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Other entries in Lake Taupo

The Abel Tasmanian and other tales

So, alot has happened since my last entry so I'll try and keep to the point. When we last heard from our hero he was going ice climbing and that was. I have to say pretty awesome. The weather was perfect and you can' help but look pro while wearing ice axes and using crampons. The glacier itself was amazing and I got to see all the fantastic blue ice that you see in the photos. After that I couldn;t get my car to start as it seemed that frost would form on the spark on the spark plug contacts and prevent the thing from turning over so I had to waste a day in Franz Josef longer than I wanted to. Still I managed to finally get going and made my way up the west coast stopping at Greymouth for a night and doing the Montieths brewery tour, the brewery itslef was ok, its just a brewery but at the end of the tour after the guide took us through all the different kinds of beer and tastings, she left and let us loose on the taps for like 15 minutes - pretty good, there was a bunch of guys from a farm exchange who easily filled their glasses every 40 seconds for the whole 15 - funny stuff. After that it was off to Atawhai farm for a week to do a farm stay which was pretty good. I stayed with the Jackson family and in return for room and board I did about 6 hours of work a day mainly splitting wood and stacking it who for those of you who know my proclivity for sharp objects and hitting stuff isn't really work. Bill, Leitu and Lakai were more than hospitable and I thoroughly enjoyed my week on the farm.
After a tiring week I watched the All Blacks take apart the Lions 21-3 and the headed East to a place called Marahau to hike the Abel Tasman coastal track. I had great weather for the hike wihich after my previous exerions was pretty easy - it took me about a day and half to walk it and while it was nice there's only so many pristine sun drenched beaches you can take before it gets repetitive (wow how cynical was that). Anyway after the hike I headed to Cape Farewell to see the Northern part of the North Island. The road took me over an unbeleivably steep and windy mountain pass and on the way down all you could smell was brakes and burning clutches as the huge trucks that ply the road tore up and down the pass. A nice day, but it was over shadowed that over the course of the 300km I drove on my way to Nelson I had to fill my radiator 6 times! It was then that I decided that the car had to go. So the next day in Nelson I drove to a few cars wreckers, euphamistically called "Auto dismantlers" trying to get them to take my car. On my fourth try I managed to get rid of it and get a spirit maiming $100 for the car. Still I was happy to get it and now the hassles of a bum car are behind me. I would still recommend getting one if you're ever out here for a while, the freedom you get can't be beat.
Finally rid of the car I swallowed my pride and took the bus to Picton for what it I hope the last time, it just isn't the same. After a night in Picton having a few beers with a couple pof guys I had met a few weeks before and bumped into I met my uncle Brian and his brothers Martin and Bob for the crossing to Wellington for the second test match against the All Blacks. We watched the game in Barmy Army HQ and Martin and I watched with barely concealed glee as the All Blacks beat the Lions again to take the series. The glum looking Lions fans then consoled themselves with one of the biggest parties in Wellington's history. Its actually really great how good natured everyone is, supporters of both sides are really freidnly and the only words exchanged involve freindly banter. The Kiwis seem really happy that the Lions are here to watch the All Blacks thrash them! Anyway travelled up the East Coast with the brothers Thompson and they were true champions looking after an impoverished backpacker and all I had to put up with was the Thompson sonic warfare division, snoring the likes of which I have never heard. Fianlly said my goodbyes to the guys in Lake Taupo where they dropped me on their way to Roturua and then Auckland for the last test. I am greatly indebted to the guys and hope to be able to payback the debt one day.
That, in a nutshell is my life over the past few weeks. I am still having trouble posting pics so onec I meet with my freinds in Auckland I will hopefully be able to post a bumper picture edition.