Up the Mast

Trip Start Mar 10, 2007
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Trip End Jan 08, 2008


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Thursday, September 13, 2007

Erica had promised me quite a while ago that I could go up the mast one day before i left, and as my time in Auckland is rapidly drawing to a close I decided to ask if I could go up today.  So first thing this (or technically Mid-) morning I got my chance.  I got out of bed and wandered down to the viaduct, which I could probably do sleeping now as it is a habitual walk for me, and when I got there I was winched 100ft up the mast of a Five million pound ex-America's Cup sailing yacht, following in the footsteps (or should that be winchings?) of such notable persons as Sir Richard Branson.  How many people can say that who do not work on the boat?  Although the problem was that I was not really sure what to do with my afternoon after that - I have no helicopter or other such thing in which I can go for further exciting activities, just my feet and an empty wallet.

Still, it was a great experience with a great view.  I was hoisted up by Erica and two of the other guys, Andy and Sean (otherwise known as geezer because Sean is apparently too difficult to remember) who later complained that I was too heavy to hoist up the last 12ft, despite the fact that they were three burly men trying to hoist one little me.  So much for sailors is all I can say.  Still, as I said, the view was good and it wasn't at all vertigo inducing, as I was securely harnessed at all times, and also because it did not feel that high with the surrounding viaduct buildings climbing around me.  However, I was higher than the people on the second storey of a restauraunt nearby so I must have been pretty high, and although it was not more than being winched up and dropped (almost literally at one point) back down, it was still great fun.

As I wasn't sure how to best my morning activity I made the sensible option not to try and went back to the hostel to finish my painting, and although it is not great - it does not rank as one of my best pieces as the lines are somewhat wobbly and ragged in places - it is okay and will have to do because I have run out of time.  Mostly, people will not notice those things, and there is very little I can do with no time left anyway.  Compliments have been forthcoming so it cannot have been a disaster.  All good really, and the road beckons, I can feel a smile coming on....
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