Rich Ard
Ard Baker & Richard Jeans Joined: November 29th 2007
Logged in: April 15th 2009
Logged in: April 15th 2009
Travel Blog Posts
Waders
Hi-Di-Hi campers! I guess you guys will all be either fighting off frost bite, fanning back flames or trying to survive the recession so what better way to cheer you up then a gloating blog from your friends in paradise. We will do our best not to sound too smug, promise ;-) Seriously though, we do hope you are all ok. Sounds a little like the world is falling apart out there, anyone who wants to run away is welcome to come stay with us! Life down here has been pretty good. Christmas and New Year was VERY busy at work but we still managed to have some fun. Christmas was a traditional Turkey for lunch, a Finnish Dinner, lots of pool time and then some good old drinking games to finish it off, perfect! (Spoons’ ... read more
Lake Wanaka Panorama
Kia Ora! Yeah, we are still alive. Just rubbish like normal. 5 months since the last blog, and yep, it feels like a life time! We have had a crazy season here in NZ, worked our bottoms off running a nightclub and lived our dream working as instructors during the day. So actually it feels like 2 life times! Red Rock was crazy. Skiers and snowboarders know how to party and it was night after night of excess. Rich and I got to enjoy some fantastic DJ’s and have been overwhelmed at how good NZ music is. We have had some awesome live acts come through ranging from heavy metal bands like Sinate , to soulful Anita Moa . An impromptu live song from P - Digsss of Shapeshifter on his birthday and having Snowboarding legend ... read more
Halfway....
Can I say, some days it feels a little like we are living in a Magicians Top Hat. One wave of the wand and, puff, there’s Australia, puff, we’re in New Zealand. Tada! So let’s go back to the UK for a moment. After our exhausting Canada leg we had a wonderful 3 weeks recuperating in Evesham. We ate way too much, slept too much and had a wonderful time catching up with everyone. Some hilarious nights with friends were thoroughly enjoyed and for the energetic card player, Sarah has a game for you! The English sun came out to say hello and we made the most strolling in the Malvern’s and basking in the garden. Rod and June even cooked us a Sunday BBQ to enjoy in the garden as a farewell meal. Yes, we ... read more
Nonstop Fernie '08
So it’s all over. Well, the Canada portion is at least. We are back in the UK, spending time reflecting, oh and washing. So what did we do in our final days? Our exams were on the last day so the last few weeks were very stressful (Don’t laugh, it really was!) but we did manage to have some fun. You will be please to hear WE PASSED! We are now Level 2 Instructors. This probably means absolutely nothing to most of you but is actually a huge achievement for us! The first day of my exams was Hot Dog day which is a day of pure genius. For any of you who remember the ski slopes in the 80’s, the all-in-ones and fluorescent colours will bring back fond memories. For the rest of you, feel ... read more
The view from our office....
Yep, we passed! Ok, so how exciting is that, we both passed our Level 1’s! Yay! First exam done, one more to go. So, 2 months since the last blog. I know rubbish, but believe me this riding every day is exhausting. It really is! You try the equivalent of 7 hours a day in the gym and see if you can stay awake past 9pm, I certainly can’t! Ok so no real excuse but we truly have been busy. In fact busy doing so much other stuff I’m going to have to skim through everything just so I can keep this shorter then a thesis! Right, in no particular order: Ski-dooing: Awesome. Now remember we are in North America here. None of this pathetic ‘follow the leader around the piste’ business from France. We got ... read more
Banff National Park
What a week! Being unemployed is every so busy ;-) But amongst all the riding we managed to squeeze in a little road trip, travelling over 1000kms (700m) through the beautiful Kootenay and Banff National Parks. It started at 4am last Monday. Yep, very early start. Richard had picked up our little car, a Neon Chrysler, the night before so very sleepily we set off. Rich was concentrating on the dark, icy roads so I was navigator and, as it soon became apparent, on Elk watch. We had passed numerous warning signs bearing impressive pictures of Deer and Elk but we hadn’t given it too much thought. That is until we got a fraction too close to one! Standing there in the middle of our lane was a ginormous Elk, and when he raised his head ... read more
View of Fernie from the ski hill
Wow, is the 13th January already?! Sorry about the long time no hear, but the time has just been racing by. Guess it always does when you’re having fun! But now we have unlimited internet access we promise updates will be much more forthcoming! So where are we? Well we had a lovely Christmas in Wickhamford with Rod, June, Sarah and James where we ate way to much fantastic food and got lots of lovely presents. But of course it went all too quickly. When Ian and Sally joined us Boxing Day night Christmas joy turned into pre holiday excitement and maybe a touch of nervous regarding what was to come. On the 27th Dec Air Canada got us to Calgary, Canada safely if a little hungry, and miraculously all our many bags arrived. The journey ... read more
