Dec. 31, 2002

I was never a partyer. I have always been more of a party watcher.

High School house parties I vividly recall (soundtrack Isn’t Life Strange, by the Moody Blues) convinced me that drunken gatherings merely accelerate and amplify the rhythms of regular life. Alcohol makes you less inhibited (stupider) and more vocal (stupider yet).

I was never a partyer. But GC was. For GC a night out was 6 beer and a 40 ouncer. GC travelled and drank his way down under 20 years ago. Now he is back with his family, me and ET touring New Zealand in a grey van called Thomas the Toyota.

GC cannot remember much from his youth binge to New Zealand — for young backpackers travel is a non-stop party.

Christmas Eve we oldsters were all asleep by 10:30 pm. Santa DOES come to the Abel Tasman Track as tiny stockings were hung by the hut chimney in the morning. Lollies for all!

Christmas Day hiking we came to a risky short cut; 20 minutes downhill via the only pub on the Abel Tasman … or 90 minutes of slogging steep up and downs with heavy packs to get to our destination. GC and I took the shortcut while the women and children sensibly went the long way around.

Merry Christmas to the boys with the handles!

ET was passed out exhausted by the time we sloshed into the hut. She could not even respond to the pity beer we brought her. ET had travelled New Zealand 15 years ago and is thrilled to be back for more … except for missing the pub shortcut.

The Abel Tasman hike is great.

photos of our 4 day gorgeous tropical beach walk from my digital camcorder.
more photos from GC’s digital camera.

New Years found us in funky Wellington at the terrific Cambridge Hotel Backpackers across the street from the home theatre of Lord of the Rings. Peter Jackson promised to bring the World Premier here for #3 in 2003. We watched Lord of the Rings 1 on DVD on 30 December then Lord of the Rings 2 at the gorgeous old theatre on New Years Eve.

Good film, fantastic New Zealand scenery.

Were we old folk asleep before midnight? No way! We took in the dry outdoor family New Years concert in the town square. The band played cheesy cover versions of 70s tunes by Donna Summers, Doobies, Average White Band … stuff parents would remember from their party days.

Some of us once were partyers. 🙂

New Years eve we managed to stay awake until 1:30 AM. I hid my cheap wine in the bushes to avoid confiscation by the man.

You?

Happy 2003!

– Kiwi Rick seeking Shags, Kakas, and Moreporks.