Anyone got a contract in Queenstown NZ?

I go bogan camping.  We have a fridge and a pizza oven.

@mrjmt – noted. I’ve actually got an aunt and 3 cousins in Melbourne so he should be good. He’s currently in Brisbane living in a Quaker guest house and doing cash in hand gardening work and simple DIY for a load of old folk his host knows… 😁 he’s not far from @reeksy who I’ve been in touch with.

The car trip isn’t going to happen – they’ve not the budget for a decent enough vehicle and costs, so the bus and trains are going to have to suffice…

Sounds like he’s having a great time

Yep – some challenges, as travelling always is, but that is the great part of it as well…

His pal has invited him to cycle from Bilbao to Dunblane as a last thing to do (pal has family in Bilbao and they both live in Dunblane). If son_no3 does not take up the offer, I might!

Big finale then 👍

Abigale has just done 12 months and has now extended the visa for 2 more years before moving on so I may get to ride with her.

Crankworx this week so it’s going to be busy

If anyone is interested this is the coronet loop

^ Coronet was son_no3’s trail at the door of his workplace. Apparently Thursday nights are the locals fun laps…

I go bogan camping.  We have a fridge and a pizza oven.

Counts for nothing if it’s not full of Bundy and coke.

The car trip isn’t going to happen – they’ve not the budget for a decent enough vehicle and costs, so the bus and trains are going to have to suffice…

That’s a real shame.

I wonder if it’s worth ringing around the rental firms to see if they need vehicles shifting south? Probably wrong time of year

They are both under 21 –  so no go on any hire companies…

Ah, bugger.

And the car trip is on – just spoken to the boy.

A couple of weeks back they managed to get hold of an old Subaru Forester.

They went to a music festival (Rabbit eats Lettuce) and meandered down south. They’re 2000km in, having traveled down from Brisbane to Melbourne and just left my wider family who stay in Melbourne.

They are trundling back up north via Blue Mountains and meeting some girl pals who are hopping on buses and more city & beach focussed, compared to my son and pal who want to climb some hills and bushwhack….

They’re properly dirtbagging, sleeping in the car and washing at beach showers, in a 25 year old car with a broken spring, a coolant leak and no evidence of any fresh oil in a few years. What could possibly go wrong?

I’m still bloody jealous.

They’ll be grand. I drove an old Triumph up and down the coast and all over Tas, out to the Flinders Range and all over… And there’s a lot of old Forester parts in Oz.

But they can get an oil change pretty cheap easy enough.

So, the final update…

After my last post, they put the old Subaru through a rock, backwards. Met an amazing mechanic with an identical car in his scrap pile. Short story: he fixed the crash damage, a leaky radiator and exhaust and let them camp in his compound with a shower for the week while supplying beer and food, in return for some sweat labour 💪and cash. 👍👍👍

They then did head north, Blue Mountains, great barrier reef, skydiving etc.

Then on Thursday this week mrs_oab met middle son for a picnic lunch at work. Except the car had our eldest in as well. Just as she was commenting why was eldest there when he should have been in Edinburgh, the back door opened and youngest_oab stepped out…

Looks like he’s had a great time. What’s next

Abigale flys home tomorrow for a month before returning back to NZ for an extended stay.

He’s off around various friends in the UK for a couple of weeks, then he’s got some work and money to earn for uni as he is skint!

Mind you, there will be more playing as eldest_oab has a job in Aviemore for the summer, then will be in NZ looking for work for a couple of seasons… Does Abigale have an idea of bike ranger jobs which might come up….? He’s used to helping run Trans-Savoie, a smidge of guiding, mechanic and first aid, and has a few weeks work on the NZ Rally he thinks…

Abigale flys home tomorrow for a month before returning back to NZ for an extended stay.

Enjoy!

I’ll ask her when she gets back

So another chapter opens – eldest just handed in notice at work, booked his flights to Queenstown this morning, busy applying for jobs and chatting to ex-Edinburgh house mate who is already residing there for the season, eldest_oab will be there in 3 weeks!

What is it with NZ and QT in particular that these young people like?

Think it’s called living the dream.

What’s not to like?! I was there for the ’99 winter season with a mate. We rented a house in Arrowtown as it was so hard to get accommodation in QT. Spent the whole winter on Coronet Peak, Remarkables, Wanaka, Treble Cone, …. and then 2 months touring once the spring came. Wish I’d stayed for the summer. Sometimes wish I’d stayed for good!

Seems to be a lot going on in QT* itself for the youth & the surrounding area is just stunning with loads of outdoorsy stuff to fill ya boots – old uni mate went & then stayed for so far 35+ yrs

* I found it a bit too swanky in places but that’s just me being an old boring fart

How to celebrate your birthday:
1. Arrived in Queenstown and find a wee studio flat on the waterfront, with bike riding neighbours and landlord.
2. Hit the trails on your first day, ending up feeling confident enough to hit Dream Line.

I think the phrase ‘living the dream’ is appropriate…

Mighty Matt….. Living the dream indeed !