WG visitors

[johnr]

You know, I live in a small (50,000) city at the bottom of the South Island of New Zealand.  It used to be, and may well still be, the most southern city in the world, and is not renown for good weather.

If you go east of here, you hit Southern Chile. If you go west. you hit Southern Argentina.  Wind,wave and weather comes predominantly from the South-West and has all the way from South America to build up a good head of steam. As a result our port, Bluff, is sited in what is reputed to be the second roughest strait in the world, Foveaux Strait.  We are right plonk in the middle of the Roaring 40s and funnel them.

Not many people visit here, even other New Zealanders tend to cringe at the idea. The place is a farming center not a tourist destination.

I get a huge kick then when visitors from other parts turn up at my door. This especially so when said visitors are other members of Wild Guzzi.

Yesterday it was Waterbottle and his fair lady from Queensland Australia.  I, being poverty struck as I am could offer a cup of instant coffee. They instead shouted me to a dinner out. A real treat for me and one I both appreciated hugely and made the most of!

It was a very pleasant evening IMHO, and I thank them both.



I'm the old fart in the rear. You know, neither cameras not mirrors seem to work for me any more. the picture they show tend to be different from each other but both show some old derelict wearing my clothes!

[oldbike54]

 Good job all three of you 

 Dusty

[Jim Rich]

Always enjoy hearing from you John.  I avoid mirrors too.  You just might be the most Southern Guzzi rider in the world as well. 

[johnr]

Always enjoy hearing from you John.  I avoid mirrors too.  You just might be the most Southern Guzzi rider in the world as well.

Thanks Jim. 
I can't claim to be the most Southern Guzzi rider though. A/ because it's not currently being ridden (a few expenses and problem solving required) and B/ because there are several of them down  here.

[beetle]

Don't let Ron near your rum. 

[Tom]

Good to you were able to get together. 

[balvenie]

What an amazing surprise
Onya Waterbottle

[ritratto]

A great story! Would love to see that part of the world some day. 

[azguzzirep]

John, I wish my wife and I had one more day to spend there. We made it as far south as Georgetown but had to cut across the island to get to the airport . Really sorry a drop in didn't pan out.

So close yet so far!
Tom

[pebra]

It's a small world!
When you get far enough south it can't be larger than a pinprick!
Cheers  John! 

[Dean Rose]

And I thought I was a Southerner. Looking good there John.

Dean

[LowRyter]

geographical oddity

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[johnr]

You know Dean I've never really noticed before how solidly that sign is constructed. I suppose it has to withstand wind and weather mixed with a good dollop of salt spray (and perhaps the occasional bullet). 

It tickles me also that along with the pointers to places of great gravity and importance, they have  one pointing to Dog Island, a few Ks out in the strait.

[johnr]

John, I wish my wife and I had one more day to spend there. We made it as far south as Georgetown but had to cut across the island to get to the airport . Really sorry a drop in didn't pan out.

So close yet so far!
Tom

Sorry about that too Tom. Realistically though, assuming you mean Christchurch airport, I think you would have needed two days to get down to me and then to the airport. More if you wanted to look around a bit.

[johnr]

Waterbottle was somewhat taken by our water tower.



We used to be able to go up the inside and out on the walkway round the tank itself. It was nice to be able to do that as there aren't too many decent viewa to be had in a flat city. It's 100 feet up.  Ever  since Christchurch chose to flatten itself though govt. has got all paranoid about the risk of brick constructions in an earthquake and it is considered too dangerous to go up there.

What a load of baloney!  That tower has stood there, in an actual earthquake zone (unlike Christchurch) since 1889 and been subjected to a number of quakes greater than Magnitude 7. It has yet to develop even a crack!

[pete roper]

He didn't try and do that horrid thing with the penguin did he?

They don't have Penguins in Gladstone and every time he comes south here he's doing that disgusting, furtive, 'On the hunt' thing.

Jan keeps the taser to hand but he's incorrigible. (Check your piggy bank. He does nasty things to porcelain as well.)

 

[johnr]

I can attest to no such aberrant behavior. Perhaps because he had to drive me home.....

[Waterbottle]

This was only done to get back at the kiwis for what they do to our Aussie sheep .......