Balls! Not goiong Pub.

• Fos53's Profile
• About this blog
• Entry from Queenstown

Trip Start Jul 19, 2011 Previous
Entry Trip End Ongoing Next
Entry

  Queenstown, South Island, New Zealand
Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Balls!  Half way through this blog, and my money went on the internet and I had not saved it.  I was having so much fun. I will nto be able to download photos either, as am on camp PC and it is pay per view and no usb thingies.
Not going Pub. Because ti is a good kiwi rain outside, and do not want to get soaked or fleeced, so decided to catch up on the Blog - should've gone pub now! 
On The Road.  Finally hit the road last Friday.  and have been 6 days on the trail.  The camp sites here are brilliant; well set up, clean, kitchens for cooking, cabins, but no cooks.  Clean too and $15 - 25 dollars.
Teething problems.  I have got about 1600km done and the fuel gauge moves fster than the speedo.  But there have been a few problems on the way to contend with. Not that the vehicle isn't going well; I did 95 once on a long downhill - that is kph - and overtook once; a quad bike towing a trailer - does that count?  I do not mind the pace, that is fine it is the other issues to contend with. Like, running repairs to the exhaust, sky light and fridge door.  All fixed with a selection of insulating tape, rubber tubing, and a CD packet.  Thanks for the tape Paul Edwards - knew it would come in handy.  Oh yes, and the coat hangers keep falling off untill IT came to the rescue again.
Not all Bad,  I did discover the CD worked, played some Rod Stewart, Mammas an d Pappas, (cheap sale) but it then swallowed Billy Joel.  Won't let me have it back.  The speakers were shit anyway!
Oh yes, the back door fell off.  And guess what; it is held on now with some of thick black tape!  Never fails.  It is okay though, because you can get access through from the drivers cab; except i spillt the washing up over the quilt when I was climbing through.  "New experiences are the Fuel for Life:
Geography.  Now, I know there are some others out there who like geograpy, so here goes, if you want you can skip to the next bit.  First day was to New Plymouth, West Coast, through King Country.  Lovely, rounded hills, lots of lovely sheep. Camped on sea front.   Next day was down toward Wellington, around Mt Taranaki of Mt Fuji fame (Used for film sets of Japan!).  But covered in cloud, but interesting geographical features on it's lower flanks - boring yet?.  More cattle here, but theat is fine, just need a bigger box.  Saturday night watched Oz v AB in a bar - they did not like losing. Sunday, ferry ride from Wellington to Picton on the South Island.  This improves petrol consumption.  Got to be the best Ferry ride in the world.  It is like being on a cross Channel Ferry going up a scottish loch when you enter Picton.  You think the skipper is going to head into the cliffs, then a gap just opens up.  Mondays drive was just Dramatic, and that best sums up the South Island I think.  Just Dramatic.   The road is so close to the sea you could spit in it.  There was a seal, sitting on the rocks, watching us humans drive past.  I swear.  Stayed near Cheviot on the Pacific coast, again spot right on the beach front.  The farmer, owner of the site, said he could get millions if he sold it and put his feet up.  But he would rather keep it an let others enjoy it.  Tuesday got past Christchurch but did not go into the town and parked outside some friends of Jason's - the mechanic.  He is a good guy despite the aforementioned perils.  Then drove inland towards Queenstown.  Even more Dramatic.  Such vast open spaces, a bit like the N. Yourkshire moors but higher and more vast,  Massive mountains, that do not seem to get any closer.  Empty roads.  Lens clouds over Mt.  Cook, which was majestic at the end of the lake.  The clouds are continually making astounding shapes.
True Story.  On the first day's drive, I went through a town that billed it self "The Sheep Shearing capital of New Zealand - Te Kuiti -. The radio was working at this point, and I had not discovered the CD player worked (temporarliy).   and I could not understand the craic about shearing this and shearing that.  Then I realised tehy were talking about sharing things with others. 
Gas and Gobble.  So, then there was this filling station on the other side of the road called Gas and Gobble; Honest.   I could not get across to it.  Wonder if they did food too?
Competition.  Can any one come up with a name for the campervan?  Winner with the best name gets to take me out for a few bweers.
Small town, big country.  On my second night of travels I stopped to go shopping, only for some beers, as I have got into a 3 day rotation of meals rice, pasta and steak that means only food shopping is necessary every third day.  Any way as I go to get these beers, guy comes over and starts looking the van over; it is no other than the previous owner who is about 900km from home on a trip to Wellinton!  At this point I hadn't discovered half the problems, otherwise he might have had a different reception from me.
Pulled Over.  And another thing, I got stopped by the police and had no "registration" or road tax.  Somehow managed to blag my out of it (ignorance is bliss)  and got let through; but I am now all legal an taxed!!!
More Wildlife.  Did you know Ganets go blind as a result of all the diving they do at speed and height to catch their dinner?  According to Darwin they should've evolved better than this.  Anyway it means they die a slow death as they cannot feed; well the lucky ones die instantly when they dive into the rocks by mistake.  Could make a good specsavers advert!
What Could Have Been.  Tuesday 30th August.  Could have been going back to school today, but instead woke up to a cloudless sky, with the sun rising over the Pacific Ocean just a few meters from the van, then went for a run along the beach.

PS.  Whittaker is travelling with me, having recovered well in the fields at the farm.  Cannot beleive no one has asked about him.

Slideshow Share

Previous Entry Next Entry