Wednesday, March 07, 2007

A Couple of Cycle-paths?

Stats:

Number of days = 56

Total distance cycled = 2112 kilometres

Number of breakdowns = 5

Total ice-cream expenditure = $74

Conclusion:

From the detailed quantitative statistical evidence presented above, we can infer that if you wish to cycle further, quicker and with less frequency of breakdowns you should eat more ice-cream.

Cribbage Update: Been wheely tyred so there's been a spoketacular lack of cribbage action. Jools 24ish Kev 20ish [Jools: "Kev you tube, get a grip, you've gotta gear yourself up and stem the flow of bike puns. Gimme a brake or oil have to tread on your helmet and puncture your chain"]

Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Kia Ora

Yes, we also thought it was a sickly concentrated orange juice drink that's "too orangey for crows", but apparently it's also a New Zealand Maori greeting. So, Kia Ora to one and all. Welcome to our irrelevant witterings about New Zealand, Aotearoa - Land of the Long White Cloud (and sheep, chilly bins, jandals and ice-cream).




The bicycle hire company in Christchurch reassured us that this was the latest in hi-tech hybrid touring bike technology and ideal for tackling the rollercoasting hills of New Zealand's South Island. So, we duly hired a couple and set off for 2 months of cycling adventures. The basic plan - do a lap of the South Island on the push bikes and climb mountains with packs full of rocks on our days off. Perhaps squeeze in a few extreme sports and high adrenalin experiences along the way. Pretty mundane stuff really...

Sunday, March 04, 2007

Oz - it's a love/hate thing

We love.....the wildlife - roos, echidnas,pademelons, emus, koalas, kookaburras, pelicans etc.
We hate.....the wildlife - camping and being kept awake all night by possums eating the tent, pissing up the sides and shitting in our vestibule. Oh, and flies - swarms of them up your nose, behind your sunglasses, in your ears - grrrrrrr
We love.....meeting a real person called Fud/Ned.
We hate.....getting stuck in a 5 hour conversation with Fud/Ned about the life-cycle of indigenous tree fungus.
We love.....how it's socially acceptable to indiscriminately call people "cock 'eds".
We hate.....being called "a cock 'ed".
We love.....how it's warm enough never to need to wear a jacket.
We hate.....how it's too bloody hot to wear anything including ones own skin.

We love.....how the Aussies hate (sorry, have a friendly rivalry with) the English.
We hate.....being mistaken for "faaackin' Poms".
We love.....how everyone is so friendly and greets you with a cheery "g'day, how are ya".
We hate.....having to tell thousands of folk each day that we're "very well thanks".
We love.....all the opportunities for watching live sport, especially in Melbourne.
We hate.....having to watch Rafael Nadal pick his fancy velvet pants out of his fancy Spanish arse.
We love.....the diversity of scenery.
We hate.....how you have to drive so bloody far on such bloody long, boring straight roads to experience said diversity.
We love.....catching and eating lots of beautiful fish from the ocean's fresh larder- baramundi, snapper, trevally, tommy ruffs, jimmy hills, oysters, mussels etc.
We hate.....being chased from the ocean by fresh sharks and jellyfish intent on catching and eating us.


....The End (of Oz)