Archive for February, 2007
Yesterday I spent a day working as a human traffic light - armed with a stop go sign. That was 11 hours stood in the sun, watching cars drive by. All in all a pretty easy, if boring way to earn a living.
Today and for the next week or so, I am Erecting big tents - or Marquees as some people call them. Today we were putting one up at a Narnia film location before they shoot there next week. The site had awesome views over snow capped peaks - better than any office. The crew consists of a Aussie, a Welshman and 2 of us northern English folk. The work is reasonably physical but its fun and the boss aint too strict.
On other notes, I’m back to living cheap in a tent, and soon I will buy a car - muhuhahahahha :-).
February 28th, 2007
Photos from the Following are now appearing online:
- Pub Golf Wellington
- Beach Party at Les’s place
- Kawaru Bridge Bungy (incomplete)
- Ledge Bungy
- Night out involving Tea pots
Find them all over at My other photo type site
Please bear with me and Queenstown’s slooooooooooooooooooooooow internet connections 
February 20th, 2007
Arrived into Queenstown yesterday after stoppping off at the Kawaru Bridge Bungy. I still cannot jump due to damage in my eye, but I took the oppotunity to take a load of photos of the 15 or so jumpers from our Kiwi Experience bus. I then wndered round Queenstown, sorted out some photos finally (internet is $3 per hour here, which aint bad) and then went out for a party night.
This night out got messy - drinking cocktails out of tea pots pretty much K.O.’d me. A kind person guided me home to the hostel at about 3am once I had stopped being sick ;-(. I’m back Dieting now, so this was the last night out for a while - so it was good that it was a wee bit large.
My plan now is to stay in Queenstown for a few months, so tommorrow is job hunting day. I have found a more chilled hostel as well which I move to in a few days - and it has free WiFI…….
February 19th, 2007
Now I have decided to settle down for a bit in Queenstown, I have decided to go back on the diet I was following. I have spent the last three and a half months travelling, partying and eating bad foods. The result of this is that I weighed in yesterday at 162lb - up 10lbs on the weight I was when I started travelling. I did weigh in late in the day and fully clothed, but its still at least half a stone gained.
So now its time to stop drinking, cease any association with McDonalds and get on it. I will post my progress here on my main blog as blogger is still not posting to my SFTP account. You can always use the category menu on the right to filter out all the other random posts if you wish.
I will weigh in on Tuesdays every week again. Hopefully the gain will fall off pretty quick, and maybe 2007 will end with a six-pack ;-).
February 19th, 2007
Just got back to the hostel after 3 days in the Abel Tasman National park, walking the Coastal Track. I caught the bus from Nelson to Marahau ($32 return) and then walked the track up and down - which is 51km times two, so 102km total in 3 days ;-).
I went at this on a real lightweight kick - carrying my light sleeping bag (~600g) and my Bivi. All other kit was kept to a minimum and I lived off Nuts, dried fruit and chocolate in the main, plus some pepperoni, cheese and crackers. I left the SLR at home and did not take a cooker. The upshot of this was a pack weight of around 6-7kg and much improved range. I also got away with not carrying a stove, and wore trainers.
Day 1 - 35km
Started at 9am from the trail head, and spent an enjoyable day tramping though the fantastic scenery. The weather stayed a little overcast after early rain, which kept the temp down and helped matters. I missed low tide on the first 2 crossings of estuary’s, which added a few more k’s on, but no real problems. Both main tidal crossings were pretty easy - only coming up to the top of my thighs. I camped at a site with a few others who had kayaked in, and we lit a fire.
Day 2 - 42km
Today was meant to be 35km, but I decided not to skip the end of the track and went for it ;-). I made it across the tidal crossing at Arowa at 9pm just in time to see the last of daylight. The next 2 hours of night hiking were pretty crazy - I came round a corner to find 2 yellow eyes watching me and nearly had a heart attack! It turned out to be a Possum, which climbed a tree and glared at me. I saw another 8 - its easy to get within 2 feet of them at times before you spot them. I camped at a site 1km early as I had had enough.
Day 3 - 25km
An easy walk out to the bus - weather was still good but not too hot. Made it for the earlier bus and slept back to town, where I had a McDonalds.
February 12th, 2007
Took the Kiwi Ex to Nelson - stopping at Prince Alberts on the first night, then moved to Camping at Paradiso - an excellent hostel.
Although I was not planning to, I have booked myself on the bus out to the Abel Tasman Coastal Track tomorrow. I plan to walk the 51km Track end to end and then come back again over 3 days - using my light gear and bivi bag ;-). So I will mostly be eating mixed nuts for the next 3 days as its the ultimate backpacking food.
This means I will be offline and out of phone reception for the next 3 days……
February 9th, 2007
Hit the South Island a few days ago, and hopped off the bus in Picton to walk the Queen Charlotte Track, which is a 71km track running down the Queen Charlotte Sound.
The track took me 4 days carrying full kit including a tent, which broke down into:
- Day 1: 25km
- Day 2: 20km (got up late)
- Day 3: 5km (rest day)
- Day 4: 22km
It was supposed to be 3 days, but getting up late on day 2 I just couldnt be bothered with the last 5km, and ended up staying in a small DOC site, which I had all to myself :-).
The walk was excellent, with awesome views and weather that was pushing 26 degC in the shade on some days.
Aside from that, my time in Picton has been relaxing. I am writing this entry from Nelson, where I am about to do another Tramp. I realise I am so far behind on posting pictures its unreal, and thats the project when I finish this next walk.
February 9th, 2007
Arrived into wellington on Wed with the Kiwi Experience, and went straight out with most of the bus to do a 9 hole pub golf challenge. Got a hole in one at every hole, got thrown out of the pub for being too drunk, got lost and finally found the hostel at 4am.
Staying in Wellington for a few nights to catch up, then its the south island and some multi day Walks.
February 1st, 2007
Spent 2 ights in the middle of nowhere at a place called river valley. This lodge exists simply due to the grade 5 rafting trip it offers down the river. Its a really chilled place to stay, with a couple of short walks to do and of course it has a bar :-).
I did the rafting on Wedensday - a good trip. Much better than the Rotorua rafting trip… Otherwise, I just relaxed and enjoyed the novelty of no phone coverage or internet.
February 1st, 2007