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Published: October 24th 2006
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Birth of a fern
Lake Waikaremoana Well hello everybody!
Can I firstly say "back-off!" to all those peole pressuring me for a new blog. My creative mind is stifled by the pressure (doesn't take much admittedly!) and its difficult to keep you all updated when we are busy trying to enjoy ourselves!!!
Anyway, we are down in chilly Queenstown at the moment, the world's capital for extreme sports! And with that in mind...we haven't done any of them!! I'd like to blame it solely on having a distinct lack of cash, but in reality I dont think either of us have got the cojones! Saying that though, we don't wish to be outdone, and over the last few weeks, we have come up with our own selection of 'Adrenalin-pumping' activities:
1. Extreme campervan toilet emptying. (involves emptying the campers 'pooper' in just your undies leaving yourself open to the infamous "splashback"!)
2. Extreme showering. (Showering in the campers onboard shower, but with the added spice of travelling at 80 kph on some of the twistiest roads known to man at the same time.)
3. Extreme toiletting. (Same principle as above!)
4. Extreme cleaning. (Involves cleaning up after activities 2 & 3!)
Another Sunset!
Lake Waikaremoana If anyone has any other suggestions then let me know (as long as they are free!!)
In all seriousness, we've been having a great time. To date we've travelled something like 4000 km in the van, and its all gone really seamlessly so far (touch wood!). Since Taupo, we travelled East to Hawkes Bay, to the Art Deco capital of the world, Napier. It was flattened by a huge Earthquake in the thirties and all the buildings are subsequently built accordingly. Its a really pretty part of the world surrounded by mountains, beaches, orchards, vineyards and the like. We could definitely think of worst places to live.
One reason for coming to Hawkes Bay was to meet up with our lovely Doctor friend, Lisa. She took us on a great wine tour where you hire bikes, get a lovely packed lunch and a map of the local vineyards to work your way between. And what a great day we had. After our first winery
and twelve half glasses of wine (the cellar man was exceedingly generous!), Lisa was drunk, Nadine was drunk and I was just fearfull of having to drag her round on the back of
the tandem! 5 wineries and 52 different wines later, we finished in one piece. Our saving grace on the trip was the addition of a three foot orange flag on the back of the bike. This alerts oncoming traffic to the presence of "drunk cyclists". It didnt really help though when Nadine would snap it off and whip me from behind to pedal faster! (I really hope this isnt the sign of things to come!). We had a great time and it was great to meet up with you Lisa, and thanks to your Dad for putting us up for a few days.
We then caught the ferry across to the South Island and headed to Abel Tasman National Park. We spent a few days here, and the scenery was really beautiful. The beaches are a golden yellow and completely deserted. So while here, we did a sea kayaking/sailing tour which would of been great save for the 'stoopid' Yanks on our trip. (Can I just say sorry to our lovely american friends who will read this. I am a better person since I met you all and know not to tar you all with the same brush!). Anyway,
the fat stupid yanks, spoilt the trip for us. From the start we knew there would be issues when the 'rotund' Jimmy decided to sit in the front and demand that the 'waif-like' sixty year-old Betty go at the back to do all the paddling and steer. Our ears are still ringing from the crys of "left Betty, no right Betty. Where the hell are you going? Gee this is fun! Is this foam diesel? I'm not going to die am I?" Personally, I would have left them to paddle to Australia, as that's where they would have ended up until our guide stepped in. What this all meant though was that we didnt step onto any of the beaches as we were so late that we were going to miss our catamaran connection. I know I'll be fat and sixty years old one day, but at least when that day comes, I'll know not to take my gorged torso and elderly wife sea-kayaking.
After an eight hour blast down the West Coast, we got to Franz Josef glacier. And the weather was crap. It rained solidy for twent four hours, probably the worst since Costa Rica. The idea
Lunchtime!
Ocean Beach, Hawkes Bay. was to do the obligatory glacier walk, but I think the rain may have been a god-send. Nadine did the Heli-hike last time she was here but our funds dictated a more humbler approach of good old walking. But the price was twice as much as the guide book suggested and the thought of walking two hours uphill through sodden forests for an hour on the glaciar didn't exactly fill me with joy. Instead we went to the view points to check out both the Fox and Franz Josef Glaciers. After seeing the Perito Moreno Glacier in Argentina, these two could never compare. So my decision not to do it was kind of justified. What this has highlighted though is how spoilt we were in S America. When you've seen the biggest and best of things, it can take the shine off everything else. I think we've got what we, and our friend Neil from Brisbane, calls: 'American tourist syndrome'. When Neil and Becs (Hi guys!) when to Mount Everest Base Camp, it was the only place they'd been where an American didn't go "Gee, I thought it would be bigger!". Unfortunately, I think we are starting to suffer from
Te Mata Peak
Havelock North, Hawkes Bay. the same syndrome. I think we need to drink more to brainwash ourselves and start with a clean slate.
So only 6 days left in the camper and then off to Melbourne. Cant wait as we are both sick off being cold. 10 degrees here as opposed to 30 in Melbourne! Bring it on.
Keep the messages coming and sorry to our friends from the good old U S of A for the yankee-doodle-dandy bashing!
Lots of love
Stu and Nads
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Mel
non-member comment
Cheers!
Yet another higly amusing and informative blog - thanks Stu! rest assured you're making us boring working-folk really really jealous!