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Published: February 4th 2011
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Friday 3rd December 2010 (Westport – Mahinapua) This bus is proving very different to our first and is living up to its reputation as the’ big green #*%!?(MISSING) Bus’! Lots of gossip is emerging... as well as too many people from showers etc.
This morning we travelled to a sea-lion colony on Tauranga Bay & our driver asked us all to extend our middle fingers to Australia as this is the closest point between the two countries (of course we didn’t oblige – we love you Aussies!).
Our next stop was to a beach with powerful waves, we had a quick hike down to stretch our legs and Joanne didn’t heed the advice to take off her trainers and almost got wet feet as the waves crashed further up the shore than expected while a couple of girls from the bus nearly got swept of the rocks!
Our final worthwhile stop of the day was Punakaiki to see the pancake rocks (limestone stacks that have eroded to look like a pile of pancakes) and blow holes (unfortunately these are only active during high tide) and to eat lunch... We decided to do the loop walk first as
we didn’t know how long it would take, and with David Bailey(aka Joanne) snapping away with her camera it’s always bound to take longer than expected!
Greymouth was our final stop before Mahinapua where we had ½ an hour to buy a fancy dress costume for this evening’s party with a Christmas theme. There had been a memorial for 30 miners who had lost their lives just a few days before in an explosion which had obviously shook up the local community and the atmosphere around Greymouth was low, as you would expect.
There a was $200 prize at stake for the best (and most out the box) costume so Richard dressed as Christmas cracker by wrapping himself in a Christmas tablecloth, and Joanne made an advent calendar outfit from a huge Christmas bag & pack of cards. We arrived at the aptly named ‘Poo’ pub (especially based on the accommodation which for us was two bunk beds with sinking mattresses pushed together) and were greeted by Les the owner who looks about 100 with a strict list of rules – mainly about not bringing in your own Alcohol. After we’d check into our very basic accommodation and
making our costumes we popped over to Lake Mahinapua for a dip – but it wasn’t very appealing.
On our return we are treated to a steak buffet dinner in the “castle” (Les’s garage) and then changed into our costumes ahead of the party. A whole host of costumes were present, the better ones (other than ours obviously) were Cara as a snowman, a Christmas tree (complete with flashing lights, although she did have to sit near a plug socket all night!) and a fireplace complete with chimney who won the grand prize for originality! A lot of the guys seemed to interpret “Christmas” as “nudity” with most opting for shiny red pants and a tinsel brimmed cowboy hat... Maybe we misinterpreted the theme?
Richard bought a jade necklace for Joanne from the shop at the bar before things got too messy, and with the dollar we’d each put in, the juke box played all night and everyone got pretty drunk.
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Mark
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Nice Outfits!!
no further comment!