Day 146 - Greymouth

Great day yesterday! Picked up the Barn crew, and the bus began to wind itself through some of the most beautiful scenery I've seen in NZ so far. It's like home, but bigger. All the rivers flow along very wide beds. Is NZ geographically younger than Ireland? Only at the U-shaped valley stage, before progressing to the V-shape? Is that correct? ...JC geography was a long time ago.

Picnic stop for lunch. Photo stop at the Kilkenny lookout. Arrive into Greymouth, hostel is big and purple, has a bar. A few of us head on a brewery tour, which is actually a DVD and a tasting. Turns out Montieth's was founded by an Irishman, but are ultimately owned by Heineken today. Dinner follows, am talking with Canadian Rachel a lot, cute girl, black curly hair. We share a jug of beer.

Weka birds, a bit like kiwis, but not

Punakaiki, home to the pancake rocks

René, Leah, Rachel and moi

Back to the hostel, where a party is not yet happening. We start on our costumes, which have to be made entirely from black plastic bags and duct tape. I fashion some trousers and a vest-type garment. Some of the girls manage quite decent efforts - fitted dresses and skimpy outfits. One guy makes a jacket. Snowflake just has a loincloth. Olly is a gimp. Fun and games ensue - bingo, then a game where everyone has to pick up a box with their teeth, without touch the ground with hands, elbows, knees, etc. A few of the girls are champions at it. Each round a part is torn off the box, so it gets more difficult. Snowflake, one other dude and I make a decent effort. It ends with having to pick up a fifty cent coin. Leah succeeds, and so do I! I pump my fist in triumph. One free shot at the bar.

Laura, Michelle, Heidi and Lena as nuns

Me and Snowy

Rachel and Heidi

Inge and Anne-Louise

The Gimp

Party continues a while longer, lots of silly dancing, including a bit of a ceilí. When I get to bed, I'm out like a light, don't hear Corney come in.

Up for a shower this morning, porridge, and a wander around town with Rachel. Along the river there are a few interesting museum pieces, but the town is fairly quiet overall.