End of the Line..

Trip Start Sep 09, 2004
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Tuesday, December 21, 2004

We left the comfort of our hotel in Dunedin just before 8am stopping briefly in Baldwin Street before the long haul North. Baldwin Street is famous. Actually, I'm not entirely sure whether it's famous or not but it's certainly the world's 'steepest' street. Strange but true. Well we couldn't leave without walking up and down it so off we went, Rich, Chicken and myself (Chris stayed at the bottom for a Shmock). I don't think we've ever been so knackered. I felt like I'd just done an hour and twenty of squash without a breather - completely buggered. We even had to walk backwards at one point as it was becoming unbearable. It was quite an experience. I couldn't believe it when I saw the postman drive up in his van to deliver the letters. I don't know how he made it. He must get through a clutch a week. We nearly had to walk sideways on the way down as the slightest momentum could have been potentially dangerous. We finally made it down safely and jumped back on the bus. Mad Dave was telling us how there was a fatal accident recently when a few lads got pissed up and decided to nestle themselves in a wheelie bin and ride down the hill right from the top of Baldwin Street. It ended up I think with one or two of them being killed and one, who Dave says 'will never be the same again'.

So we're finally here in Christchurch, the main hub of the South Island. The journey up the East Coast from Dunedin was a long one with a couple of stops en route including a visit to see the Moeraki Boulders (another odd phenomenon).

The last couple of weeks have really highlighted some of the real wonder and beauty that this country has to offer and even though the last few entries have been more of a summary, I'm already looking forward to returning to many of these places to look into in greater depth. There's an area in, around or near the Fiordlands that's about the size of Wales or Belgium and has no roads. Not one. If you want to see it and the incredible unspoilt nature it has within it, then you put your boots on and you get out there in it and see it. Say no more. I'm literally bursting to get out there. But all that's for the New Year.

For now there's the next three weeks to get through and these next few days are going to be slightly busy. Igno and the others join us in around three or four days so it will be great for everyone to catch up. So far it's looking like Christmas is going to be a good one. After all there's a good bunch of us booked in to Base over the next week or so, so the laughs and joys should be nice and plentiful. Here's a quick rundown of the attendees so far:- 'Mad for it' Daz, Alex, Tabbi, Chris, Chicken, Igno, Sinead, Traoine and of course...'Caroline', our little 'Buddha' Marie, Paul and myself. Bring it on!

For me, not only is there the Christmas festivities to enjoy with my crazy travelling companions, but I've got the old beans coming over; ole' Mom and Dad are coming to visit! For just over two weeks starting Boxing Day. It's been just short of four months since I've seen and missed them and they really haven't the slightest idea what this journey has been like for me so far. Okay they've been able to follow the Travelogue but as I keep stressing and can't stress enough, my words and pictures do very little justice to what an incredible country this is. But it's not just the pictures. It's the sounds , the smells, the whole 'feel' of it, the whole place. Just being here! There is never a substitute for experience and I'm just over the moon that they're gonna get to experience some of this!

It's hard to explain but the good thing for them is the very thing that they have in common with everyone else who has never been to New Zealand; it's what they don't know. Just like me before I flew out here on 9th September, they are in for one hell of a treat and they don't even know it. What a wonderful thing. I can't wait to see again what a huge impact this amazing place has on yet another two lives. Even better - the two that gave me mine!
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