Paul's Health Updates

  • Purpose

    We have setup this site to be able to provide updates on my health status in an efficient manner. We appreciate all the support but have become aware that keeping everyone that wants updates informed is difficult. Posts will be short and factual. We remain happy to continue to take messages and calls directly but… Read.

  • Home Stretch

    On the northerly leg of the journey to date we have;
    – Spent a number of days in the Caitlins … what a wonderful part of the world … beaches, waterfalls, wildlife.
    – Dunedin – the Orokonui sanctuary was worth the trip and entry fee
    – Oamaru – did the penguin experience with all the tourists
    – Lake Ohau – rode a short section of the Alps to Ocean trail … magic scenery
    – A couple of nights at Mount Cook – spectacular but endured 1 VERY windy night
    – Tekapo – bit of a relax to charge the batteries

    Under 2 weeks left now … off to Christchurch tomorrow. The time away has been wonderful and we continue to enjoy the wonder of the South but it will be great to reconnect with family and friends on returning.

  • Hit the Bottom

    Looking back since the last post we have managed to pack a fair bit in. The last week or so have been characterised by picking the most interesting/easy to get to/just easy parts of larger adventures. Yesterday we went to Bluff and did the “tourist bottom of NZ” photo, and today we actually did it properly at Slope Point which is apparently the furthest South you can get on the South Island so the journey back north now begins.

    Highlights since I last posted;
    – Lake Dunstan – including completing some of the cycle trail
    – Queenstown – spent a couple of nights, largely resting and recharging batteries (literally and metaphorically)
    – Te Anau/Manapouri – did lots of really neat stuff, a section of the Keepler Track, Doubtful Sound, Milford Sound, a section of Lake2Lake trail
    – Bluff
    – Invercargill – caught up with some colleagues

  • Week 2

    A little over 2 weeks into the South Island adventure. Since the last update in Kaiteriteri we have had a bit of weather to deal with …
    – The trip from Kaiteriteri to Westport took much longer than planned with the road through the Buller Gorge closed so it was a detour through Reefton.
    – In Westport and the surrounds we took in the Seal Colony and Lighthouse and made the stop at the Pancake Rocks on route to Greymouth.
    – We spent a couple of nights in Greymouth due to some pretty horrific weather.
    – We moved onto Hokitika where we spent a night in a DOC camping ground on Lake Kaniere … and woke to some stunning views.
    – From Hokitika we moved to Franz Josef where we arrived in time to get to the Glacier before the weather closed in again.
    – We decided to cut a track after a night while the Haast Pass was open (after a reasonably lengthy closure and in advance of another weather system). Despite the weather the road was OK although the effects of the storm and reason for the closure were evident. We were still able to take in a couple of waterfalls and the Blue Pools on route.
    – A night at lake Hawea and catching up with a colleague.
    – Onto Wanaka where we are currently stationed (having extended our stay here to 3 nights) … the snow started falling soon after arrival and kept falling … the locals tell us the snow line was much lower than the peak of the ski season. It made for spectacular views in the following days, we checked out the town, took a boat trip to see a lake on an island on the lake and took bike ride round the lake … this wasn’t entirely as planned given the height of the river … we forded a couple of sections but when we came to one that was a few feet deep we turned and retreated … all part of the adventure!!!
    – Off to Queenstown/Cromwell tomorrow.

  • Trip Update

    Given there will not be any formal health check-ins until December for those that are interested a VERY brief update on our South Island Trip. We are almost a week in. So far the hightlights have included
    – a very smooth Cook Straight crossing (that included dolphins),
    – a boat trip into the Queen Charlotte Sounds and walking a section of the track,
    – a couple of very pleasant camp sites with amazing views at Momorangi Bay and Elaine Bay (although we got blown out of there)
    – A coffee and lunch at Mapua with the most amazing outlook
    – Catching up with family in Nelson

    We are currently in Kaiteriteri waiting for a weather system to hit … but the sun currently out and life is good.

    A few photos below

  • Last health update for a while … off tripping

    Had my last oncology appointment for a while earlier today … over the phone as we are having one final test run of the new motor home before heading south for 7 weeks. A couple of nights at the lovely Port Jackson, Coromandel …

    Not to much to report given it was a phone consult and based on a blood test. CEA levels are up slightly to 16. Plan is to have a scan on our return in early Dec and plan next treatment steps from there.

    Given there will be no health updates for a while if I get motivated I’ll post some travel updates from the South Island … we have the ferry booked for Oct 15th.