Harrys Big Fat Adventure

Again, it's been AGES!

stokeze — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 11:13:00 GMT

Well, I don't even know if anyone is reading this stuff anymore, it's been AGES!

Don't really remember where I left it to be honest . . . !

Ok, so I just re-read the last one, I know where I am now.

So, I spent like a week in Qtown, then went back to Cromwell for a week to hang out and see my mates, get drunk etc etc!!

Was a pretty good week, just topped up the man tan, and partied it up. Persuaded Cam and Dion to come to Qtown with me. Woop Woop!! I think I hitched back to Qtown on Thursday? Can't remember really. I do, however, remember the guy being an obsolute legend! He offered to take me back to Qtown to see my mates, or whatever, whenever I wanted. He owned some company there and commuted everyday.. .

Checked back into my second home, Bumbles Backpackers, and went straight to Addstaff, a temping agency. Got work the next day, digging holes!!

Wasn't that bad, pretty hard work though. Literally got driven to some random persons house given a spade and told to fill in a big hole! Took maybe 3hours. Then got driven somewhere else and worked with a guy called Dave, digging a hole this time!

The next job I had going was with a company called PartyPlus. Was brilliant. Worked that the rest of the time I was in Qtown. Baically, they hired out everything to do with big parties, marques, stages, dancefloors, lighting. EVERYTHING. Was such a laugh!

The boss was a nutcase though, he ran on insults, smokes and tea. Just whenevr he insulted you, it was hillarious! You'd finish your little job you'd been given, go to help someone else and he'd go ballistic. Start Fing and Blinding, then he'd give the 'I only Fing pay you from the neck down. IDIOT!!' So we just stood there, getting paid, untill he told us to do something else. Sweeeeeeeet!

There was one guy, who temped for a day or something, who was French. Jeebus, he got it bad! Heath just ribbed him all day ( we were working 10hour days) and this guy was basically in tears at the end of it. Just didn't understand you could laugh at it... Poor guy.

Some of the houses we went to were amazing, HUGE! They had Ferraris in the drive, Hot tubs, amazing views, no neighbours. Forgot to take my camera most days though, so didn't really get any great piccies :-(

Then I Dion and Cam rolled up, so I had a week off. We just hung out, went to the movies, chilled on the beach, kayaking and mountain biking. Was pretty sweet to be honest . . .

It was Carlos, a guy I met fruit picking, birthday on one of the weekends. So the chillin mob and a few of the other people we hung out with all came to Qtown for a big night out, which turned into 3! Was a great weekend to be honest, spent fart too much money though. Well just in general really, not just on the weekend. Qtown is a very expensive place to live . . .

So Cam, Dion and I have decided to get away from it for a bit, get some money behind us, then head back down for ski season. . . Cam actually broke her shoulder on the old mountain biking expo, was pretty intense, proper downhill stuff! So she's staying with her sis in Christchurch for a few weeks, whilst Dion and I are lloking for work around Blenheim . . .

Got to bounce now, will try to get on this journal thingy a bit more often again, a good way of letting people know where I'm at. Even though I just email most of you and you email me instead of posting comments. Meh, whatever.

It's Been Too Long

stokeze — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:42:00 GMT

Ok, so ALOT has happened since I last wrote, been a bit manic.

In all honesty, I don't think I can remember it all!

Turned up at the accomodation, everyone was working so had a little while to settle in. Hitched a lift to the supermarket, and got some supplies in.

By the time I get back the peeps had finished work. They were all Asian. I was scared!! Na, it wasn't too bad to be fair, had a bit of a yarn to them all. They were all SOOO polite . . .

Later I met Dion, he works in the packhouse so finishes later. A KIWI, well a Maori to be exact. Have to admit I was relieved! He invited me over to meet his mates who were staying in a tent, Jamie and Kulham. Had good yarns and beers all night . . .

Christmas Day. Pretty much spent having a BBQ and drinking! Not the healthiest of days, but it's Kiwi tradition!! Had a brilliant laugh, got in pretty tight with Jamie, Dion & Kulham. Like my adopted family! Rained alot of the day :-(

Boxing Day we went to Dunedin. Not that great I have to say, apparently it's based on Edinburgh and has EXACTLY the same street layout, which means it also has the steepest road in the world!! To be honest it reminded me of English towns, full of fat people, immagrants and young girls with babies! It kinda rained all day aswell. . . Still was nice to have a ride out . . .

First day of work was alright, not really going to write alot about fruit picking, mainly because there isn't alot to say, and otherwise because I'm still bitter (keep reading . . .) Oh, would just like to say I pick like a MACHINE! Fastest by a mile. . .!

New Years. D bought me a ticket to go to see a Kiwi band called The Black Seeds. I refused to go because I couldn't affrod it, but him and Kulham forced me into the car! I didn't put up too much of a fight to be fair though . . .! Was an amazing night, lots of beer and good music :-) Jammed out at the fron the whole time, was mental! New Years day was a bit of dramarama, we had car troubles and spent the day in Wanaka by the lake with all our stuff from the night before (we slept in the car and a few random other places) so we had sleeping bags clothes all sorts. The pictures are on D's camera so will sort that when I see him.

Ok, so the fruit picking job ended badly. I get selectivley removed from the accomodation for no other reason than they wanted to make an example and 'it's my accomodation i'll do what i like with it' Well I wasn't going to put up with that, if I had done something wrong i would have put my hands up and found somewhere else to stay, but I hadn't, so I quit. . .

Did have alot of good times in Cromhell though, made some good mates and had some amazing nights out. . . I don't regret any of it. Aoart from not having an IRD number and getting taxed 47%. ARGHHHH!! Not even going to talk about that . . .

So on Sunday Dan and I went for a bit of a hike. 14km up, break, 14km run back down. So good to find someone else whos into this stuff. Were deffinately going to keep in touch . . . Then Alana gave me a lift into Queenstown in the eve. Dion and Dan came along so we all went out for a few drinks and pool after a MIGHTY fergburger . . .

Today, the 14th Jan, I've just been manicly, STILL, trying to sort my IRD number out beofre pay. It's not going to happen, ANOTHER 4days apparently . . . SO MAD!!

I haven't re-read any of this so it's probably a big ol' jumble, but it doesn't matter, I know what I mean. At the ends of the day I'm having an amazing time, the best EVER, I can't explain it! So thats all that matters :-)

Will try and write here more frequently now I can . . .

Gallery: CromHELL!

stokeze — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 12:27:00 GMT

Milford Track

stokeze — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 12:19:00 GMT

Hello hello,

So, the Milford Track. AMAZING!

I put some pictures up, but they really don't show anything. You couldn't ever hop to capture the beauty of the place in a camera. . .

It was the most amazing thing I have ever done in my life. I can't really put in words. It was just jaw droppingly beautiful.

Like normal, I forgot something, and it just so happened to be the booklet with the times and distances in etc etc. So, I'm just going to be winging it a bit here!

Day 1.

A 1hour ish boat journey to the start of the track, was pretttttty cold and windy on the top deck so spent most of the time down the bottom in the shelter from the wind, topping up the tan.

When we got off the boat we had to dip our feet in some bug killing liquid type stuff . . . Was pretty painless.

At first though, we had to wait for all the $2000 guided walkers to shift there asses off the boat. Then I stomped it out.

The first day was only like 5k, so nothing really, the track was pretty rocky. DOn't want to make it seem like a stroll around Woodbridge . . .

Got to the hut in about 35-40mins (again, I have this all written down, just not with me!!)

Spent the rest of the day chilling down in the F F F F F FREEEEEZING river and reading my book. The first nights dinner was a disaster. I thought I would be clever and take some sausages and bacon, fry them and have them with some little speggheti hoops. Though, schoolboy error, I forgot the oil or butter, so the just kinda burnt! Div. Was going to have the left-overs in a sandwich the next day. Oh well . . . Ended up having just the hoops and some trail mix peanuts raisons type things . . . Not all at once though! Then everyone was gathered in the 'mess hall' so we all had chats and did a puzzle, didn't talk to everyone though. SOMe people kept themselves to themselves and others were just annoying!!

Day 2.

Longer day today, think it was 15k. Did it in 4hours 12minutes. I am a tank!! No, I'm sure people have done it faster, but I was happy considering the stooooopid weight of my pack and the alien, to me, terrain. Was first there anyway, so was chuffed with myself. Decided that I would have my T early so I didn't get in the way or have to wait for everyone else, got cooking my pasta and spoke to the hut guy 'Bushy' he was a good guy. . . Then a woman called Hedda showed up next, we ended up having a goooood chat and found out she had lived in the UK for a while and is now married to an American and they live in LA. They have been travelling for 18months. Crazy!! He is and AVID surfer, so was hiking with one of his boards on a different track . . .

We found out from Bushy that there was a swimming hole, so headed down there, swam, again it was FREEEZING! So, I actuall just paddled . . . Did a bit of sunbathing. Then Hedda headed back to camp, I went and sat with a slightly older couple, both 60ish, called Roger and Sarah. They are amazing people, they were English but had lived and travelled some amazing places. Whilst we were sitting there gassing away we heard an almighty crack, and witnesed an ice glacier thing crumpling and causing an avalanche. Was crazy HUGE. Sadly was too slow on the old camera :-( We carried on gassing and there was another one, again too slow on the camera. Apparently it is really rare to see them, and now I've seen two!

That night Hedda let slip that it was my Birthday and the American families I'd become friendly with the night before mad me 'pudding' which is actually Angel Delight and sang Happy Birthday, was really nice and felt CRAZY embarressed! We all played cards for a bit then headed to the sack. Hedda and me chatted for a bit and read our books then I opened my cards (mum, yours was class!!) and ate my birthday crunchie I had packed.

Day3.

Think it was about 14k

Apparently the most difficult day, it was, big old slug uphill. Though it was rewarded with unbelievable views. This is where the toilet and the Hut are . . . Was cold at the summit, so Hedda an me sat in the hut and had hot chocolate and waited for the cloud to dissapear, it did, but not completely. Bit of a shame, but still got some goooood pictures and amazing memories. . .

Headed off on the down hill (just like to say that I did walk most of it by myself, because I was sooooo sppppppppppeeeeeeeeeddddddddyyyyyy! I knew Hedda was behind me so I waited for her, though to be fair, she was uber speedy too. . .)

The downhill was horrible, I didn't realize how far it would be, we actually wentt down something like 900m, which is hard on the knees. Took me just under 2hours I think. When I got to the bottom I left my pack in a little hut, and headed off to Sutherland falls, which is fantastic. Its HUGE! Took about 20mins to run there, yes I ran!! (again, I'm a tank, right?! :-P) It's 580m high, and the force and power it created were immence. The walk/run upto it was all in forst, and as soon as you got close and the trees cleared you got soaked, and I mean soaked. Like normal the water was FRRRREEEEEEZING and the falls created its own wind which made it worse. ANyways, like a true hero, I headed under. Later found out that not everyone did, and the people that did wore waterproofs. I was in my shirt and shorts. Tough guy :-P Wasn't actually that great, just cold wet and painful. Totally worth it though, not many people can say they got slapped about by a waterfall!

I headed/squelched back to the pack shelter and waited for Hedda, then we both walked down to the falls again. We took a few pictures of each other infront of it, though I think I might have accidently deleted them :-( Hedda didn't fancy going under at that point, but she went back later . . .

Ended up sunbathing at the pack shelter for a couple of hours then tanked it to the next proper hut. Shotgunned a couple of bunks for Hedda ( who I think was about 30ish by the way) and me then got some early eats. Pasta and leftover tommy sauce. Classic.

ARGHGGGGGGGG!! The page just refreshed and I lost everything after this. Going to be brief now, because I've been on the net for ages and I'm hungry . . .

Met another lad called Tom, had good chats.

Hedda, Tom n me went for swims in the water, was the best water so far, slightly warmer, still frezzing, just slightly less!

Day 4

Good old hike today 18k I think. Was ill in the morning :-(

Sucked it up though and stomped it out to catch up with Hedda and Tom. We tramped for a bit and stopped at Giants gateway, or something similar, for eats. Went for a last swim, where I stupidly jumped about 8ft into the water and landed on a rock. Div! REALLY REALLY hurt. Ended up hobling the last bit, was alright though, had good chats with Tom n Hedda.

Got to the boat back to civilisation JUST in time. Took about 20mins to get to the land, all of us got on a coach, then split up at Te Anua. We said our goodbyes. Was actually V. sad. Though, I'm going up the North Island sometime soon. Going to stay with Tom and he is gunna teach me to surf.

Also got an invite to go stay with Hedda and her Husband, Mike, in LA whenever I want. Even in a years time.

All in all had the best time EVER. Maybe the best thing I have ever done in my life. .. So far :-)

Annoyed with this PC now so I'm off before I cry!

Oh, and I had my hair cut. Nice!

H x

Gallery: Milford Track

stokeze — Sat, 22 Dec 2007 11:36:00 GMT

Te Anau + The Weekend

stokeze — Mon, 17 Dec 2007 13:25:00 GMT

The Weekend.

Saturday had to get up early, like half7, but it was for a good cause. I was going canyoning baby!! Was brilliant.

Got picked up in a little people carrier/van/thing, there's hundreds of the things about. The day was looking gooooooood, sunny, and hot already. Got down to where we were staring off (we = Holly, Lizzie and moi) and had a hell of an experience putting wet wetsuits on. That doesn't really read right, but I know what I mean. . .! After a quick 'Safety Briefing' which onvolved throwing people in the water and taking pictures, we were off. I got picked first for everything because I was being lairy, but I didn't mind, it was all a reet laugh.

At one point, about midway through, there was a 4-5m jump into a pool, which nearly everyone did, again me first. Then we all had the option to do a 10-12m jump. I was the only one mad enough to do it. Was mental, had to attach my harness to the ropes and climb, and I mean proper climb, to the the 'platfrom'. Which was moving mud and a big rock. Was told where to aim for and that there was no room for error. Then counted in and went for it. Was brilliant!! Got a video of it and some other pictures on a disc, but I don't want everything on here. Wont have anything to show you when I get back otherwise . . .

Today 17/12/07

Ok, so, Te Anau. Yer, well, it aint all that. The lake, which is the largest in the South Island and the second largest in the whole of New Zealand, is amazing. Especially with the mountains surronding it, it's just picture perfect. Almost fairytale. Just the town itself lets it down a bit. Not alot happening, the place I'm staying in is WEIRD . . . HOLIDAY PARK!! I'm the only person in a whole hallway of about 20 rooms. All the lights are off down there, it's creepy! Oh well only one night. . .

Just got the last little things for the 'tramping' I'm about to do, suncream, bread and batteries. Good night in, eh?! My pack probably weighs between 11-13kg, most of that is food though, so when I get to Milford it will be more like 6kg!!

Forgot my memory card, otherwise I would have put some more pictures up.

This will be the last little entry for about 4-5days now, but rest assured I will be back boring your eyes with this stuff soon :-)

This is the THIRD time I've written this, needless to say, the first was the best! So I hope this one loads properly. . .

Harry.

Gallery: Canyoning

stokeze — Sat, 15 Dec 2007 14:36:00 GMT

Milford Sound look out + Put some photos up

stokeze — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 14:12:00 GMT

Just come into eCafe in Queenstown proper. Booked my trip to Milford Sound about 5mins ago. COME ON!

Got a 4day/3night hike staying in little huts. Have to catch a bus on Tuesday morning at 6.55am down to Te Anau. Think it's going to take a couple of hours, then I got the day there and a night in a SINGLE room at 'Lakeview Holiday Park'. So the actual hike dates, distances and times are:

Day one - 18/12/07 (excluding getting the bus then boat to the start point) Glade Wharf to Clinton Hut, 5km, 1-1.5hours

Day two - Clinton Hut to Mintaro Hut, 16.5km, 6hours

Day three - Mintaro Hut to Dumpling Hut, 14km, 6-7hours. With a side trip to Sutherland Falls which is 1 and half hours return.

Day four - Dumpling Hut to Sandfly Point, 18km, 5.5-6hours.

Thats it. Going to be tough, and wet, but VERY worth it. Supposedly the most beautiful track in New Zealand :-)

After all that I'm coming back here, to Queenstown, for a few more days and them I'm off to Cromwell for my job.

Got to get a couple of things for the trip, like food and a waterproof liner for my bag. Yes Mum and John, you were right!

. . .

So apart from booking those things up, I haven't really done alot today, Lizzy, Holly and I went and mooched about the town for a bit and played some cards. There now off Rafting on Shotover, I think.

Going to go and see if my simcard has arrived yet, there's only 1phoneshop here in Queenstown and only 1Network in the whole of New Zealand (I think!!) So they don't have huge stock levels of simcards...

Thats enough rambling, for now.

I'll type again soon.

Oh yer, put a few of the MANY MANY pictures I've taken on here somewhere. . .!

Gallery: New Zealand

stokeze — Fri, 14 Dec 2007 13:47:00 GMT

Hungover and Hiking

stokeze — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 11:58:00 GMT

Thursday 13/12/07

Got up, needless to say, feeling a little worse for wear! Grabbed a quick breakfast and jumped on the net to print out my Visa. Yip, thats right, I got here without a paper Visa. Go Team! Went and made some lunchies for the trip.

Headed out to the bank armed with passport etc etc. Got an appointment sraight away. Which I thought would help the leaving early. It didn't. It took AGGGGGGGGGGGGGGES! Fair play to the woman though, she was only doing her job, and she was chatty so that helped. Finally got my account sorted and got a card.

By the time I had gone back up the Skyline Gondola and got started on the track it was 5to12. So long for an early sart on what was supposed to be an 8hour 'intense/VERY physical' return. Started off alright, nice weather for it, slightly cloudy but still warmish. About 2/3 of the way up I met Sarah, a resident Kiwi and ended up walking at her pace the rest of the way. Had good chat though, so was well worth it. Was my longest and highest ever climb, can't remember exactly what it was. It's callen Ben Lomod though. . . Anyways, got to the top. Un-fricking-believiably cloudy. Gutted. Sill, managed to get a few photos and was well worth the hike. Had some lunch a the top. Left Sarah and jogged back. Where I could when I didn't have to climb. Don't want to make it sound too easy, I genuinely was breathing out my arse for most of it! In total, including lunch, it took me 3 and 1/2 hours. My ego is BOOOOOOOOSTED!!

Got back and had a big old Sub meal for T. Couldn't be bothered to cook. When I got in the dorm, Lizzy and Holly where back. They had a few leaflets out and talked me into going Canyoning with them on Saturday. Should be a laff. . . They wern't up for going out, so we got some booze in and played cards 'till stupid O'clock.

My head HURTS my eyes are bloodshot, but I'm loving it. Hope everything is ok with everyone in UK? Should be able to get some photies up and some personal emails out soon.

Also, while I think about it, the last entries have been me typing up whats happened in the last few days. I've written all the entries so far, today, which is the 14th. . . Will try and keep it realtime now if I can.

Don't Drink and Paraglide

stokeze — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 11:20:00 GMT

Wednesday 12/12/07

So, now I've had a good look around the hosel, it's really nice. Tidy, HUGE kitchen, clean toilets and friendly staff. The view from the bedroom window is slightly blocked by trees, but I can still see the lake and the mountains AND the cloud! Yip, it's cloudy here too, bit of rain both days so far :-(

So, today, headed down o the kichen about 9ish, was packed out. Sill managed to get the emergency ration of Cheerios in (thanks John!!).

Headed into town slightly later, was quiet first thing in the morning, which was good, go to get my bearings a bit and take some photos without random people in them! Went into some banks to get some info and a few little shops. Grabbed a Sub, was still STARVING after the food served on the plane, and ate it by the lakefront. Sat and watched some people go out on the Jet boat, looks gooooooooooood.

Looked a tmy map a little bit and decided it would be good to go around the little park, turned out to be really prey, got a few more picures taken. The geography here means I managed to take a picture looking across to my hostel. . .

Decided it was time to do something a little interesting so headed for the Skyline Gondola, which I think goes up Bobs Peak. Takes about 4mins, when it doesn't stop!!

Geoff, who was now another roomie jumped in the gondola with me, hes a really sound guy. Works 9months a year and travels 3. Lucky bastard!

Got to the top and both took some pictures, AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! At the top theres all sorts of atracions. I spotted a hike and got set in mind to do it tomorrow. Decided to do a few fun things first. So went down something called a 'luge'. Basically just like little go-karts without the engine. Was a bit special, but never the less fun. Was lunchtime, in my little jet lagged world, by the time I'd finished pissing around on kiddies rides! So went into the resturant (I can NEVER spell that word!) and grabbed some eats. On that note they have a really good system where you pay, they give you a little disc, you walk off and hen it vibrates your order is ready and you go collect it. Clever hover.

Geoff joined me at his point and I told him I was thinking of doing the tandem Paragliding, he managed to woffle on for a bit whilst I built up the courage to do it!! Didn't have to wait at all, at the begining, was just pay and go. Headed up to the VERY top of Bobs Peak, which was tough going! I think the guys name was Chris, got it written down somewhere, anyways we'll call him Chris. So, Chris gave me the lowdown, we got the gear out, helmets out, strapped in etc etc. Then it sarted raining!! Bloody typical, there's me bricking it and wanting to get on and it starts raining!! Ended up hiding in the forest for a bit untill it passed. Got out, from the forest, and the wind had changed, walked to the other side of the ridge and got kitted up again. The wind changed again. Garr!! So, we legged it over the other side, kit on, sail in hand and just rand down the hill and jumped!! Was an AMAZING feeling, joined with AMAZING views. Then it started raining . . . ! Still didn't ruin it at all. Got to fly it and Chris did some crazy ass acrobatics. Only lasted 10mins, but was still the best $170 I've spent.

Got some pictures and a little video clip on a disc, so will try and get those and all the others up on here when I'm a a computer the will let me. The 'T' sticks on this keyboard too . . .

Anyways, after that I went shopping came back bagged it and tagged it and went to put my stuff back in my dorm.

Two new residents, Holly 21 and Lizzy 20. Had a little chat then lef them to sort out their stuff. I left them to cook, thats right, my first cooked meal. I decided I would cook something local, to Italy, and had Spag Bol. Classic. turned out alright, eating alone is lonely :-(

Headed back upto the room, Holly & Lizzy had eaten before they got here, from Chrischurch, so we decided it would be good to go get some drinks in. Headed to Pug Mahonees first. Irsih Pub!! Which looks alot like the ones in the UK... Had a couple of pints there, then headed to a club. Tim and Nicole had left me some 2for1 drinkies vouchers so we went to he Buffalo Club, was a bit dead in there, even after more drinkies, so went to The World Bar, again, a little slow. Was a Wednesday night though . . . Had some more drinks played some pool and headed back about 2am.

First Entry

stokeze — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 11:18:00 GMT

Ok, this is he first time I'm writing here, I'm going o make it prety detailed because this is going to be my only record . . . If its too detailed for you, don' read it. Simple!!

The flying was horrible (so I'm not typing much about it) but hey, I don't care, I'm HERE and your cold! :-P

Tuesday 11/12/07

Arrived at YHA Queenstown Lakefront, was put into room 12. Unbelieviably knackered at this point so stomped the sairs to get to bed ASAP. When I got to the room, dorm of 6, there were only 2beds taken. They were taken by a mid thirties couple, Tim & Nicole. Got talking to them and found out they'd been travelling for 16months now. After a LONG chat they offered to cook me dinner, naturally I said yes! Think we had stir fry, can't really remember, anyways I got out of cooking and the washing up!

Got back to the room and had a few beers with them as it was their last night in Queenstown, then just zonked out. Have no idea what the time was. Woke up about 9am and they'd already gone. They left me their email address, tucked into my shoe, and told me to keep in conact. . .