Meet Kath, our guide for the Northern Island part of our trip. I thought that I would introduce her since she is somewhat permanently attached to Paula and myself for the first portion of this trip. Well, we’ve actually blown her off a bit in the last day but hooking up again today.
Kath is — well, unique. I wish I could nail the perfect description, but I will surely fuck it up with a nuance missing. She is like a complex fine wine — very difficult to describe.
Ok, so here goes…
As I mentioned before, she hales from Portland, Oregon. I think this means that she started life a bit flowery and I think from another planet called Nutso. Check.
Physically, I wont go there too deep since that would be quite rude, but I have to focus on one or two main areas, first her teeth and I will say one word there — “fragile” and on the verge of extinction. The next physical attribute worth mentioning are her man-hands which are the size of sausages. I just can’t stop staring — sorry, its rude, but its so interesting. Take Sarah Jessica Parker’s hands and double the size. Yes, no exaggeration. Of course Kath considers it distasteful to use anti-perspirant. Both Paula and I caught whiffs of her natural perfume many times on our hike and in the car. Why do some people not think that this new invention called anti-perspirant is worth the cost?
In her mid-twenty’s she left Oregon and traveled until she found New Zealand. Found home — Off the grid and loved it.
Kath is now in her 50’s, married twice, both men dead. I need to learn more about that. Either real bad luck or their is a side of Kath which is deeper. That said, Kath tells stories which are l-o-n-g, super animated and drawn out like a hillbilly from Oregon. At many times, I tune her out. Like really tune her out. Its actually amazing that humans can do that.
Net, net, Kath is a cross between a lady version of Grizzly Adams, a person who prefers to live off-the-grid and a nice 50+ year old lady who is living her dream without rules and regulations and government. Hmmm, she might be a Republican.
Anyway… She is nice and willing. Today were heading to the Tongariro Crossing, one of the most scenic hikes in the world.