I have just finished reading your latest blog from Germany and for some reason, I got all teary eyed! I have to say, Eric, if you were my son, I would be over the moon with pride (as I am sure your Mummy is!) You have matured so much since starting this \"voyage\" and you are so very right in doing it NOW--I have always envied young people who travel--it is the very best education you can get and yes, if you return to Canada now you may not get travelling again for a very long time. Do you remember telling me at your Mum\'s 50th birthday that if you left at the later date you would have a \"surplus of money\" and I laughed and said that you NEVER have a surplus of money--I am sure this is one of the lessons you have learned! Anyhow, as I said, I am so very proud of you and just want to say, have fun--none of what you have been through is a waste--it is all a learning experience and I think you are \"rolling with the punches\" very well! Take care, much love, Aunty Dar and Ron
I have just finished reading your latest blog from Germany and for some reason, I got all teary eyed! I have to say, Eric, if you were my son, I would be over the moon with pride (as I am sure your Mummy is!) You have matured so much since starting this \"voyage\" and you are so very right in doing it NOW--I have always envied young people who travel--it is the very best education you can get and yes, if you return to Canada now you may not get travelling again for a very long time. Do you remember telling me at your Mum\'s 50th birthday that if you left at the later date you would have a \"surplus of money\" and I laughed and said that you NEVER have a surplus of money--I am sure this is one of the lessons you have learned! Anyhow, as I said, I am so very proud of you and just want to say, have fun--none of what you have been through is a waste--it is all a learning experience and I think you are \"rolling with the punches\" very well! Take care, much love, Aunty Dar and Ron
Back Down Under! Well said Eric, I know we talked about this at length and I think you made the right decision for you. I look forward to hearing about more of your adventures in Austrailia. Keep safe, Love you
Latest Eric...absolutely wonderful post...No regrets. Take your adventure for what it is, a grand trip with fantastic experiences (Hamster ball, bungee, skydiving, hiking, sand surfing, watching Canucks games in Oz). I can say truly I do not think I could have done this at your age, I envy you and this trip. I know you will come home a different man. Love, dad
Surfing and SCUBA ?What next? Greetings, I just got a few minutes to dive into your last two postings from Austrailia. Traveling with a pretty girl in a camper van, long sand beaches and early morning walks! You have really gone to far this time. Just imagine the oldies as in the plus 50's (guys) sitting back here wondering when that phase passed us by and is not about to come back any time soon.Again all I really need to say is "good on you" ,keep up the pace as these days will be the bases for some of the best memories and stories in your later years. Us old guys(you know who you are)will be back here in Canada waiting for the next saga of "Aussiland" with great antisipation.
Mom and I are headed out to Bamfield today as Easter is next weeekend and she needs stuff for the Nitnat Easter gathering. I ordered my bees this weekend and will have them by mid May. Have started a bee garden in front of the trailer so it will be quite plesant to look over from Mom and Dads deck.Bottled up 96 bottles of wine a couple of days ago which Ron and I did a taste test on and found it to be quite acceptable.(empty glasses in the end so not to bad).The garden is going in on a daily basis so we are looking to a great abundance of vegy"s this year to go with the lamb and chicken.The weather here is still quite cool but still some nice days so best not complain.I hope you find work ,maybe the grapes will be ready to pick down there soon. I should imagine that there is a lot of transient labour used for that.
Any way we are leaving for Bamfield via Nitnat so have fun , be safe.
Stan
Good on ya , mate Eric, enjoyed the post as usual. You are correct in saying there will be other opportunities for travel. So... when you feel it's time for a break, do it. Otherwise, carry on. I can't believe it's been a year either, I still remember taking you to the airport! Stay safe! Love Dad
Hans and I enjoyed reading your blog. Great pictures! We have not sneaked into anyone else hotel room to use their shower during our trip to western USA. (-: Great country-side! When we get home we will sent you some REAL beach pictures! Happy cooking, Hans and Leslie
Comments on Balmain Blog March 24, 2011: Your reports from Sydney, and from New Zealand, have been very interesting. I have made a number of trips to Australia, and worked in nickel and uranium exploration in WA. Isabelle joined me on some trips. We also visited S. Aust. where I toured the world's largest copper & uranium mine called Olympic Dam. I've only been in Sydney a few times, and saw very little except the Opera House inside and out. We are facinated that Balmain is a nearby suburb and the map of the greater Sydney area is called the Balmain Map. In a year of so, we will be moving to a condo in the White Rock area, and our building is called the Balmain Building! I don't know if the name came from Australia, or some old British castle? I also visited the most northeasterly city along the Australian coast (can't remember the name) and they had glass-bottomed boat tours out to an island where there was an infinite variety of little coloured fish and all kinds of other thing we could see in the water and on the sea floor! Best regards, L.
10 months flies by! Eric,
Boy what a great bunch of pictures! I would love to have been the lucky guy that was taking them.Your travels so far have been followed by all of us at home with a lot of green eyed envy! Keep up the great post's from Aussie Land.
Back home we are still having the winter blahs, but the days are getting a little longer each day. I am getting my seed orders slowly through the mail and am starting a new bee garden in front of Mom and Dads towards the lower field. I am building the platform for the hives and will keep a space on the end for you to place a hive when you get back. The 7 lambs are growing at a very fast rate. Gramma is holding tea parties for people to come and take pictures of them, they are quite the flock of comical performers!
I'm glad you have a contact in Austrailia already, it will be nice to touch down knowing there is a face you will reconize.If you find a vinyard or farm that you need to have a edge to get a job ,feel free to offer a day of salmon fishing back home. We can always blow the dust of the boat and take a promised fishing trip for any one that might get up this way.(people will do almost anything to get out fishing!)(also it takes very little for me to find a reason to get out fishing!)
I have started another 25 Marechal Foche vines from some of my hardwood prunings ,so will be expanding the production in the next couple of years. Just finished a new hot frame in the green house to get an earlier start on the seed propagation as the nurserys are raising their prices every year for transplants.We are set up to do our first batch (30 or so) of roasting chickens.(free range style).So with a expanded garden,fish ,lambs and chicken we should be well set for next winter (oh yea not to forget the 75 litres of wine in the bedroom)
Anyways thats all from north of the 49th,looking forward to your next post with great anticiapation.
Stan
Thanks NZ Eric, a wonderful blog as always. It sure sounds as you have grown as we have chatted about on the phone. However, I may say while you were here, there was a lower hinged plate washing device in your suite, not well used. I am looking forward to some of your cooking going forward as well. Beer and networking, what a concept....I am glad it worked out. Keep in touch and stay safe. Let me know if there is anything you need or want.. Canucks #1 in the entire league, wear your shirt proudly! Love Dad.
NZ trip almost done Hey Eric great blog and pics too. Glad to hear you were able to get some cream cheese for your salmon. I know you have gained alot from your travels so far, and look forward to hearing what new experiences you will have in Austrailia.
Aunty Jan and I have been in Mexico since the 8th and Danielle just arrived tonight. We are having a blast.
Be safe, Love you
XO
Beautiful pictures! Hi Kido,
Well it looks like you are having a wonderful time on all your hikes....good for you for not letting the bugs or rain slow you down. I think you should get yourself published as a travel journalist. I have truly enjoyed all your stories and the pictures are fabulous. Take good care and just wanted to let you know I am really enjoying your New Zealand adventure. Your mom and I are off on our own little journey come Mon, Feb 7th. She and I are truly needing this trip to Aunty Rae's this time...with work draining us and bad weather it's time for some sunshine and salt air. Keep up the good work...we will be thinking of ya. Be safe kido.
Hi Eric, I really enjoyed reading about your travels which included Milford Sound--again it brought back memories! John and I did the whole Routeburn Track--from the Queenstown end--seriously--I think it was 25 miles--thought I was going to die! We took a bus into Milford and at one point we seemed to be going really fast and the driver beckoned John and another fellow to come and talk to him. Apparently the gas pedal broke and he was afraid to slow down as he knew there was a long flat stratch at the bottom. Bloody hell! We were flying down the hill and he was giving a comentary of the scenery all the while!! He got John and the other guy to lift a floor board in the middle of the bus and reach down and pull on some lever that gave gas (I obvioulsy know nothing about the workings of a bus but it was both hilarious and terrifying!) We managed to get to the bottom to a hostel but thought the price was too high so we camped right by the water and the black flies almost took us away! You could not open your mouth without getting a mouthful! We ended up going to the pub and drank way too much and had awful sandwiches and potato chips for supper (the pub closed at 10 pm so we had to make our way back to the tent and try to not get eaten alive.) Woke up really hung over and desperately wanting and needing a shower and there was only a shower in the MEN'S washroom!! I had a run in about that fact with a park ranger (or someone) and when I asked why, he said, "Well, I guess men just get dirtier than women!" Needless to say, I made John stand watch and I had a shower! We then went on a boat tour of the Sound which was pretty amazing but I was VERY hungover and really didn't enjoy it to its fullest potential!
Anyhow, I am totally enjoying reading about your adventures and it is bringing back some great memories of a trip which truly was "a trip of a lifetime!" Travel safe, love Aunty Dar
fishing at last! I was beginning to think you might leave NZ without getting to fish. Nice to have fresh fish no matter where you are! Somehow I didn't get the pictures of the cod. What a beautiful area you are visiting, it does remind me of our coast.
We are getting Grandma set up for swimming at the pool again,doctor has made it clear that she needs to get her exercise on a regular bases. Need to get her heart rate up and improve her circulation. She is otherwise doing ok.
To bad we couldn't send her down to join you for some of that good hikeing with you,as you must remember her hikes up and down the Westcoast Trail.
Enjoy the sites ,even if it is through a bug net(Crappy Tire sells a hat and veil for abt. 5 bucks,maybe we should send you one!)
Stay safe down there,
Stan
Bringing Back Memories I am so enjoying reading (and seeing pics of your travels and adventures! My trip to NZ back in 1981 pales by comparison to put it mildly!
I do however remember Dunedin, John and I hitchhicked there (from where I do not recall) and got a rifde with a guy in a rented station wagon who was, by trade, a barbed wire fence builder. His arms were all scared up from this job. Anyhow, he drove like a bat out of hell and I truly thought I was never to see my babies again! He was driving from A to B and back to A and we thought later that he must have been delivering or picking up drugs!
We did spend a couple days there and stayed in a delightful motel that had a wringer washer that you could use and hang your clothes up to dry in the yard. I guess this really shows my age--no bungy jumping for me--I was just happy to do laundry! I also recall going to an amazing bakery that had a line up to get to and also being shocked that everything closed at noon on Sat. and remained so all day Sunday (which I think is great!)
Anyhow, it is a lovely country with amazing scenery and lovely friendly people which I am sure you know by now! Travel safe, love, Aunty Dar
Adrenaline!!!!!! What's next? My imagination just can not get to the thoughts that run through your head some days! I've heard that adrenaline is intoxicating but I'm thinking that more time in the beer factory might give you the same feeling. Anyways it must be also a thrill to be where the penguins can come ashore from Antartica.You are alot closer to the South Pole than any other person in your family has ever been or any one I know has been! Congrats!!(Also I don't actually know anyone that has tied a rubber band to thier ankles and jumped out of a gondola 1340 meters in the air!)
What ever gives you these halucinating thoughts to challenge all sane reasoning? Keep it up as all to soon this type of fun usually gives way to the hum drum of common sense. Enjoy your last weeks in N.Z. and thanks for the great photos.
Be safe, check the knots and hook the rubber band to your ankles BEFORE moving to the edge.
Stan
Enjoy the heat! I'm sure glad someone is in the sun (not so much here!).We are enjoying the usual winter blahs, rain and some snow mixed with very little sun. We have 7(Yes I siad 7) new lambs,I think Rambo was a very busy guy in late July!Only "Bo" has not graced us with any offspring. We may have to get Rambo groomed or something before she agrees to having a family with him.We are waiting today to hear if we are getting 3 ewes from Stanley Park Petting Farm ,as they have closed it permantly. They will be additional Barbados Blackbelly sheep if we get them. Deb and I had to go through a very through vetting process to qualify as adoptive farmers,we are waiting to hear if our fence is approved by the board now.
I'm sorry to hear the car has taken her last gasp,getting around will be somewhat more difficult for you. Something Gramma can attest to.She is quite frusterated by her not driving any more, the Handi Dart bus helps but not always workable.
I hope you are home before our grape vines run away, a good tutorial given by you will be greatly appreciated.We have 3 new hives of bees ordered for April and plans for the barn to be built in June/July over by the greenhouse.
Its hard to believe that you've been gone a year already,tattooed,traveled etc.Time flies when one is having fun for sure.
Looking forward to your jump across to Austrailia,but finish up where you are first!
Be safe, enjoy the journey the best you can!
Stan
Ahoy matey! Hey man, my name is Nick, I'm a fellow traveler here in NZ, I just got to Blenheim I just can't find any work, everywhere I go they tell me there is nothing, including Talley's (at least in their main office). Do you have any other hint regarding work places? I would very much appreciate it. My cellphone is 0226930537 if you wanna text me. Cheers!
Have fun in Christchurch!
Another great blog, glad to hear your still doing OK, well, at least better than Helga! I hope Dunedin is an interesting place for you! Keep in touch and stay safe. Love Dad
Merry Christmas Deb and I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! It sounds like you had a nice new experiance with your freinds. We had Christmas dinner yesterday(28th) with Emily and Johanny,Andrea and Greg, Granma and Grampa along with the star of the show, one 22 month old Riley! It was a good time had by all, and especially nice to get Granpa put of his chair to come over for dinner.Rilly performed as one would expect a 2 year old having her second Xmas of her life. We all ate to much as usual but no regrets just promise's not to do it again until next year.
When do you head off to Aussi Land ? I will be looking forward to a good tutorial on the in's and out's of how to tend my grape vines when you get back. I am quite envious of your farm work experiance, it would be neat to be doing what you've done over the last months! Keep it up ,you will never be sorry to have taken the time to finish that which you have started.
Be safe out there.
Stan
Future Vintner? Good to hear you have not fallen of the bottom of the globe!It sounds to me that you will have a very good understanding of agriculture in the field as well as the processing of it. Your travels are the envy of all of us that you left behind. Keep trying all the new jobs that come your way, it sounds like the perfect place to be treckking about. Keep safe and well!
Stan
Hello, where are you? Almost a month since you posted ,are you lost? Time to drop a line or two before we send out the search team!Give us a quick update . Thats not a request .
Health Food Good for you! Finally some really good seafood for your good health.Pictures of clams, fish and beach to come when your server gets better,right?Glad you have got to the South Island,it is quite different to the North Island apparently. The ferry you were on,was it a catamaran? The auzzies are very famous for their "cat"designs. we would still be using them if our ferries were of that style.Has your "one pack sack" travel grown to a trunk full yet? If you get to the vinyards try to jot down the type of vine you like the best and we will put one in here to try. good travels and wine tasting.
Stan
Aunty Dar
non-member comment
I have just finished reading your latest blog from Germany and for some reason, I got all teary eyed! I have to say, Eric, if you were my son, I would be over the moon with pride (as I am sure your Mummy is!) You have matured so much since starting this \"voyage\" and you are so very right in doing it NOW--I have always envied young people who travel--it is the very best education you can get and yes, if you return to Canada now you may not get travelling again for a very long time. Do you remember telling me at your Mum\'s 50th birthday that if you left at the later date you would have a \"surplus of money\" and I laughed and said that you NEVER have a surplus of money--I am sure this is one of the lessons you have learned! Anyhow, as I said, I am so very proud of you and just want to say, have fun--none of what you have been through is a waste--it is all a learning experience and I think you are \"rolling with the punches\" very well! Take care, much love, Aunty Dar and Ron