A weekend at sea

This weekend I turned nautical.

I rose early on Saturday morning to go to the boat house with Ben to pick up a couple of sea kayaks. We had a bit of a pulava with getting them out of the shed and into the borrowed estate car we had borrowed from Bens friend. This was because someone had moved a load of furniture infront of the door. Also because one of the kayaks was full of water from its last outing.

Anyway we got the kayaks and picked up some bait -frozen squid I sat on whilst driving to defrost the squid and frost bite my gentlemans quatres- and arrived to meet Simon at Glenduan.

We set off kayak fishing.

It was a beautiful setting in the ever calm Tasman sea, ringed in by mountains. 

I caught sod all.

Simon caught a sand shark and tossed it to me, still alive, to fillet for fresh bait.

I tried to kill the small shark humanely. I placed the tip of my blade at the base of its skull and hit the butt of the knife with the heel of my hand. Still the shark flapped and squirmed. I flipped him over and did the same on the other site. This time through his thought rather than spinal cord. With another thump and a 5 minuet wait he was still flapping around in frenzy. So I proceeded to continue my hole and cut half his head off. 

Still he twisted and flapped.

I gutted him and removed one fillet from his rugged back, I was able to easily control him now. The trashing had stopped so I took a good look at this sand paper covered mini shark. What sharp teeth he had. I wonder what they feel like...

The shark with no internal organs, head half removed, and stripped on one side, who's blood filled my kayak; bit me!

This was not the only fun we had. After I had jutted the shark and used him for fresh bait we spotted a pod of killer whales around 200 meters away, then 50 meters away, then 10 Meyers away from Simons kayak. He shit himself. But they didn't come any closer.

We returned to shore after nearly four hours at sea with nothing more than the flesh of a zombie sand shark.

Ben and I are greeted by a spindley thin man with a clipboard and binoculars; Simon decided to stay out fishing for an hour more. The man worked for the department of conservation. Someone had called him saying we had been fishing in the marine reserve, which we hadn't. Before I could try and chat our way out of it Ben kicked off. Shouting and swearing. It didn't get us anywhere, obviously. Eventually I gave him a couple of fake names and addresses and we went on our way.

After dropping off the kayaks at the boat house and having a shower I met up with Simon again and we went and picked up Olivia, another friend from work and we went to play frisbee golf. I had instructed Liv to buy the cheapest frisbees. They were beyond shite... The smaller one needed no technique, just pretend your hurling a wet paper plate and you've got the technique. Simon had bought a fancy one so we rotated between us, whoever won got to use the good disc on the next hole. It was really good fun and surprisingly compettative. With the last hole deciding who buys the ice creams, I enjoyed a lovley banana-choc on Simon. Moral of the story, never share your kit.

We then went down to the beach and played mini golf. I won again with a hole in one on the final hole!

We had a cider in a craft beer pub near by before heading home.

The next day, Sunday I started off at 6am watching the England v All Blacks game. What a tight one, I lost the money I had bet on England to win by three points!

As soon as the final whistle blew I shot off to the port just in time for Waka paddling. I went out with a novice crew paddling on Maori outrigger canoes. It was really good fun I was the 'engine room' at third seat and really enjoyed being chosen to call the 'hup' every 13 strokes when we needed to change sides.

After a good hour of paddling we got back to the port. Just in time for me to run down the waterfront to jetty B where Suze, a fellow Physio from work, had roped me in to help sail a yaught with her. By help I mean make tea and act as a ballast for any tight cornering we had to do. 

It was great fun on the open sea. Suze, Judith, Geoff and I ended coming in fourth after handicap in the 5 hour race which we were delighted with. We had a lot of fun listening to Van Morrison and at one point I got very confused as Judith -although I later found out was talking to Geoff- looked straight at me with her Sunneys on and asked me to lift her up. I was perplexed. She then added, "yes could you just lift me up and switch the gas?" I thought why doesn't she just lift her own bum cheek the lazy cow? I asked her how I should lift her and we all laughed for quite some time. My other colleagues also got a laugh when Suze told everyone on Monday morning!

After a quick BBQ back at the yaught club I gave my car a quick wash to help it sell and retired home for a well earned rest after a very busy weekend!

Nelson lakes

My first weekend of freedom for two months! 

The makos U19 season has finished so I was super keen to make the most of the sunny weekend and get outdoors! 

My car wasn't so keen!

My battery, I later found out, had a charge of 70 rather than 300 like it is supposed to! But dammit I wanted a weekend away! So we set off anyway -in total I had 7 jump starts from strangers this weekend-.

I woke up early on Saturday morning and picked up Stephanie to go to Lake Chalace, in the mount Richmond national park. We got ourselves and bikes into the car and after a short consultation with the map decided to go in completely the opposite direction and go to Lake Rotoiti instead!

What a fantastic idea that was. What a wonderful part of the world we had traveled to. A glassy, clear glacial lake surrounded by lush green woodland backed by distant snow peaked mountains. The stuff dreams are made of.

This was Stephanie's first experiance hiking, or apparently being even close to a tree. So it took some time to repack her bag. Taking out the hair dryer and six clothing options for the next day that she wanted me to carry for 10km each day.

So we were off! 

After ten minuets or so we were trapped between the lake and the dense undergrowth as I had tried to find us a more scenic route lakeside. After finding a rugged wooded corridor to traverse to return us to the track I was absorbed by a sour marsh. I put my foot in to a bog patch nearly up to my knee and was no where near the bottom. Somehow I managed to stop the sink and not plummet in face first but relieve my foot from the peutrid mud. After a quick dip in the lake I resigned to slop on with a sopping wet shoe for the rest of the day.

After an hour or so's ramble through the tranquil lakeside trees, traversing the occasional stream, we stopped for a lunch break on a small secluded pebble beach.

As a relief from the sand fly bites we took a dip to protect our legs! 

Glacier lakes are very, very cold...

Just before sunset we arrived at lake end hut. A delightful little wooden cabin where we would be spending the night.

I did the manly thing and built and tended to the fire. Even if one of the other hikers did join in right at the end to steal all of my manly glory!

I stocked the fire well just before we went to sleep. A little too well as in an hours time it was so swelteringly hot in the little hut I had to shed my sleeping bag and shirt!

We hiked back, enjoying the sunshine, the next day after a leasurely wake up. 

Feeling a bit sweaty and grotty when we arrived back to the car park so I took a full dunk in the lake. I couldn't tempt Stephanie in this time though! 

When we arrived back the car battery was flat again... I went off chasing cars to eventually come back with a very pleasant old couple who gave us a jump.

We then drove over to Blenheim to watch the rugby after a short chill by the river. Stephanie didn't fancy the game so I went on my own.

It was a good game but unfortunately the Tasman Makos ended up loosing so we drove back just in time to bid farewell to Anja, our friend from the hostel, at her leaving party.

Fins up for the Makos!

The last two months have been pretty dominated by work as it's the ITM Cup season. Or the NZ premiership. I've been working with the Tasman Makos under 19s team which has been a lot of fun.

We spent six weeks playing friendlies and pool games, traveling all over the south island to play. My favourite was playing against the Canterbury Maori in Kaikora. They did an awesome Haka to start the game off. And we won, which is always pretty nice.

The season culminated in a week long trip to Taupo, on the north island. We played three games and managed to lose one, playing into 60kmph winds in the second half. We won one against a South Auckland team and then drew with Auckland B team.

We had a lot of fun on the trip, I went on a couple of runs, watched some good, fast, running rugby and made a lot of friends who I hope make it into super XV jerseys in the future.

Mount Arthur

What a fantastic adventure!

I got up at 6am on Sunday morning to drive to the base of Mount Arthur; 1786m of mountain. I drove for an hour and a half into the rugged and untouched Kahurangi national park. My drive was made more enjoyable as around each corner I could see the pinks, purples, reds and blues of a spectacular sunrise bro help me start my adventure.

Off out of the car I went and with M people greatest hits in my headphones off I went on my snowy winter land walk. The first hour and a half was through snow clad trees, knitting together above me creating a Narnia environment. I got caught in the moment and tried to make friends with a snow duck (probably not its real name) and it bit my finger!

Then I got to the Hut before the real hike started and sat down for a nice sandwich.

Then off I went with two doctors from the hospital I had met at the hut. I felt more than a little underprepared, hiking through the knee deep snow in trainers with nothing but a bottle of fanta. They had ice axes, fancy boots, crampons the works! 

At one point I dropped hip deep in the snow like the vicar of dibbley. I also slipped on the ice a couple of times rather comically.

The views were out of this world. I can't begin to do them justice with descriptions. The pictures below are ace, but do not give anywhere near an accurate representation of how amazing it was. Snow capped peaks around me giving way to lush dense mountainous hillsides with the turquoise blue Tasman sea nestled in the arms of the golden bay. The distant city of Nelson just visible sitting between the farther, distant mountains and the calm sea.

As I looked up the vivid blue of the sky changes, it deapens. It's not a darkness you associate with bat weather but more like a denser blue. Like a small bit of midnight sky trying to breakthrough to the day.

The final 300 meters were pretty intense. Scrambling along steep hill sides, kicking into the deep snow making foot holds to stop me slipping 20-30 foot down the snow bank. Approaching the summit was a 20 meter sheer climb in the arctic conditions. Kicking and punching into the snow I lead the boys up the snowy cliff. Heaving myself up onto the ledge we had a short walk to the cloudy peak where we enjoyed a cup of hot chocolate for our efforts.

That evening I spent 3 hours in the hot tub trying to nurse my tired legs. The beers were important also...

Being an animal and seeing the animals

Last week I went out for my friend Mike's 30th birthday. 

It was a 'shit shirt' theme. So I went in my best 14 year old boys comic book pyjama shirt. We played a few drinking games and had a good old dance. I think we dominated the dance floor because of our awesome moves that no one else could compete with. Rather than being weird, shit and terrifying.

Nick, Liv and I went to the night club (little rock) and continued to do shots for about an hour before taking on their dance floor. We very soon had a very roomy section to move for some unknown reason. Then on kicking out time we decided to jump in a strangers car. Who had clearly come to pick up their daughter.

We hopped in and politely asked; "so, where are we off to?" There was a lot of screaming. Apparently two males in their late twenties getting in the back of your car and asking you to drive can be quite traumatic. Even if we were both dressed like Noel Edmonds.

Eventually we got out and the screaming subsided. They then shouted out their window that we were idiots and could have been driven off and raped and killed. I responded with the only natural answer to that theory. I pulled my top up, rubbed my nipple biting my other finger and said to the huge middle aged Maori woman "well maybe you should have done. I'm sure we would have both liked it..." Before we ran away laughing.

I then gate crashed my neighbours house keeping them up till 6 in the morning talking shit.

On Friday this week Dave and I went to nature land zoo. We wanted to see the oldest reptile species in the world. It also has three eyes. Unfortunatly it was hibernating.

We still had a good time. Whilst we were in the avery I got talking to a keeper who showed us round. We got to talk to a parrot, have another parrot on our shoulder and hold two of the Australian lizards. Pretty cool all in all.

Saturday night I went and watched an English folk band in a Mongolian Yurk with my French friend Coliene. 

I also got the job as under 19s Physio for the Tasman Mako's Physio this week

Good times, flying by

I've settled down in Nelson really well. The last month has flown by.

I've been doing exciting things most days but it's hard to report on them when your living a (moderately) normal life.

So here is a smattering of anecdotes and what I've been up to.

Firstly on the rugby front I've done my initiation. I took it like a little girl! 

The initiation was to eat a spoon of cinnamon. You may be thinking the same as me; what a piece of piss! I've done much worse, this is neither degrading, disgusting or physically dangerous.

Incorrect.

I strutted up to the back of the bus on the way back from Blenham. I'd just finished eating a mc-ice cream and I'm not going to lie, I was feeling pretty confident I was going to look pretty hard in a few moments time. As I took the heaped tablespoon, amid the jeers, lads were shouting at me to chew it. I've been around rugby lads for a while. Hey, I am a rugby lad. So I assumed they were trying to screw me over for their amusement. So I tried to swallow the whole heap in one go.

The powder congealed in my throat instantly. I coughed and blew it out of my nose. Then the bike came, ah what a lovely taste! As I choked, puffing orange smoke like an asthmatic dragon I threw up and swallowed it. Then I sucked myself tall, tears in my eyes and swallowed the whole lot (again). 

Somehow I had managed to fully line my sinuses with cinnamon. I had to sit quietly full two hours blowing reddy brown grunge out of my nose! 

Then I had a bad sinus headache the whole next day. So I spent my only day off in bed achey while Jack enjoyed rabbit island and ultimate frisbee on the beach.

To make matters worse the Jackson uploaded a video of the sorry attempt so all the lads who weren't there could bully me too.

The other two new guys chewed it like they were told and ate it with no more than a hiccup!

I also went paddle boarding with a friend from work. It was great fun. I took to it pretty well and after a while I was plowing through the mirror calm Nelson sea with enthusiasm. I even stopped to have a bit of a yarn to Suze. Bad idea. A boat drove behind me and the swell turned my bored into a bar of soap. Squirting out from under me. I hit my arse on the board and slapped backwards into the freezing winter ocean. I wasn't even wearing a wet suit, just my rugby gear.

Freezing I got straight back on and got back into the swing of it. 

We swapped boards on the way back, which was fun. As the tallest, and least confident, I slid along the floating boards like a soggy manatee with a paddle.

The pub after that one was a welcomed respite!

I also went mountain biking in Kaiteriteri today with Mike and Sara from work. It was brilliant. Trudging up Candace's massive hill back home after work has paid off. I was flying up the tracks. I really enjoyed whizz ing up and down though the woods, over little jumps and out on cliff faces with stunning vistas.

I've also moved house. Out of the Donovan's luxury lodge and into a small room in a private block out the back of a hostel in town. It's pretty nice, I've put some photos up on the wall and feel quite at home. My housemate Dave, a chef from Canada, is really really nice and we went out with a couple of other lads for a few games of pool on my first day.

I've been a bit of a recluse though as I've been doing a lot of extra work at a national multi-sport tournament going on over the last fortnight.

Well, aside from a few pub quizzes and judo - I'm getting a bit worse at the former and better at the latter- I'm working a fair bit and just generally enjoying the New Zealand lifestyle, running, cycling and getting in the great outdoors!

Flying with out wings

What a difference a day can make to your whole perception of life!

I've been really down over the last few weeks as I felt, with Jack leaving, I had no friends and am becoming isolated. Don't get me wrong I've met and get on with loads of people. But I've not been able to meet anyone who wants to hang out our of work or organised sporting activities.

Then Sunday rolled round. 

We met up with Jeremy a guy from Judo and went up to Motueka for a helicopter ride!

We got all strapped in, unfortunately jack won rock paper scissors and got the front seat. We got miked up and took off! 

It was really cool, we zoomed around picking up a few g's and got really close to a couple of mountains. We even saw some people dirt biking so we dropped down and the pilot held the chopper near horizontal so we could watch.

After the ride we all decided that packing in our jobs and becoming helicopter pilots was the only sensible thing to do!

We then drove over to tahunanui beach to play frisbee. It was really good fun -except that I still can't throw the bloody thing!- and we went for a beer -or in my case an alcoholic lemonade- after and had a really good time with the other guys in the club.

After the fun of the day Jack and I went home to play the intros game for about an hour!