Friday, April 6, 2007
Wonderful Wanaka
Wonderful Wanaka -or unfortunately W*nka as I have been texting and emailing many folks back home-sorry. Damn that predictive text!
We rolled into town more than a week ago and have been exploring the area ever since.
First few nights were spent in a campsite I dubbed Lord of the Flies: White Trash Trailer Park.
Obvious reason-there were a lot of flies (especially in the kitchen) and the buildings resembled something for an American flick about a hick family and their campervan!
Anyway we moved on from there when Tom's mate Darren arrived.
Wanaka walks are wicked. Roy's Peak, which is a baby in comparison to Avalanche Peak stands at 1,500 meters and gives absolute awesome views across the lake and the peaks beyond.
Oh and there was the small thing of me agreeing to let Tom take me up a rock face. That's right despite complaints of Tom's addiction to climbing any bit of stone or rock I decided to have a go.
It was great and when I got to the top of this quite easy climb I neraly projectile vomitted
over the heads of these two climbing instructors! How to make friends eh!
Anyway Tom and Darren decided on Wednesday morning that they would rather shed blood, sweat and tears up Mount Aspiring than sample any more of my half toasted crumpets and headed out for a bit of an epic adventure
While they piled on the pain climbing 2,300 meters I enjoyed residing by the lake and strolling up the 230 meter Mount Iron and the 777 meter Rocky Mountain. Oh and being awoken one morning by an alpaca that escaped from the farm next door staring into Percy. The expression on his face suggested he thought Percy may be another alpaca and one he liked the look of!
Tom and Darren arrived back on Friday night to my surprise. Their epic adventure has left Tom with trench foot, bad farts and stinking socks. (It's nice to have you back really Tom).
Their photos of the climb are amazing. Take a look for yourself.
Anyway Monday we are off to become Willing Workers on Organic Farms on a little farm between Queenstown and Arrowhead.
I reckon even the aroma of cow pats will smell better than Tom's feet!!
We rolled into town more than a week ago and have been exploring the area ever since.
First few nights were spent in a campsite I dubbed Lord of the Flies: White Trash Trailer Park.
Obvious reason-there were a lot of flies (especially in the kitchen) and the buildings resembled something for an American flick about a hick family and their campervan!
Anyway we moved on from there when Tom's mate Darren arrived.
Wanaka walks are wicked. Roy's Peak, which is a baby in comparison to Avalanche Peak stands at 1,500 meters and gives absolute awesome views across the lake and the peaks beyond.
Oh and there was the small thing of me agreeing to let Tom take me up a rock face. That's right despite complaints of Tom's addiction to climbing any bit of stone or rock I decided to have a go.
It was great and when I got to the top of this quite easy climb I neraly projectile vomitted
over the heads of these two climbing instructors! How to make friends eh!
Anyway Tom and Darren decided on Wednesday morning that they would rather shed blood, sweat and tears up Mount Aspiring than sample any more of my half toasted crumpets and headed out for a bit of an epic adventure
While they piled on the pain climbing 2,300 meters I enjoyed residing by the lake and strolling up the 230 meter Mount Iron and the 777 meter Rocky Mountain. Oh and being awoken one morning by an alpaca that escaped from the farm next door staring into Percy. The expression on his face suggested he thought Percy may be another alpaca and one he liked the look of!
Tom and Darren arrived back on Friday night to my surprise. Their epic adventure has left Tom with trench foot, bad farts and stinking socks. (It's nice to have you back really Tom).
Their photos of the climb are amazing. Take a look for yourself.
Anyway Monday we are off to become Willing Workers on Organic Farms on a little farm between Queenstown and Arrowhead.
I reckon even the aroma of cow pats will smell better than Tom's feet!!
Saturday, March 24, 2007
Sunny Greymouth
Hey get me, I along with Tom have just climbed Avalanche Peak off Arthur's Pass and it was only 1,800 metres high. I am feeling pretty damn tough. As some guys pointed out when I got to the bottom "it looks like you have jelly legs" and they were right, so right!
We are now in Greymouth. Our unexpected stop comes after trying to flee an invasion of mice inside the van. That's right while enjoying the beauty of Arthur's Pass they managed to make the van their home. The first one was spotted on the dash board brazenly ripping up paper. We then spent half the night with just our head torches chasing the blighters around to no avail. In the end Tom said "that's it we're off" and we raced to another campsite.
After walking the peak of avalanche where I superman style nearly hurtled off a cliff we decided to head off with our mice in a bid to shake them from the van.
Half way up the road on none other than a bend came the smell of burning rubber and Percy grinding to a halt.
Could Percy need more oil, some brake fluid or even some diesel. Nope he needed a new clutch! He is so temperamental! So, that is why we are here in Greymouth, enjoying the comforts of a campsite that doesn't have a biological toilet full of flies and making the most of the glorious sunshine.
Oh and the rodent rascals seem to have absconded. We even tried to tempt them with a peanut butter/mouse trap.
Although I don't blame them peanut butter is for sick, sick people-eh Tom!..
We are now in Greymouth. Our unexpected stop comes after trying to flee an invasion of mice inside the van. That's right while enjoying the beauty of Arthur's Pass they managed to make the van their home. The first one was spotted on the dash board brazenly ripping up paper. We then spent half the night with just our head torches chasing the blighters around to no avail. In the end Tom said "that's it we're off" and we raced to another campsite.
After walking the peak of avalanche where I superman style nearly hurtled off a cliff we decided to head off with our mice in a bid to shake them from the van.
Half way up the road on none other than a bend came the smell of burning rubber and Percy grinding to a halt.
Could Percy need more oil, some brake fluid or even some diesel. Nope he needed a new clutch! He is so temperamental! So, that is why we are here in Greymouth, enjoying the comforts of a campsite that doesn't have a biological toilet full of flies and making the most of the glorious sunshine.
Oh and the rodent rascals seem to have absconded. We even tried to tempt them with a peanut butter/mouse trap.
Although I don't blame them peanut butter is for sick, sick people-eh Tom!..
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