Tuesday 20th October 2009
Gareth:
Today is our last day in Australia.
What?
No I’m not talking crazy.
They don’t call me ‘Poker Face’ Reece for nothing
SUPRISE, Owwwch. it feels like that episode of neighbours when they found out that J.R was still alive
Yes we are enjoying Australia but something happened. Nothing bad, just listen, and let me explain.
We had an idea when booking the accommodation yesterday, and noticed that there were some cheap flights to Auckland from Sydney that went tonight. The choice was either drive to Brisbane for the last week in Australia, which was a long journey and a bit expensive, or go to Auckland and try and sort out bicycles. A coin flip chose. Sorry Brisbane, we heard only good tales about your fair shores, but the mustard just wasn’t cut for you.
So we had to get ready to go to Auckland. Bags were packed and superfluities were thrown. Once ready we had several hours to amuse ourselves in Sydney, so we did all the touristy stuff you can do and what lovely weather to do it.
Oprah's house!
The Botanical Gardens
The Harbour and Harbour Bridge
It was sad to be going, but off we went to the airport and rode on a double decker train! Then waited about an hour in a que to check in.
Everything seemed to be going smoothly until we got to check-in and the question:
‘Have you got tickets for onward travel?’ was asked.
“Ermmm No!”
‘Oh dear Sir, sorry Sir, you can’t go’.
‘Ok see you later’.
Luckily Alice was thinking straight and said
‘Can we book flights with you’
‘Why Yes Madame’
So after about half an hour of trying to work it out, we chucked some money at the problem to make it go away, and bought the cheapest flights we could . Luckily we found out we can cancel the flights and get our money back apart from a $25 dollar cancellation fee, although we’re still a bit miffed that it was actually not necessary to have tickets for onward travel as we were granted a 6 month visa no questions asked on arrival in Auckland. Grrrr Idiots.
But I guess they got the last laugh when I realized on the flight that I had left my new sunglasses at check-in! So take a good look at them on the last pictures cause that’s the last time you’ll see me wear those particular shades.
Apart from that the flights were comfy and we arrived in New Zealand at midnight where we had our tent confiscated cause it had a "bug" in it. Some drunk/stoned/high woman slurred some instructions at us as to how to go about getting it back again (we think she may have been breathing in too much of the insect repellant she has to work with) and we sighed in resignation, payed the $15 you apparently have to pay for the pleasure of having things confiscation by biohazard security and made our way to the cheap hotel that we had booked near the airport so could just get straight in and bed down without any more Gareth rage.
Wednesday 21st October 2009
Alice:
Our adventures in New Zealand continued today when after some shocking directions from the woman at the hotel reception we ended up walking about 2 miles with our heavy back packs to find a bus stop only to drive past the hotel about 2 seconds after getting on and realizing we had walked in a massive grueling 2 mile circle, goddamit. It would have been further if a woman we met in the street hadn’t taken pity on us and offered to drive us to the nearest bus stop, which was very nice of her. But despite all these minor trials we are still very happy to be in New Zealand!
We’d booked our accommodation in the centre at the hotel so we headed for that when we got off the bus, we have a little fridge and cooking hob so we can self cater which is good. We checked in and then had a little explore of Auckland, found a coffee shop called Esquires that gives you a coffee and cake deal for $6.90 (about £3.50) and free internet for an hour so we looked for a list of bike shops that we could visit and then visited some of them only to find we’d forgotten to up date our phone clocks and they were all shut!
Our little hotel room
Lovely Esquire's cake
After this we were in need of another drink so got a pizza and a few beers, then a few more beers, then bought some beers to take back to the hotel, then passed out.
Me trying to get a nice picture of me and Gareth
Getting close
There it is
Thursday 22nd / Friday 23rd October 2009
Alice:
Went on a huge tandem search on Tuesday although we weren’t up to much because of slight hang overs! Had our usual coffee and cake deal in Esquires and retired early to drink the rest of the beer and watch Hot Fuzz – city living is not that good for us we’ve realized!
Wednesday was slightly more productive! We caught a bus out to Avondale to a slightly more remote bike shop and ended up buying everything we need for our cycle trip from them! We now own a lovely red Apollo tandem and cargo trailer, cycling gear, helmets, puncture repair kit – the works! Now all we have to do is wait for the trailer to be delivered and the tent to come out of quarantine and we’re on our way! But obviously, this being us in New Zealand, there has to be at least one hitch and this is it – it’s a bank holiday weekend so the trailer and tent will be held up till next Wednesday, bloody blumin bugger.
More Beer.
Saturday 24th
So that’s us in Auckland, until Wednesday 28th! We have been out and about visiting parks, museums, flower gardens and stuff and every day we have our coffee and cake in good old esquires which, incidentally, is where we are posting this from.
Flower garden in Auckland Domain Park
Us on Lover's walk, tee hee
Tropical gardens in Auckland Domain Park
Auckland museum
And of course we make sure we keep the fridge well stocked!
We are just chilling in Auckland before the big bike ride, might catch a movie tonight and stuff. We’ll catch up with you when we’re back on the road again.
Love and hugs.
Alice and Gareth xx
10 comments:
I was only reading this blog to see how those sunglasses were doing... looks like I won't be coming back.
Oh yeah, and don't forget my advice about the chicken breast, you're going to need it
Garf, as you well know, your theme tune is:
It's not much of a life when you're just a pretty face
Just to be whoever you are is no disgrace
Don't be scared if you don't fit in
Look who's in the reject bin! It's the Raggy Dolls,
Raggy Dolls, Dolls like you and me
Raggy Dolls, Raggy Dolls made imperfectly
So if you're not at ease with your massive ears
And your thumbs are massive too
Be like the Raggy Dolls, and say I just don't care
Cause Raggy Dolls, Raggy Dolls are happy just to be
Raggy Dolls, Raggy Dolls, dolls like you and me!
Bloghead
p.s. slight improvement on the blog this week - more stories about things going wrong please.
BigLob:
I'm guessing you can't read more because you are concerned about the health implications of me not wearing sunglasses in sunny weather, and you don't want to read about my decline into becoming blind. Well fear not. I am on the case to find a new set of sunglasses and case. Until then I will just wear Alice's to protect myself from UV's rays!
Thanks for your subtle concerns. I'll be fine. Please feel free to read on.
Also the chicken breasts have been in place and waiting for the last two months, just for the occasion when I get on the bike.
Bloghead:
If that's my theme tune (which sounds very familiar) then your theme tune is:
Neville Neville, Your future's immense,
Neville Neville, You play in defence,
Neville Neville, You have really small arms,
Neville Neville, With your Jewish charms.
Neville Neville, Like Jacko you're bad,
Neville Neville, Is the name of your dad.
He hates scousers!
(It was Alice's idea to add the extra lines, gives it that extra dimension I think)
Gareth and Alice xxx
Three Tips for tandem riding:
1. steersman must not spit - you get the wind direction wrong 2 out of every 5 times. This is too many for the stoker.
2. stoker - don't look forward. It won't do any good; it's going to happen anyway. Besides, that way is just the rear view of the rear of the steersman. Best to look sideways in case there are accaccapos ( or however you spell it).
3. Take care in carrying out your normal starting routine in Cheltenham, Glos.
PS You also need more braking distance than on an ordinary bike or it becomes breaking distance.
Is that Gareth commenting on comments on his own blog? Just when I think I know what you're doing and where you are you go to New Zealand and start doing things like that!
I'm not sure I even believe in New Zealand anyway.
Froz
p.s. was it Vic the Tic in the tent? He's fast becoming your nemesis!
Trust 'Ayran Alice' to inject some anti-semitism into proceedings...
Just because I'm jewish and have tiny arms doesn't mean I don't have feelings.
Yes, Alice does have a certain NickGriffinesque look about her. It doesn't seem that long since we were all dancing to Michael Jackson's "Black or White" and Alice was pointing to me on the word "Black" and herself on the word "White"
Richard Smith:
1. You might have told the steersman not to spit, but all I get is a load of phlegm on the back of my head.
2. As the stoker can't see in-front of the steersman, it has become common now for the steersman to describe every detail that one can see, so that the stoker doesn't become terrified of any sharp burst of peddling at the bottom of the hill, to get right back up the next. It's like see no evil hear no evil.
3. We have done a lot of hills and you are correct Mr Richard, the brakes feel about as good as if i just rubbed a wet fish against the tire to slow us down. Always apply brakes in every situation, even when just setting off, just in case. Think we'll be buying a new set of brake pads sooner than expected.
Josh and Rozi:
Yes it is I Gareth commenting on the comments. This is the format, get use to it.
You'll never get use to what we are doing, just when you think you have figured out God, 'He' goes and makes the universe that little more complex.
Am I a butterfly, am I a moth? It's too late I've just fluttered off.
You must believe in New Zealand Frozzie, Every time you sneeze you have to catch it, or it might just cause a hurricane down here and wipe us off the map.
Bloghead:
To point out that someone is a jew (without a derogatory tone) doesn't make them racist, it makes them factually correct. Although to point out that someone has tiny arms is indeed very funny.
Blogman:
See the Bloghead reply and replace the word 'jew' with the word 'black'. Apart from that, it is exactly the same response. (Including the bit about tiny arms)
Watch out butterflies I just sneezed and it was a BIG one. By the way - you did know that God is a Frog? With a MASSIVE WILL [I said "will"]. And she's tiny teeny weeny. This I do KNOW.
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