it off, the sunset was gorgeous!

    I was up around 05:45 this morning after having crashed hard early, probably too much sun. I watched the sunrise and the crabs doing crabby things on the beach. After breakfast, I took a short walk to a couple of places on the island, then wove a hat. Niko was great, but I felt like Lady Liberty after 😁.

    Then I took to the water. After a bit over an hour in the kayak, I grabbed a snorkel and fins for another hour or so. Another black-tip shark, which are rare to see so close to this very busy beach. Yay! I was so focused on the school of fish (Angel? Tang?) That I almost missed the shark altogether.

    I'm now at the bar waiting for lunch. With a little rum. Yo ho ho!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the SHARKS. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Manta Ray Island Resort

    12 février 2019, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ☁️ 81 °F

    Yesterday afternoon wasn't great. Lunch was good again, but instead of 25 people using the buffet, we had 79! 54 "day trippers" descended upon us few souls and tore the island apart. They devoured the buffet almost single-handedly, ran the bar out of ice, drank all the cold beer, rented all the equipment, took every chaise lounge, filled all three pools, and flew their drones despite the "not allowed" signs. Even after they left around 15:00 it was bad.

    Since there were no cold drinks to be had, I sought out a hammock in the shade. One was sort of not in the direct sunlight. I tried to take a nap on the half in the shade and had just begun closing my eyes when the gardener made me move. He was weed eating.

    Okay, whatever, but as I made my way barefoot across the soft grass, I began stepping on sharp ow-wey things. Stickers. He was weed-whacking stickers all over the place.

    Okay. Get through that. I'll get in the pool. That has some shade. Nope. All three pools were now full of grass and stickers. #&?@!

    Back to bar I go, hot, tired, and angry. I decided against the night snorkeling because I figured with the way the afternoon had gone, I would wind up a statistic.

    Then an American woman also travelling solo whom I met yesterday sat down beside me and began recounting her awesome diving trip. All of the sudden, everything was okay again. Sweet as!

    Nice dinner on the beach, nice conversation, and nice bottle of bubbly rounded out the end of the day.

    This morning, I was packed and out of the tent before breakfast at 7. At breakfast, the lovely German managers and staff surprised me. They began singing Happy Birthday and gave me a lit candle stuck in a muffin. You know you're getting up there when your birthday cake is a bran muffin. 😂😂😂

    After breakfast, I began my new fitness routine and took a dip in the pool (clean again mostly). The northbound boat came at about 10 and I arrived at Manta Ray Island Resort just about 11:30. Yay!

    Now, I've dumped my stuff in my room and made my way to reception. They're making me count the money before they will secure it. Hopefully, this will be the worse part of this island.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    1

    Manta Ray Day 2

    12 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ☁️ 84 °F

    After securing my valuables, I had lunch then a nap. Well, several naps actually. In the hammock. In the chaise lounge. In the deck chair. Ha ha! It was pretty much time for dinner after that, and after eating, followed by a nice cool shower, I was in bed early. There is a pitiful attempt at air conditioning in my dorm, so going to bed dripping wet from the shower is he best way to get to sleep.

    I was up with the sun and down to he beach for my exercises. Nice. The rest of this morning has been reading, but I've been run out of the hammock by a rainstorm, so I'm in the covered area now. I'm looking forward to lunch, provided there's more of it today. I may have to ask for salad and french fries in addition to the normal plate.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Boat to the Blue Lagoon

    13 février 2019, South Pacific Ocean ⋅ ⛅ 86 °F

    I DID have to ask for additional salad and fries with my lunch, but at least I got enough food in me today. After lunch was more reading until dinner, which was okay (au gratin potatoes were good; chicken was very dry).

    I was up early again and did my exercises on the beach. Then buffet breakfast and more reading until boarding time.

    Now, I'm on my way to the Blue Lagoon Resort. I hope it's better than the other two so far.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Blue Lagoon Day 2

    14 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ 🌧 86 °F

    I arrived at Blue Lagoon in time for lunch. The dorm is nice, particularly the operational and effective air conditioning. Eight beds, no bunks, and each with a bedside table, lamp, and power outlet. Clean and cool. Best so far.

    Lunch was terrible. Three fried-to-death vegetable spring rolls with a fried starchy vegetable. A small lump of shredded red cabbage as a salad. Soy sauce as the dressing, most of which was spilled all over the place, and all if which was so spicy I couldn't eat it. After soaking off as much as I could from the roll, I dipped them in as much ketchup as I could get out of the kitchen to make them palatable. I left hungry and hoping dinner would be better.

    Dinner started with a small fried lump of some vegetable on a bed of some dark red jam. Then came a cabbage roll of ratatouille veggies (about the size of an egg roll) that I choked down only because I was so hungry. The main course was a few gnocchi with some eggplant in a tomato sauce that was quite tasty. But once I had picked out all of the green peppers, I only had about a third of the meal left. I managed to eat that part by pushing the bugs to the edge of the plate after they continuously dive bombed my plate. At least, I think I moved them all. Oh well, more protein. Dessert was a inedible lemon tart topped by a few pieces of fresh fruit along side a tiny scoop of vanilla ice cream dusted with sliced almonds. The ice cream and fruit was the best food of the entire day.

    After dinner I took a shower and went to bed with another book. I woke at 03:23 with my stomach growling. I was able to get back to sleep fitfully until just shy of 7. I headed straight to breakfast and was ready to tear into the buffet when it opened at 07:30. Fiji time doesn't always meet the clock, but I started eating at the published time even though they weren't done setting it up.

    I got enough in my belly to finally feel satisfied and stuck two croissants in my bag for later. Then I went to the Dive Shack for the 08:15 mountain hike. Yay! But no. It had rained overnight, so the hike was cancelled. It was too slippery on the rocks. Well, shit. All of the other activities today you have to pay for, so I've finished the book from yesterday, swapped it for another book out of the office, and here I sit, still reading.

    I can't wait to get back to Nadi where I can actually do something. This is not the island hopping adventure I had hoped, and I definitely won't ever be coming back to Manta Ray or Blue Lagoon. Barefoot Kuata, maybe, but only to dive.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️

    P.S.: My ear infection pain has been gone for a while, thankfully, but my ear still feels like it's packed with cotton, which is really affecting my hearing. I should go to a doctor in Nadi when I get back.

    P.P.S.: Crap. I didn't do my exercises this morning because I was going on the walk. After lunch then. At least I won't have to worry about my stomach being full.    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Get Me Outta Here

    15 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ 🌧 86 °F

    Lunch yesterday was okay. There was a buffet, so at least I felt full when I left. The water was too stormy to go snorkeling off the beach, so I spent the afternoon taking in the air conditioned dorm. Nice.

    I went to dinner and was pleasantly surprised to run into a guy I had met on the boat the day before, Kiwi-born turned Londoner Jules. He had come over that day and had met Steve, a Midlands Brit. The three of us wound up having dinner together. Since the menu was the same as the day before, all I had was the pureed onion soup. Weird, but okay. After that, I was in the shower, in my bed, and in my book until I finally fell asleep.

    I woke at 02:30 to rain again. When I got out of bed around 06:30 to pack, it was still raining and the sea was even rougher than yesterday. I dumped my big backpack and went to breakfast early so I could eat before the cave outing. The reason I chose this place was to see and snorkel in the beautiful caves nearby. Yay! But no. Cancelled because of the surf. Back to the book until the boat comes to take me back to Nadi. I can't wait.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Back in Nadi

    16 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ⛅ 84 °F

    Picking back up from yesterday, I read my book until it was time to go to the boat. Jules, one of the guys I came in with and had Valentine's dinner with, was also on the boat, so we went straight to the beer. Two stops later, the American couple I met on my first day on the boat got back on, and along with Lucy, a Russian who Jules met before, we had a right ol' time all the way back to Nadi.

    Once we got our luggage, the Americans Josh and Casey had to go straight to the airport, but Jules, Lucy and I grabbed a snack and a beer at the Hard Rock Cafe. This is a good one with lots of great memorabilia. After that, we shared a cab to Smuggler's Cove hostel where I'm staying. They grabbed a room while I grabbed a seat at an outdoor table. One of the guys I met my first time through was there, an Irishman, then Danny, an Aussie, sat down, and we had a great and late evening together, especially when the puppies came out to play. I left when the Russian started talking about how great Trump is for the US.

    I'm in a 16-bed, female, well air conditioned dorm, but I have a bottom bunk and no one was on the top last night. Sweet. I have internet, although I had to pay to get it in the room, so I'm staying out of the heat and humidity today. At some point I'll have to get food, but I have a great book, working internet, and lots of water, so I'll be comfy for quite a while.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Lazy Day in Nadi

    17 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Well, I did nothing at all yesterday but read and eat a late lunch/early dinner. It was great to be out of the heat and humidity.

    I woke up refreshed hs morning, did my exercises, cooled off in thw pool, and now sit here reading again. I really want to finish this book, Tom Clancy's "The Sum of All Fears." It's good, but very detailed, and putting it off will just make me forget all the different plot lines. Alright, back to it then.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Monday is a Hashing Day!

    18 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ 🌧 90 °F

    Right after yesterday's post, Lucy, the Russian from two days ago, joined me on the deck before leaving for her next place. Then I ran into some guys I met before--most notably Rob, a retired Navy Commander Top Gun F-18 pilot and current commercial airline pilot--and we spent the rest of the afternoon chatting over beers. Really nice afternoon.

    In the evening, the hostel had a performance of local dancers. Amazing!

    Today, again, I woke early, did my exercises, and am trying to finish this book. The Hash is running this afternoon, and the guys are picking me up at 16:30. Yay!!!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the FIRE. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Massage Day

    19 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ 🌧 86 °F

    Whew! The hash trail was 8 km/5 mi! It was great, as were the hashers, but that distance on top of my exercises yesterday morning was a lot for the day. I woke up stiff, so I walked down the hallway to the massage place. I just finished an hour of full body. Aaaaahhhhhhh....

    Now, I'm on the deck again, waiting for Rob (Navy) to come down so I can put in his contacts. Lol. His fiancé at home does them for him, but she's not with him on this trip.

    The guys are picking coconuts, knocking them out of the tree. Watch your head!

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Yay, Air Conditioning!

    20 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    I am soooo lazy today, just lying in bed watching Netflix with the air conditioning and fans blowing as hard as they can. All the other chicks checked out, so the room is all mine right now. 😀

    Hung out on the deck yesterday as usual and hit the hay early after a cloudy but pretty sunset. I put Rob's eyes in for him and he was very happy. Hahaha.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar

    Bye Bye, Fiji! Vinaka!!

    23 février 2019, Fidji ⋅ ⛅ 88 °F

    Man, did we have a blast last night! Beautiful sunset from the top of the Ramada with two Americans, an Aussie, and a Viking (Norwegian). Accompanied by a silly smooth singer/pianist who patiently let me jump in with some harmony. Great time!

    Now, I'm at the airport for my flight back to Auckland. I'm both happy to be going back to New Zealand and sad to be leaving Fiji. I hope I can keep in touch with these great people. Vinaka (thank you), Fiji!! I miss you already.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️    En savoir plus

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  • Nancy Webb...Pat BonetarHash-Packing the WorldNancy Webb...Pat Bonetar
    1

    Up to Paihia

    24 février 2019, Nouvelle-Zélande ⋅ ⛅ 68 °F

    I miss Fiji, but it is soooo very nice to be out of the heat and humidity. Last night in Auckland was about 55°F, which would've been perfect if it had been that cool in the hostel room. It had to be at least 80 in there. It was terrible. No fan, no window. Ugh.

    I was up this morning at about 5 with the bedsheet wet as. I was up and out of there in about 15 minutes, which is why I'm in the same clothes as yesterday. [P.S.: Hahaha. I just looked at the pictures from my last few posts. Make this day 3 in the same clothes. Time to change 😉.]

    I caught the Stray Van at 07:30 and we're on the road heading to Paihia in the northern most part of New Zealand. Our first rest stop was at Parry Kauri Park, where there are two magnificent old Kauri trees still standing.

    So long [for now] and thanks for all the fish. ✌️

    P.S.: Oh, yeah. Yesterday I hooked my toenail on something. Ouch. The danger of wearing jandals 😁.    En savoir plus

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