Gills adventures

Hey everyone,
So it is my intent to finish my blog about the south island trip even though it was a month ago. I know I left you the night before the bungy jump, so if you didn't know........I did it!!! The Kawarau Bridge which is the site of the world's first bungy by AJ Hackett back in the day. I didn't know if I would be able to do it, but this bungy is set up so that everyone can watch you, so all the other trainees were there watching, so pride wouldn't let me back down! This was the first of 3 possible bungys that we did this day, so probably about 15 of us did this Kawarau bridge and all the rest did the Nevis which is 3 times higher.......
We got weighed and had to jump in reverse order of our weights, and I had to be the last one to go in our line, so watched everyone else go through it, then when it came to my turn the dude asked me if I wanted to get dunked underwater and I said no, but I wouldn't mind touching the water with my hands. So off I go, woohoo, falling, falling, straight into the water up to my waist.
It was so awesome! I think I will do another one someday. When I went back into the building after with all my friends, the dude from the bridge came and found me and asked if I was ok, and if I would forgive him for dunking me. Ha ha, but I am actually glad I went in the water, it made the experience that much better.
So out of 46 of us, 39 tried the bungy in Queenstown - not everyone succeeded but most did. Queenstown was also the place we discovered the Fergburger - the most amazing hamburger to date. It was $9.00 and the size of a small plate and had absolutely everything on it! And they are open all night!! Even when we made our way home to the holiday park after the pub.
The next day we had a long drive to Franz Josef - which was a small tourist town boasting a massive glacier, where you can take guided hikes. Again I slept the entire bus trip, I am getting really good at sleeping sitting up, good skill to have I think. The campground was wicked, complete with a shop, a spa pool and beautiful mountain views. I chose not to do the hike - instead I did my laundry and hung around camp. When the hikers returned we boarded the bus and headed to Punakaiki, which was my favorite place that we visited. We stayed in a really cool seaside backpackers owned by a German couple. Every room was bright colors with sea murals on the walls. We got fish and chips at the pub this night and took it down and ate on the beach in front of our hostel. Then we made our way up to the pancake rocks to watch the most beautiful sunset. The rocks themselves were spectacular. They are like pancakes, stacked one on top of the other, made for some great pictures. There was a great viewing place where ,many of us went to watch the sunset. Ahhhhhh, it was so nice, love Punakaiki. I woke up early the next morning and went for a run up to the rocks. Great to be alone with the nature for a bit.
After breakfast we loaded up and headed to Nelson, where we would spend 2 nights. We had a nice dinner and a great big massive and huge soccer game this night. Later most of us just hung out at our holiday park, played a bit of poker. This was the night Matt from England let me do his hair...... He was beautiful, let's just say that
The next day we did something, but I can't remember what....... all I remember is we were in the city then we got back to the park and I had a nap for too long then had to wake up and run to the bus because we were heading out for our goodbye dinner. Pauline, Mandy (the assistant) and Mark organized a great evening for us. We did another nation vs. nation singing competition, ate great food and really enjoyed our last meal together. Pauline and Mark and Mandy bought each and every one of us something and told a little story or anecdote about us from this trip - it was so thoughtful of them. All the trainees just loved them, and who couldn't? They really made the trip for us.
Of couse since it was our last night we had to hit the boozery in true trainee fashion, so it was a crazy night, all of us out on the town. My host family (Jodi and Scott) were getting married the next day back here on the North Island so I had to fly off the South Island at 7am that morning. So there was really no point in going to bed. We got home from the town about 4 and I forced a few friends to stay awake with me till the taxi to the airport came for me at 6. It was actually really hard to go. Knowing that I was the first one to leave and they still had half a day left together, did not make me happy, but I boarded the plane anyways, and that is the last thing I remember till we touched down in Hamilton to a rainy and gloomy day - perfectly fitting my mood.
However rain and gloom did not fit the mood of my farm because everyone was there getting ready for the wedding. All I really wanted to do was sleep, but I couldn't... not yet. My friend Eurig from Wales left his car at my place during the trip and I was going to drive it to the wedding, and then to Hamilton to pick them up off the bus, then to Jeppe's to sleep (because I let one of Jodi and Scott's friends have my room), however his piece of junk car wouldn't start so I had to drive the work truck to the wedding - the most dirty vechicle you can imagine but never mind. The wedding was good, the weather was crap and it was outdoor, but I don't think anyone really minded. I went home early(ish) and drove to Jeppe's to sleep, then back home the next morning because the truck was needed to feed heifers. Eurig got a ride to my place to get his car, but no matter what we tried - there was no life in old "betsy-vac". So he spent the day at my house and was my ally against all the wedding strangers. He finally got one of our friends to come get him that night, and then I guess that was the moment the party was over. Back to reality. Started work the next morning just like normal.
So in closing, the South Island trip was the most awesomist time you can ever imagine, I would do it again in a second.
Since then I have just been working, we are still in a drought, so Scott spends half the day just feeding, and I have been picking up the slack in other things like doing the drenching of heifers and calves for worms and weighing them all. Been to the bay of Islands again - to a beachouse in Paihia. Been to a few trainee parties, to a kiwi orchard, yep, just hanging out. This weekend is Easter. I don't know what we are doing but it could be fun!!!!
I'll be home so soon. Actually, this will probably be my last entry while I am overseas. It's been a pleasure - thx for reading. See you soon!

Ummm where was I last time? I think we had just arrived in Dunedin.
In Dunedin we were staying at the holiday park - we had a unit just for us with a full kitchen and like 10 rooms - it was absolutely perfect. It was a little ways from the downtown and since it was tuesday and wednesday nights we stayed together and did group activities for much of the time which was great! I introduced everyone to the best movie ever SNL- best of Will Ferrel (thank you Lex!) We toured the Speights brewery on our first night in town - it was pretty cool seeing how beer is made and then getting to sample the different kinds. Then we had a big fancy meal at the Speights ale house - it was so fun. Whenever we have a meal out there is always tonnes of drinking, drinking songs in different languages, singing and dancing, just general craziness. I was sitting at a table with many German trainees for this meal and I was learning to sing the song for The Warehouse commercial which is like Walmart in German. Von zie ein schleptchen cririct or something. After the meal we went out to a pub where a guy was playing acoustic guitar and singing - he was brilliant, it was such a good way to spend the evening. The next day we toured the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in the morning, had a bit of free time in town then went out to the Otaga Penninsula where some people went on a nature cruise, some went to watch penguins, and some including myself went and learned all about the Albatross. Really they are fascinating birds. Ask me about them sometime, I will enlighten you!
After this we went back to the holiday park and made supper then rented out the ice arena and went skating and curling! A truly Canadian thing to do! It was so funny seeing some of my friends try to skate - they just can't do it! One of the French girls asked me why all the Canadians were so good (because we were miles better than everyone else!), they don't realize how much hockey is really in Canada. So that was a really fun night together - then of course we stayed up till about 3 playing cards.
The next morning we had our biggest bus day. Luckily I was so tired that I slept the entire way! We went to Te Anua and all the way down to Bluff - the most southern point in NZ. So now I have been to the most Northern point and the most Southern point of this country. In Te Anua we were staying at another holiday park, it was valentines day and we cooked a romantic dinner of chili (Pauline's recipe was from Sue Dow!) and got a bit sorted out for the next couple days...... An opportunity presented itself to me to do a 32km hike - the Routeburn trail, and so I jumped on it. There were to be 10 of us doing it but there was all of a sudden a few more spots, so I was able to get in on it. From our holiday park we had to walk over to the Department of Conservation office to get our tickets for the hike and so everyone who was interested went over together after dinner, and as we were walking we decided to all join hands so there was a line of like 15 20 something year old people holding hands in a line walking behind Pauline, giggling at our own maturity. Just simple little things like that can be so fun.
So we got sorted and had spent some time at the grocery store getting everything we need for the hike and the next day heading out to Milford Sound! We actually spent the night on Milford sound on a ship called the Milford Wanderer. We kayaked and went swimming ang ate good food, and saw absolutely beautiful scenery and seals and a pod of dolphins - it was amazing!!
When we got back to shore the next day it was straight to the hike for us! We took 2 days to complete it. It wasn't really terribly difficult - but challenging enough that it was so satisfying when we were done! It was so lovely - right in the heart of the mountains. Gorgeous! I have lots of pics. We were so sweaty when we got to our sleeping spot the first night that we went for a swim.....in a mountain lake...... I will never be the same again - cold cold cold. We slept in the Mackenzie Lake Hut. Actually we didn't sleep. There was a room with a few bunk beds but they all were taken so we had to sleep in a line with 20 matresses just laying one beside the other. No sleep because of all the friggin mountain climbers and their heavy breathing. And Evonne's snoring.
So we (7 of us hiked together)finished this hike just a few hours ago and I am so tired! But tonight we are in Queenstown and will have to go to the pub because our friend Fredrick from France is playing his guitar in a pub here! We stay in Queenstown till tuesday and I don't know where after that. But what I do know is that tomorrow I will do the bungy.............
goodbye.........

Hello everyone!
I am in Te Anau right now which is near the very bottom of New Zealand, having the best holiday ever! We left home on Feb. 7th and rode the bus to Wellington (about 8 hours). We spent the night at a backpackers right downtown and the following day exploring the city - me and my friend Marie Rasmussen rented rollarblades and went for a long journey around the warf - it was beautiful! I met Jerome from NZ (he used to live in Calgary) and he took me for a car ride around all the major points of the city and then out for food, it was great to see him again and catch up. 20 of us trainees caught the 6:00 ferry from Wellington to Picton that evening and got picked up on the other side by Pauline Norrish and her husband who are our tour guides for the next 2 weeks. We met the other 26 trainees who were already here at the backpackers and the party began! That was my earliest night so far - I think I was in bed by midnight. Will that ever happen again? Not likely.
The next morning we were up early getting sorted and loaded on the bus and drove to Kaikora where a bunch of people were going whale watching, seal swimming, seal kayaking, or just hanging out in the town. However, is was a foggy morning and everything but seal kayaking was cancelled. I spent some time walking around with Pauline and Mark and talking about Champion and how great my family and Canada is! From there we drove to Christchurch where we stayed at the YMCA for 2 nights. It was a huge YMCA with fitness centre, climbing wall, restaurant/cafe. Not bad at all! We had a welcome dinner that night at a restaurant - lots of fun, every country had to do a song. We did "Grand County Auction", all the Europeans think country music is the strangest thing.... Pauline said on the bus - "we have a cd player for the bus and we may even let the Canadian put on some country music some time. Like maybe once." We met the trainees who are placed on the south island this night and got to know them a bit. So many Danish ones.
When I say "we" I mean 45 trainees all of whom are placed probably within 3 hours of each other on the North Island. We are the ones who are together pretty much every weekend, and every moment we can when not working. It is such a great experience because we are such close friends. I don't think many people can say they have taken a 2 week holiday with 40 of their best friends..... it really is quite special and we are having a great time.
Spent a bit of time exploring Christchurch the next day - had a city tour in the morning then free time for the rest of the day. Eva and I went to the Cathedral, and the marketplace, and walked miles and miles that day. We met the others for dinner at this place where you order what kind of meat you want and they bring it to you on hot rocks on a plate and you cook it yourself! I ate Ostrich this night! It was good. From there we had a soccer game in Hagley Park. There were these two gothic type teenager guys in the park and they saw how much fun we were having and asked to join in and be our goal posts. Optimus Prime was one of their names and the other guy was Chris but he was the goal post for the girl's team so he was Christina. That night me and a few others had a fiasco with the laundry station at the YMCA which resulted in heaps of wet clothes having to be carted around for a few days, but other than that we just hung out, played a bit of cards, put shaving cream on the faces of people who fell asleep early - you know those sorts of mature antics.
The next day we headed to Mount Cook - the biggest mount in NZ. We stopped at the Moreaki Boulders on the way there. Unfortunately I was sleeping and missed the explanation of how and why the boulders look like they do, but they were amazing perfect spheres just sitting on this beach. It was a cold day but 4 of us swam anyways. We made it to Mount Cook that night and had a dinner of burgers at the camp site and played volleyball till dark. There is one french guy on the trip Fredrick and he plays guitar and sings so we listen to him pretty much every night - it's really good. Mount Cook is beautiful. The maori's call it something that means piercing mountain because it pierces the clouds - it was lovely.
From Mount Cook to Dunedin for 2 nights. I have heaps more to say but I have to go now because I am running out of internet time. ok bye

Kia Ora everyone!
It is a beautiful sunny saturday afternoon here in Hamilton - about 30 degrees so I am welcoming a few moments in the air conditioned internet cafe. Just so you know that is not a complaint! I know y'all are suffering back home! Alot has been happening lately, so I will share some of it with you.
Yesterday we had to start feeding silage to 2 mobs of calves because it is so dry! That was something different for me - wearing shorts and a tank top in the tractor to feed cattle, usually it is insulated tough ducks! There hasn't been a decent rain shower since before Christmas I believe. What was once impossibly green has turned a bit brown and dry! The dairy farmers production in the Waikato is 40% down from last year, so that is bad, but the price for milk solids is so high right now that they are able to stay afloat. At work lately I have just been doing weeds (Ragwart is the bane of my existance), making a rock garden, drenching heifers and calves, sorting bulls and sending them away, waterblasting and painting the fence around the house. We are trying to get everything looking good around the house because the wedding is in less than a month. It is not at our house but a lot of friends will be staying there and the sunday pool party will be there. Hopefully the pool is ready, we are waiting on the tile man to do that then we can concrete around it and get some water in it.
So I have just been plugging away working and spending as much time with my friends as I can. Some of the ones who have been here longer are getting ready or have already gone home which is sad, we were such a cohesive group - so everyone who leaves is really missed. Had some really bad luck a couple weekends ago when Tammy and I were driving my car through Auckland on our way back from Northland. We were on the motorway in rush hour and we were stuck in bumper to bumper traffic when we got rear-ended and crashed into the car in front. My car is a write-off, and the guy who rear-ended us managed to get his mangaled car right off down the exit, never to be seen again. We didn't have a chance to get a licence plate number or anything. I had only third party insurance which means it covers any damage that I do to someone else but not to my own car. So I have to foot the bill for that, but it is even worse for the guy in front of me because it turns out that my insurance won't cover him because it wasn't my fault and he had a NICE car, very expensive posh one that is probably about 10 times more expensive than mine.
But I am thankful I have great friends here. Katrine a Danish girl has lent me her car for a whole month while her father is here travelling. It is a very very dodgy car, but it works. Tomorrow I have to drive it to Auckland and meet her and her dad at the airport where they are coming back from the South Island.
Anyways, I will go. Hope you all are great and I am ready for some emails that tell me all about what is going on with you!
Love,
Gill

Hi,
I am in Russell today! It is the first established town in New Zealand in Captain Cook's era. We slept in Paihia last night and took the ferry across to here today. It is very beautiful - such a nice relaxed town where you could just sit in an outdoor cafe and read a book or look out at the wharf all day. Tonight we will head to the Kauri forest where we will apparently see some BIG trees! Like diamater of 10 m!!!!! That will be crazy!
I am on this trip with Tammy, who is a girl from Leduc, Alberta. She has been in NZ since May and is going home on the 16th. So we have to see everything before she goes! We went to Auckland on Sunday and spent the afternoon there - it is a happening city! We drove up to Kaukaupakaupa and spent the night at Pauline and Mark Norrish's. Good to see them again - the next time we will meet will be the South Island Trip that is coming up not soon enough! We think that we will get on a bus trip to go all the way up to Cape Reinga - where the Tasman Sea and South Pacific come together because that way we get to drive along 90 mile beach and not have to worry about getting my car stuck. The tour we have picked out also offers sand dune surfing which is something we definately have to do!
My memory card on my camera ran out yesterday I still have 3 months left! I will have to buy another one..... another expense! It is very expensive to travel I have found out - if I wasn't working 40 hours a week there is absolutely no way I could have seen half the stuff I have. So yes, this is me endorsing AgriVenture - fantastic program.
Anyway speaking of moola, I better get off the internet here. More of Russell to see today! Hope everyone is well and not shivering too badly in the cold Canadian winter. I'll think of you when I lay on the beach tomorrow. |
Cheers!
Gill