Feed from Ross

Musical Musings

It'd been a long day, we'd spent the day down at the very new and exciting Cardiff Whitewater Course for a sneek-peak and a quick blast down the course. For you boaters in the area you're in for a real treat!
Keen to make the best of our time we'd also tied in a bit of a planning meeting, to line up some new and exciting features for you guys to read this summer. To conclude we popped in to visit Glamboaters a keen and busy canoe club based at Eastern Leisure Centre. The Glamboaters had their pool full of paddlers honing their rolls and throwing down ends. By 9.30 we had to leave the Glamy paddlers to it and head back home.
Late at night journey's are never all that great, after a busy day that motorway never seems to end. After a brief snooze I awoke to find Jay refueling at a lonely BP garage. He walked off to the counter to pay up while I reclined in a somewhat awkward position, the way you do when you just don't care anymore. Your legs have lost any feeling and your face is smeared against the window, like a squashed fly.
Jay's arms where cradling an assortment of snacks, Monster drink, crisps and some odd shaped snickers bar. "What's that?" I said stirring in my seat staring at the offending item with an odd curiosity. " A Snickers Flapjack, I thought it might be a tad more healthy than a chocolate bar."
I retreated to my seat not so convinced with Jay's theory. " And besides we've got music too!" He said with jab at the radio.
I've got two theories about late night radio. It's either fantastic with whitty comedy and good music; or it's what we had. Mike Harding's warm folk-like voice floated across the air waves. Now don't get me wrong I love folk music I think it's great, in small doses. Very much like with kids with sweets, a few is fine, but give them one too many skittles and their bouncing off the walls faster than tigger on a space hopper.

After a few hours of Mr Harding... well I best let you have a look at the photo attached.

Ross

Posted by Ross

The Depature!

My trip in New Zealand is drawing to a close, the last five weeks have been a tangled whirlwind of mountains, sandy beaches muscular glaciers and majestic Fordland. Normally near departure I fall into a state of quiet frenzy. “When will I be back?” What if I settle down buy a house and an andrex puppy? However this trip was different; this trip was a mere aperitif that will cleanse my rich nomadic palate, and keep me hankering for more. I haven’t even touched the surface of this versatile country. This time I was re-vitalised, energized, psyched whatever you want to call it. It was exciting, new and unfamiliar. I know I’ll be back.
This country from what I’ve seen is delightfully charming. The generosity of it’s residence was sometimes overwhelming. I stood in Taupo looking around having a think of what to do next, doing nothing much. When a lady asked whether I was lost, ( I must have had that look) I told her that I wasn’t and we got chatting then she said. “Well we’re heading to Hamilton if you want a ride.” This would never be so much as a thought in the UK, the Brits are brought up on fear. Strangers are bad and hitchhikers are scary people. Out here everyone’s just out to help each other. The other day I went for a run and briefly stopped to change a song on my ipod. I fancied a bit of S-Club 7 you see. When a guy outside his house said “Good morning, having wiring trouble? I’ve got a soldering iron if you need it.” Everyone is just out to help. Stuff like this isn’t uncommon either. People are being helpful all over New Zealand, letting backpackers use their showers and pitch on their lawn. Even offering to help fix a tire of a broken down car. It’s a wonderful place really.
New Zealand still has it’s quirks, it hadn’t got a clue about coffee for instance. If you ordered an Americano with a side of milk they looked at you gone out, or asked you to make sure they heard you right. “So you want an Americano with milk, what in a separate jug?” “Yes please.” I’d reply, trying to think of other ways you could serve milk on the side. Their coffee had funky names like long black and flat white, what’s that all about? And while we’re on this rather goading interlude; for the life of me I have no idea what “Sweet as!” Means, sweet as what? The first few times someone said it to me I waited hoping they’d finish the sentence. They’d often use at the end of a phrase such as “So you’re going kayaking today, sweet as!” It gave me a lot of headaches. Another classic universal backpacker phrase is “For sure,” this is normally coincided with nodding or agreement. What strange turns of phrase the New Zealanders have.
This time I wasn’t worried about leaving, there’s no doubt in my mind that I’ll be back; back for a bigger helping of mountains, rivers and lakes. To indulge in wanderlust and explore once more.
In the meantime I’ve just got to remember when I land in the UK, not to ask for a long black.


Till next time

Ross

Posted by Ross