Off to the South Island

This will be the third time visiting the South Island, and as they say, third time is the charm. Though, it will honestly be tough to beat the last two times I've been there. Let's see, what's new? I've been wading through old exams and trying to decipher my own chick-scratch notes for the past few weeks. I feel they've gone alright, and I have one more to do tomorrow. I shouldn't feel overworked though, some of the law majors I know have Final Exams that are worth 100% of their grade for a year.


Also in current events, my friend Greg from Corvallis is over here on a work visa for six months or so. He spent a few days here at my place checking out Auckland and planning his stay, much of which involves use of the ever important Lonely Planet guide to New Zealand. I admit my borrowed Lonely Planet guide to NZ has been an essential travel companion on my trips here. They have one for the USA, and it is almost the size of a dictionary. Anyways, I thoroughly recommend checking out Greg's blog, also linked on the right side of the page. It's full of great pictures of his first few weeks here, and provides some insightful commentary on what it's like to spend almost a week in Auckland. I sadly was unable to spend much time with him, but my landlord the professor took him on a nice drive up to Mt. Eden.


After my last final finishes at 12:30pm Monday morning, I'm catching a plane with flight with Inga down to Nelson. Greg will be meeting us there, and we'll be headed to the Hang Dog Campground at the Payne's Ford climbing area. It's supposed to be some of the best sport cragging in the country, and is home to some of the most thuggish routes on the south island. After they get done with their prospective exams, my friends and fellow climbing club mates Ingrid, Kristin, Ed and Suvi will start to trickle in as well. I'm hoping to get up "Dave's Arete" and "Responsible Lunges" (24 and 25, respectively). The plan is after a week in Payne's (5$ camping, you can't beat that) we'll work our way down to Queenstown, where Ed and I will be flying out of first on the 20th of November. On our way down there, everyone is hoping to do some sea cliff crack climbing at this place called Charleston on the West coast (weather permitting). It's supposed to have some fun wide cracks. The climb I want to do in particular is called "Shark's Breakfast" (18). It supposedly traverses above a wave ravaged cove of water called the Pit of Doom. Sounds fun right?


In Queenstown, there is pretty good climbing with some multipitch potential. I'd also like to do some hiking while we are down there, as it is something Victoria and I missed out on when we blasted our way through there in the middle of the night. Abel Tasman looks to have some really great tramping too, so the opportunities for some nice views and fresh air should be limitless.


Other news: I went on my last mt. bike ride in New Zealand yesterday. Andrew (same dude who thought it'd be a good idea to go caving in Whanganui bay.... Actually it's the same dude who wore shorts to Ruapehu in the late fall... but that's a whole 'nother story) treated me with a ride in a place I've never ridden before, called Riverhead. It had just rained the night, err week before so the trails had some of the biggest mud pits I've ever seen, complete with a sulfurous reek and annoying motor bike riders. It was awesome, and we got the bikes nice and muddy to. I got to ride his cool full suspension as well. For a single speeder like myself, it was like driving a Cadillac with power windows (and a chain steering wheel). Amazingly, Andrew goes Mt. biking without a bike rack, here's a shot of our bikes stuffed into the back of his wagon.

Speaking of last times, I also did my last Yoga night and my last bit of Mt. Eden quarry climbing. We have a great Yoga studio run by the Hare Krishnas here close to campus. For 12$, you get an hour and a half of Yoga and meditation followed by a dank (adj: Term used frequently by hippies and stoners for something of high quality) vegetarian meal. For the record, I like meat... but this food is so good! As for the quarry, I've posted a couple of entries about it already, but it is a pretty freakin' cool climbing area to have in a major metropolitan area. Fun thin gear!

The Quarry

Greg belayed by Owen on a sweet overhung 18

Owen on a thin 19

Inga being cheered on by the peanut gallery

Anyhow, I give my regards to all you readers, and I'll post something around the 2oth when I get back to Auckland. After that, my Uncle Bill and Aunt Flossy (Flora, she'll probably kill me for calling her Flossy...) are arriving for some more fun-packed adventure on November 22. I can't wait. Cheers!