Going to Queenstown with an aching heart.
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Well its that time again. As some of you have probably noticed, I haven't been as in touch as much as I would like.
About three and a half weeks ago I rode into a town called Waipara. It is your standard small town, New Zealand style. Just a few houses bunched around an intersection, and a pub. It was raining out and I was pretty hungry, so I decided to pull over and grab a burger. There were a few things I liked about this pub. First of all, the burger was made American style. I know you probably are thinking you cant tell the difference between one burger and the next but kiwis just make them different, its hard to explain. I soon found out the reason: the cook was American. Not only that but Californian, from Fresno. He was a nice guy, and we talked over beer for a while. All the while, sitting at the table behind him was two pretty dark skinned girls, speaking some kind of spanish. The rain just kept coming down harder and harder, so it looked like I would be there for a while. The Californian noticed my wandering eyes. “Hey man, I'll give you the beers for $4 (as opposed to 6) if you go over that and talk to those girls!” “I dont know if I can handle it” I said. “But I'll try.” So I took my time finishing my burger, and quickly downed another 24 oz. I pushed myself away from the table and started to get up when an enormous shock wave almost knocked me off my feet. A bright flash came in through the windows, and the lights went out and were swinging back and forth from the ceiling. The railroad crossing bells were going off, but no train was coming. The girls were screaming and my eyes were a mile wide. It was the closest I have ever been to lightning, it struck just a few meters outside the pub! It must be an omen, I thought. But lightning usually means something bad is going to happen, and I was about to go try my luck with the girls. I pondered it for about a millisecond but approached their table anyway. We all took a while to calm down, and then got to talking. I learned that they werent speaking Spanish, but Portuguese, and were from Brazil. Thier names were Patricia and Caroline. They were working on the Vineyards there in Waipara. The beers kept coming as it got later and later. And just like its supposed to happen in the movies, they invited me back to their place to continue the party. I was a little nervous but decided it was too good an opportunity to give up. They lived in a moderately sized house a few kilometers away. Everyone there was Brazilian so it was pretty intimidating, but they seemed interested in what I had to talk about and laughed at my jokes (not sure if they really understood what I was saying or just being polite) As time wore on, people started retiring. Work tomorrow, they said. Only Patricia and Caroline remained. We BS'd for another half hour before they asked if I was going to stay the night. I told them, honestly, that I had no other place to go, and that could I pitch a tent in the lawn for the night if thats ok. They laughed at that and very slyly informed me that “what kind of hosts would we be to make you sleep outside.”
I stayed the next day because one of the guys there, Rafael, a small brazillian boy with a permanent grin and high pitched voice was having a birthday party. There was a barbecue, which was amazing, thin strips of meat seasoned and cooked over a wood fire, and beer, of course. Patricia and I really hit it off and it was pretty obvious to everyone there that something might be happening. I stayed another night with plans to keep riding the next morning.
Patricia was visibly sad, but bid me farewell. I said goodbye to everyone, and rode away. I felt like something wasnt quite right, and I kept thinking about Patricia all day. When I got to the next town Waikari that night, and was ready to go to sleep in my bag, the itch became too much.
I picked up my phone and gave her a call:
“Hey Patricia, I have an idea! Lets go to Christchurch and spend a night there, just for fun.” She thought it was a great idea, so I booked a bus and met her the next day.
Christchurch was extremely fun. We went out to the bars like usual, but this time I had a girl with me, so it was a completely different experience. She is an amazing dancer and looking at her I started noticing that she was one of the more beautiful people in the city.
The next day we went back to Waikari, and I prepared myself to say goodbye, once again. Of course, I just couldn't do it. I told her I would stay with her and work on the vineyards. She was ecstatic, and so was I, if a little nervous. And that was that.
The last few weeks have been amazing. Never felt anything like it. Its just good. Also, I've been working 12 hours a day, sometimes more, in the fields. Its been good money, I've saved over $1000 in 3 weeks. However, I still need to get to Queenstown, to complete my quest. So once again I'm packing my bags and heading out. I've made plans to meet Patricia in QT in a month, but you never know those kind of plans. She seems pretty sad and I cant say I'm super happy about leaving either but some things can't change, eh? All I can really do is look forward to completing my bike trip and hope that I see Patricia again, that would be ideal. We hope to travel together for a few months after Queenstown.
So theres my story. Its a little rushed and I'm sure I left a lot out, but you get the idea. More pics?
Oh, and a video for y'all:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db2rNT8Ydo0
Letter to my mum
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Hey mum! You guessed right, my cell battery ran out right in the middle of a conversation with Olivia! I was so pissed, I threw the phone at a grape vine! Anyways, Olivia sounded really stoked about the the weekend so it brightened me up and made the time pass quickly afterwards. Hung out the whole time with Biezad huh.? Tsk Tsk. It was cool to hear he is well too. If you havent figured it out yet Im out in the boonies. I'ts hard to do much of anyhting out here, except to work, so its an ideal place for work. Mainly because there is nothing here, so no place to spend money, which also means no place to use computers, and the cell reception is usally absent as well as you noticed! By the way its starting to get very cold here already, I think El Nino is coming this year do you think. The kiwis said the summer never really came here in New Zealand, it never stopped raining! I So anyway Im really anxious, I mean REALLY anxious to get going again, because its getting colder and colder and I need to keep travelling South where its colder and colder the farther you go. Yikes! So I've been working on average 11 hours a day to save up a bunch of money so I can zoom down south as fast as I can for 2 weeks and then turn around and follow the sun back north all in one sweep I've maide over 1k in two weeks!. I think next Friday I'm going to gather my things and ride into Christchurch, spend a night and then head off into uncharted territorry again. I cant wait! Oh and tell my friends that they dont have to tell you that they still think of me to make you feel better ; ) So hows life? How fast is the time passing at home? I hope it flys as fast as me as a bike because that means your having fun. By the way, do you still want to send a package? Cause I think I'll leave soon, but if you send it soon I'll wait as long as it takes to get it. I heard Andy came by the other day, when I heard the message on my phone I had to laugh when he said he was hanging out with you. Nice to hear another familiar voice! Anyway, I'm going to head out for a whie, I'm at another worker's house, all the people here are Brazillian! Its pretty… trippy. From Waipara with love, Austin.
By the way I edited it a little for facebook!
La vida loca!
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Hey ya'll!
I've been riding my ass off for about a week and I am now finally in Christchurch! Its been a good trip, good riding, good people, good everything. I dont have many words that can describe it. I let the pictures do the talking.
12 hour madness
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Well now that I have control of my fingers enough to type again I figure I'd tell you about this weekend, and the Blues Brews and BBQ festival. This is kiwi drinking culture at its best!
I will spare you the details, although I could tell you more if you want to know, but Im sure nobody wants to know. Although I will tell you I have a bloody hand, a severly bruised hip and 2 girls that now look at me funny whenever I see them.
The drinking started at 2 in the afternoon, and didnt stop until 2 that night.
It was really fun.
Later all.
Rest in peace, SS Waverly
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Hey dad this one is for you!
Today, unlike most days in sunny Blenheim, turned out to be an exciting day. Sitting around the backpacker is no fun, so me and 2 of my friends decided to go for a walk in the Wairau lagoons, basically where all the sewage from the town goes to get processed. Little did we know there was a shipwreck waiting for us down by the sea! What they were thinking trying to navigate through the swamp I do not know, but it a sight to see!
I noticed a strange feature. If you look at the 3rd photograph, you’ll notice there is a huge gaping hole in the hull. All the metal around it is also bent inwards, now, I’ve played a few videogames in my life, and I can tell you thats no regular decay! I think this ship was sunk by a human enemy.
The SS waverly is decaying and sad, its only crew is small crabs and spiders, with the occasional backpacker. But I still think shes impressive, take a look for yourself!
The days go by...
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Hey guys just wanted to put more pictures up. I’ve been working really hard and saving a lot of money but its not easy. Just a few more weeks and I should have enough mula to keep going. The people here are really fun and I’ve met some people I will never forget. Can’t wait to tell you about them when I get back, because the story is far from finished.Anyhoo, heres some pictures from work. Subsitute the vines for flowers and it looks just like the fields in HMB!
Smoko break!
Wire lifting in the sun.
Trying to catch some shade during the lunch break.
Finally! The after work beer rush!
Trying to look happy about my severly sunburnt face, and its ridiculous treatment: natural yoghurt. Girls know best.
Wellington
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I’ve been hanging out in the Capitol city of New Zealand, Wellington, for the last 2 days. Its everything a capitol should be, artistic, cultured, awe inspiring and rich. Its also immaculately clean, no garbage, no bums. Except for one, but hes a happy bum with dreds that just lays around on the sidewalk by my hostel in nothing but his man thong.
I visited the Parliment building today, which is shaped like a beehive. I’m not sure if thats supposed to be making a statement because if so it seems fairly negative to me. I aslo spent a few hours in the National Library, which was big, but not New York big, and the Botanical Gardens which was kinda neat. The architecture here is old and impressive, but of course can’t even shake a stick at Washington D.C.
Have fun back in school guys.
but nothing comes to mind.
Still Here
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Wednesday, Dec 6, 2006
Hey just letting everyone know I’m still alive. I’ve been working the tips of my fingers to the bone sanding at the polish shop, but money is money, eh? Besides that nothing more exciting than the awesomeness that is every day of life here has happened. Later guys!
Sweet Sweet Peril
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Saturday, Dec 16, 2006
Well tomorrow I take off on my bike again, finally. I’ve been working out the route with a friend of mine here that I ride with all the time.
I’m nervous as all hell and the reason is the place I am going is really a nowhere place. Its a dirt road, and I’ve been told to expect traffic every 30min at most. There are no people for the first 80 or so miles so I will be camping in the bush on the side of the road for the first night, I have to be completely self sufficent. I’ve packed enought food to keep me alive for 3 days. After the 80k I emerge into Maori land, and thats where I really start cranking it because they don’t like white honkeys very much. I’ve been told that most of the people I will see in the area are carrying guns because the economy is run on drugs. Woo! This is adventure to the fullest. Once I get out of there I’lll be camping on one of the most remote at serene lakes in NZ. Who knows how long I will stay. After the lake the road turns back into pavement and i’ll cruise my way into the whiteish established town of Napier. If I dont post another update in 10-12 days, assume the worst. But you can’t have my stuff.
Greeting from 2007
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Sunday, Dec 31, 2006
I can tell you what its like to be in 2007 before the date even changes! You see I am skilled in the art of time travel, and I have skipped some time to witness the new year a day early.
So what is it like?
There is a massive global hanover passing over the earth as the sun rises! You guys need to watch out! In a matter of hours it will be upon you! Invenest in Aspirin just for 1 day and you will be a rich man. I have already suffered the consequences of a night of terrorizing the local kiwi folk at the new years celebration.
Computers aren’tgoing to crash like they did in 2000 but there will be mass confusion as people who don’t put a dash through their sevens write the date and the people that do dash their sevens read it as 2001. Idiots.
The year has “007” in it which makes it infinetly cooler than any other year except maybe 2666. I hereby declare 2007 James Bond appreciation year.
People who think 7 is a lucky number and are expecting good luck for an entire year are going to finally realize 7 is not a lucky number. It just doesn’t work that way.
Have a happy new years all!