The LOST Post...

Prior to heading off to the South Island, we had created this post for your enjoyment but never got around to posting it. While dated, we still believe that our readers would like to know of our final days in Christchurch. Have fun reading this blast from the past. YOLO

Written: 13 Jan 2007

Armstrong was the first American to land on the moon. We were the first Americans to see 2007.

Our first family visitor came to ChCh to get a taste of yoloing firsthand, instead of having to vicariously experience its splendor through our blog (like you). Caitlin’s brother Tim flew in on December 30^th and had 24 hours to get over jet lag and gear up for the new year. Caitlin and Tim were lucky enough to score tickets to the New Year’s Eve Concert at the Dux while Maggie, X, and Nick ‘unfortunately’ had to work (ie get paid to drink).

Kate, Maggie (the other American), and Halely drinking on the job. Clearly we did not let work get in the way of ringing in 2007.

Katharina, Caitlin, Tim, and Maggie enjoying the festivities and the night.

Jet-lag and the New Year festivities take their toll. Tim fell asleep/passed out at Table 10 but the party continued around him.

Additional benefits of working the holiday: free food, more booze, and getting paid to hang out with our friends. Please note X in the back preying upon a young man (and coworker) who’s at the ripe age of 18. His name is Tim and this was not the first predatory pounce… nor the first one he willfully accepted.

While in New Zealand, Caitlin’s brother, Tim attempted to scale an alpine ridge in Arthur’s Pass, bungee jumped in Queenstown, legally hit up the bar scene on the ChCh strip, worked his magic with the kiwi ladies, and jet boated his way through Lord of the Rings country.

Tim tackling Avalanche Peak, a vertical climb
complicated by harsh freezing winds. Even though Tim is walking in this picture, the hike ended with Tim’s legs severely cramping resulting in a crab crawl down the mountain that attracted the help of a German doctor. The man and his family were kind enough to escort him down the mountain while giving him leg massages every 5 minutes.

Tim officially earned his honorary Yoloer status

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Farewell 280 Bealey…..and Chris*

*It turns out our British friend that we warmly welcomed into our lives is just a wee bit sketchier than anticipated. Although his recent behavior kind of clued us in, as we write this we don’t know his whereabouts. We woke up this morning to find him and all of his belongings gone. No note. No clues. That damn Brit owes us $70. At least all of our electronics are still here. [Even while posting the Lost Post we have yet to hear from him. If anyone has seen Chris Ward: British accent with a lisp, tongue ring, barefoot, and most likely wearing shmants, please contact the Yoloers. And to Chris, if you are reading this blog, you better sleep lightly at night because we will find you and we will get our stolen possessions back (ie. Gas canister, Caitlin’s Magic Bus ticket, bug spray, and our trust)]*

Our 3 month lease is ending on Monday (which was Jan 15th), so we are technically re-entering the homeless lifestyle that defined our first few weeks in NZ (See blog post: Life is rough when you’re broke and hungry) In true yoloer fashion, we had to go out in style and throw the finale of our trilogy of parties: Goodbye 280 Bealey, Return of the Vagabonds. This party was so highly anticipated we had friends canceling camping trips and others coming in by train to make sure they were in attendance.

The classy Yoloers toast to the night and the beginning of homelessness.

What’s a Yoloers’ party without Catch Phrase? Sarah, Freddie, Maggie, and Nick start up the Bealey party tradition.

There was no dress theme for the party, but instead each person in attendance was given a forfeit (ie a task that they needed to complete before the end of the party). Some forfeits included: “Finish Katy’s drink when she is not looking,” “Bark like a dog whenever you hear the word ‘drink,’” and “Incessantly ask Christine where Tim is whenever he is not in sight.” Bernie, our boss at the Dux, was given the forfeit of transporting our decorated Christmas tree to the median in front of our apartment complex.

Bernie in
action.

Forfeit complete! Not only was it entertaining but it was economical. Garbage pickup costs $6 a bag and seeing that this entire tree only cost us $18,
dumping it on the street was clearly the Yoloers’ disposal method of choice. What’s another tree to the City of Gardens?

Leighan, Caitlin, Nick, and Katy enjoying the final moments in 280 Bealey.

Maggie & Sas (Sas really wanted to be on the blog),

While the others were in the pool/giant hot tub (someone broke the temperature gauge that night), X stays true to form and party fouls. Maggie escaped her owner (check out her leash aka Nick’s belt) to try and help X out. But Katy’s face clearly indicates that neither Maggie nor X were in the state to handle the situation on their own.

We return from the pool plus one. A Yoloers’ gift can also be a curse. Our ability to create instant friends usually leads to a good time, however in this case the trashy blonde followed from the pool to our party, uninvited and unwelcome. Needless to say, we had to kick her out. Just goes to show you we really are as cool as we say we are.

YOLO.

The End of Tragic Days, But Not Of Our Cheap Ways

We successfully made it back to Queenstown via shuttle (gasp) to finally reunite with our toiletries and other belongings that didn’t rank as highly as food on the priority list for the multi-day hike. After scrubbing the days worth of grime off our bodies we decided to go on some more hikes….because really, what else is there to do for free?

Seeing as the Yoloers are keen on finding good view spots, we decided to climb yet another mountain. Here’s X climbing up to the Ben Lomond saddle (shout out to Beth and Thomas!).





The hike was an unrelenting 2 hour climb to the top, so we decided to take a more fun way down- the luge. Although this doesn’t look dangerous, it’s a plastic cart on three wheels with no breaks. Nick successfully made it down the scenic route (aka the beginner track) after a failed attempt to go down the advanced track. Good thing he’s got that helmet!












As if Ben Lomond wasn’t enough, we pushed ourselves to climb yet another mountain. Luckily this one was shorter and mostly paved road. Here we are at the top with Lake Wakatipu in the background.




Back at sea level and in front of Lake Wakatipu catching the 10pm sunset (because in case you forgot, it is summer here- be jealous).











That night out in Queenstown, we were all in for a big night out because before embarking on Routeburn the Yoloers made a pact with one another that after successfully completing the tramp they would celebrate with drinks. The deal was if someone decided to back out they would have to buy the rest of the Yoloers drinks for the night. Considering how cheap we are there was no way that was going to happen, so it was a big night out for all four of us.




Out on the town we met up with Thom, the blonde guy in the middle, better known to you avid blog readers as the guy we hitched a ride from after Routeburn. Most people hitch and ditch, but because we = the shit Thom craved our company and wanted to meet up again. The other guy in the pic is Jeremy, Thom’s friend, who is celebrating his birthday. Guess how old. 18? No, try 32! I know, we were shocked too.


X takes one for the team….again, and let us post this funny and inebriated picture of her. For the record, all the Yoloers were in this state, but clearly X has a tendency to get caught on camera. This is Zach, another one of Thom’s friends. X batted her eyes a wee bit and somehow we all ended up with free drinks. Cheers!




Our night in a nutshell.







If you couldn’t tell from the last couple of pictures, the night was pretty rough, but it got even rougher at 6:30am when we had to get up the next morning to get on the Tragic bus to Dunedin. No worries, we did make it, but only after 4 hours of windy roads, nausea, and bad elevator music. We didn’t even get off the bus to get ice cream, normally the Yoloer’s favorite pit stop. Sorry guys, no pics from day number one in Dunedin, Maggie never left the hostel and the rest of us only made it to the grocery store. But lucky for you the Yoloers recover quickly and were back to the normal routine of finding free activities the next day.


The first free activity was the Otago museum. When they say interactive we take it to a whole new level. This was in the Antarctic exhibit, and lucky for us the museum supplied us with free explorer packs and an adventurer’s notebook (probably for kids). Nick, Maggie, and Caitlin examining the Antarctic wildlife.


Maggie injured her ankle on the ice, so X had to rush her back to Scott’s base for medical attention.


Although the Antarctic exhibit kept us busy for a while, we eventually moved on to the rest of the museum. Caitlin found more Moas!!!


Ok, this activity wasn’t free, but who wouldn’t spend $14 to visit Cadbury World!!!! We were taken on a chocolate factory tour, and the Yoloers dominated the Q and A portion, winning extra free samples (true, our competition was 4 year olds and non English speakers, but hey, when free candy’s on the line it’s on). This is a picture of the girls in Cadbury World. Notice the creepy plastic men coming out of the candy mountain.

After dinner and more chocolate, we re-packed our bags to set out, again, on board the Tragic Bus. The day on the Tragic Bus consisted of a few (free) stops on our way to Lake Tekapo.


The pictures of the actual street didn’t really do it justice. Not only because it was raining, but also because a street straight up, when photographed apparently looks like plain asphalt. For the record, Maggie beat every other fellow tragic bus rider to the top. Sadly there was no chocolate prize.


Next stop, Moeraki Boulders! These boulders are a geological phenomenon and our tragic bus driver advised us not to stand on the boulders because they are very delicate. However, half of the tragic bus proceeded to take their photos on top of the boulders- do the math, that means half of the tragic bus are non-English speakers or just idiots. And you wonder why we have yet to befriend a fellow tragic bus rider.


According to the tragic bus driver this was a “classy” stop on the magic path in NZ. Although it was free, even this seemed below the Yoloers free activities standards. Please check out the feeding in progress behind Maggie. But in all honesty, don’t think we didn’t actually feed the salmon, of course we did, it was free and fun!


We couldn’t catch the salmon in the air- but can you feel the excitement?!


The best thing about living in Christchurch and making best friends, is when you are traveling they offer to let you stay in their summer homes. This cabin was generously donated to the Yoloers for two days in Lake Tekapo from our very best friend, Ms. Sas Rhodes (who is also an avid blog reader- so thanks Sas- you’re the best!) Can we just say how excited we were to have a home for 48 hours (cause p.s. in case you have forgotten the four of us are technically homeless until May 8th)


Although Sas rocks, she did have some conditions if we were to stay in her cabin. One was to climb on top of the town statue, commemorating the sheep hearding capabilities of Mackensie the dog, for who the region was named after (we know, only in New Zealand). Here is Maggie taking one for the team, and earning us our stay.
So, what do you do when you have a home?


Live the high life and stop eating out of a bag.










In homes, you do jigsaw puzzles! It clearly has been a long time since we have had a home, because this puzzle wore Caitlin out. Notice the two cups of coffee she had to try and finish it. This puzzle took us two hours and there was not one word spoken between the Yoloers.





You play Trivial Pursuit! This edition proved to be a little tough, seeing as it was the 1983 New Zealand version. Some tricky questions were: “What are the colors of West Germany’s flag?” and “What was the royal sounding name of the horse that won the New Zealand cup in 1970 and 1971?” And no, there were no multiple choice options (but duh everyone knows the horse was Princess Melay)





And while doing all of those fun cabin activities, this beautiful lake was outside the whole time. Just goes to show you how happy we were to have a home. But, of course we did get out and explore the free activities in Lake Tekapo (walking around the lake).

Lake Tekapo was our last stop on the Tragic Bus before returning to Christchurch (but don’t worry we have one more excursion before ending our South Island adventure). To celebrate successfully surviving the Tragic Bus, we did what we know best- eating ice cream….out of a bag….and it may or may not have been 1 litre.


Long Live The Tragic Bus!

What's that smell? Oh it's us....

Continuing on the month long Yoloing adventure of the South Island, we arrived in Queenstown and got ready to start our first multi day tramp (that is kiwi speak for hike)- The Routeburn. The day we started the tramp was a little rocky, to say the least. We started the morning, bright eyed and ready for our first tramp, despite a foreboding weather forecast, calling for rain and wind.
11am we waited on the street for our shuttle to pick us up.
11:30 we were told the shuttle was on its way, just a little late.
1pm still no shuttle, and now we have rain.
2:30pm involved a mad dash to the city centre to book the last shuttle out of Queenstown to the start of the hike, because clearly our 11am pick up was a no show.
2:45pm sampling free fudge because the last shuttle is actually at 3:30pm.
3:00pm fifty cent cones at McDonalds.
3:30pm FINALLY off to start our three day, two night hike- luckily the first day’s hike was marked for 2.5 hours, but an easy hour hike for the Yoloers.

Meet Rudy (our tent). You have already met her in a previous post, but she gained a lot of character after Routeburn. In good weather, Rudy is happy. Notice how she is enjoying our first nights campsite. Notice also how its not raining or windy- these are Rudy’s favorite conditions.


Routeburn Flats Valley from the hike on day two. The Valley is where we camped the first night, and although it was in Rudy, you have to admit we have a knack for picking prime real estate.


These are the luxury villas, and the luxurious views, we stumbled upon after packing up Rudy to start our second day hiking. This is where you stay when you have money- aka forty dollars- but we prefer sleeping in the close knit quarters of Rudy for ten dollars.


Maggie and Caitlin on top of Harris Saddle. We made it to the highest point of the hike, and a good lunch spot. Please note the scary looking clouds in the background, because we didn’t.

The other side of Harris Saddle. Look, X already has her lunch out, when she should have her raincoat out, also not aware of the clouds facing her.

After lunch, those scary clouds opened up and our views turned into a white abyss, but in true yolo fashion we tramped on. Please notice the superb rain gear we brought with us, because also in true yolo fashion, we decided to maximize the efficiency of the weight in our packs, by nixing the clothes (because we are sure you have realized we are wearing the same outfit in every photo and those to come) and doubling the food.


We reached night two’s campsite location (down by Lake Mackensie). The weather let up for a bit, but it came back that night……

Ever seen the movie Twister? Welcome to night number two in Rudy. Rudy doesn’t like bad weather, especially when you can hear the wind coming around the mountain before it actually hits. But in the movie Twister, the characters were safe in a basement. We were in Rudy, who is temperamental in this weather. Throw buckets of rain into the picture and you get our 4:30am wake up call. As Nick is assuring us, the tent is not going to be blown away, X is saying “I hear the wind coming” and Maggie screams “Brace Rudy!” and as the wind whips around the corner while the rain crashes down on Rudy, Rudy is lifted up off the ground, leaving Caitlin screaming “I can see daylight!” The wind passes, and we are in a fit of giggles, probably out of nerves, as we hear more wind on its way. Inevitably, we had to pack up Rudy and make a run for it, trying to complete the last five hour leg of the tramp.


The only photo of day three on Routeburn. This was taken shortly before Maggie (in bottom left corner) took her own fall in Earland Falls- not that it made her anymore wet, we were already soaked. But no worries, everyone fell once on the way down.

We finished the tramp- but clearly not unscathed. X knows this picture is heinous, but for the good of the Yoloers, put it on the post just so all of you avid readers at home can know how awful the last day of the hike was.
Upon reaching the end of the track, we expected to be welcomed by a shelter and a shuttle. To our dismay, we were welcomed by a roof on stilts and no shuttle. Once again, we found ourselves waiting for the shuttle. Lucky for the Yoloers, Maggie brushed her hair and pounced on an unsuspecting pit stopper, and hitched us a ride (and a new friend) to Te Anau.


Two hours later in Te Anau. Isn’t it amazing what a shower and a little sunlight can do. Despite the bad weather, the yoloers successfully completed their first multi day tramp- go us.

Back to traveling Yoloers style, we searched for the free activities in Te Anau. We found the only thing to do was the Wildlife Center, aka cages with common bird species. This was the one rare find- the grand finale of the bird center, the Takahe. There are only 200 in the world, and there were 3 in this cage- that’s right we saw 1.5% of the population.


Seeing that there was nothing else for free to do, the Yoloers were left with few options as to what to do from Te Anau. The locals said there were shuttles they could take to see the Catlins coast and Milford Sound, but shuttles= bad news for the Yoloers, so we opted to rent a car.

Yay! We made it to the sunny coast. Nick and Maggie are enjoying the seaside breeze in the sun.

The next stop on the tour of the Catlins was Nugget Point, the southern most lighthouse in the world.

On our road trip, we found Porpoise Bay. Most people fork out hundreds to swim with dolphins; yet, once again, in true yoloer fashion we found where you can swim with them for free. Zoom in behind Christine to find the Hector dolphins in the waves (you can only see their fins, but they are there, we swear).


Pak 'N Save, another one of our favorite NZ fixes. We discovered at 7:00 pm this one puts all the bakery items on sale for 99 cents. Needless to say the manager had to take away the cart because we were taking too many items.


There are many uses for a rental car, one being a kitchen. What you cannot see is we are still in the Pak 'N Save parking lot. We even considered pitching Rudy next to the car but the time limit was only an hour and a half.

As with any New Zealand road trip, you must stop for at least one sheep crossing.

Sheep out number people 35:1. This pic captures the roadside view for a majority of the drive. We are pretty sure we have seen enough sheep to last a lifetime.


Next excursion with the rental was Milford Road where were hiked Gertrude saddle for a view of the Milford Sound. Here’s the valley in Gertrude Saddle. Do you see a path? Cause neither did we. Maybe because there wasn't one, unless you count stone markers.


Where’s Waldo aka Christine? Look between the two snow patches (zoom a lot) and you will see we still hadn't discovered a path. This hike allowed us to officially add "alpine mountaineering" to our resume.


At the top of Gertrude Saddle. Milford Sound, NZ's most prized natural wonder, in the background. Wish you were here? Well we were. YOLO

A little treat from us to you...

Last stop: Milford sound. We didn’t pay for the cruise but we still saw fabulous views.

This leg of our journey was clearly adventurous and worth our while but it did leave us with some interesting statistics

Days afoot: 7
Magic Bus rides: 0
Kilometers driven: 1000
Nights in Rudy: 3.5
Sandfly bites: 72 (But all on Maggie and Caitlin)
Blisters: 13 (Half on Christine)
Tumbles down the mountain: 1+ per Yoloer
Meals out of a bag: all of them
Days un-showered: 6 (And we wonder why we have trouble making friends while traveling)