Firstly – a picture of the spare bedroom.
It’s safe again ;)
Maaike had a friend Nelie staying for the last few days and so off we headed with a third Dutch (Ivor) to Mt. Somers for the weekend. It’s ridiculous how easily they all switch between languages. Quite jealous.
Oh – actually this is cool. All of the topographic information was given away free by LINZ, which in turn creates lots of new exciting opportunities for people. Some clever person made a google map overlay of the entire series. So I can now link straight to the map … check this out.
Anyway, had a good day (not toooo hot) up and over Mt. Somers and down to Woolshed Creek hut.
Where we were greeted by the most officious and, frankly, aggressive and obnoxious (as it turned out) DOC volunteer. I’ll not go through it all here – but will be writing a letter to DOC about it. Synopsis – Ivors tent blew down in the strong Nor’Wester and (after having paid a ticket to camp) they decided to sleep on the floor of the hut. Lady comes back at 08:30 and complains that “two of our party sneaked in and they had to pay for the hut”. We said things like “emergency” and “only slept on the floor” and she said “don’t care, even in an emergency you’re not allowed to sleep in a hut”.
It was at that point that we basically told her where to go. Utter utter rubbish. The most unfriendly, officious, mean spirited, nasty and aggressive person I’ve ever met in the outdoors.
*breathe*
Anyway, other than that it was a lovely trip. Came back via pinnacles hut (where there’s some good climbing) and back to Christchurch. It was also one of the hottest days on record as NZ was experiencing some of the weather left over from cyclone Yasi which smacked into OZ.
Oh yes, and swimming was done. I am so *not* a cold weather person. But I did get in.
Anyway, thanks to Ivor, Nelie (and Maaike!) for a lovely weekend. No thanks to the woolshed DOC lady. Letter will be on its way shortly.
Sylvia
February 9, 2011 at 9:20 am
Grrr the grumpy DoC lady makes me angry too. Not a good way to encourage people to use the outdoors.
Patrick
February 9, 2011 at 9:28 am
Yes, I used the words “ambassador” and “tourism trade” … but she used the words “foreigner” and “our country”. Not quite a meeting of minds.
Femke
February 12, 2011 at 12:04 am
HAHAHA! She sounds like our good old Geert Wilders.
Maaike
February 12, 2011 at 2:30 pm
Just for those ‘doubters’…Yes patrick did get in!
Unfortunately he did only the hard bit: 2 second in and out. After 1 minute of freezing your goose bumps off it was actually quite nice!
Matt
February 13, 2011 at 1:12 am
Wow, that’s one of the hottest days of the year?? Yikes.
Shame about the DOC person. At least when you leave you’re not in the presence of an angry person, whereas she is.
p.s. you still a ‘foreigner’ out there? :)
p.p.s. cool topo map link. good ol’ taxpayer.
Hannah
February 14, 2011 at 1:01 pm
I guess DOC is getting pretty desperate for funds. Gone of the days of meeting nobody in the bush.