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What a disappointment. Fun filled, adventure capital, Queenstown was a total bust for me.
It all started in Cromwell. I awoke too sick to cycle and so took a bus to Queenstown. In addition to my muscle pains and headache I had my monthly visitor. Great.
When I arrived, Ashley and I went to the information centre where I booked a skydive. My attempt to do it in Wanaka was cancelled so it was a much anticipated activity that I was very excited for. I was hoping the adrenalin would also help give me that needed boost. The weather was not looking good so the next available booking was in two days time.
I got so close. They brought us to the dropsite, I had my jump suit on, ready to board the plane and ... Clouds rolled in. Jump suits off, back on the bus and back into town.
The next morning when I went to grab my breakfast I realized that my entire bag of groceries was swiped from the fridge. I had between 25 and 30 dollars worth of delicious goods in there including market cheese and jam that I splerged on in Cromwell.
I had rebooked my skydive for the following day in Glenorchy - a picturesque piece of paradise where they filmed much Lord of the Rings footage and are currently filming The Hobbit. Of course, to my dismay and obvious luck, that too was cancelled. That was my last opportunity to skydive so I said "screw it" and booked a very expensive jet boating trip instead. It had rave reviews.
That was the biggest waste of money of my life; I've never spent so much to be miserable. We sat in the jet boat cruising around in the pelting rain and cold surrounded by zero visibility of what would have been spectacular views. The driver even stopped at one point just to turn around and verbalized how horrendous the experience was.
At some point the weather cleared, perfectly timed for when we docked and got off the boat.
When I got back from that trip I had to go straight to the walk-in clinic because I had an infected bug bite on my arm that needed attention. Of course, many hours and $200 later I was on my way, antibiotics in hand.
"At least I get to leave tomorrow" was running through my head.
My intention of cycling out the next morning was also foiled when the temperature dropped. It started snowing and the winds went up to 75km/hr.
I was trapped for another day. Though I did have a fake fire at the hostel to cuddle up next too.
In summary,Queenstown really wasn't the paradise for me that other people experience. Such is life.
Unfortunately, the combination of all of the above made me lose my ambition for cycling. If I wasn't so foolhardy to finish my goal I would have thrown it all in right there and called it the end.
Turns out I'm really glad that I didn't (isnt that always the way?). For the ride out of Queenstown heading south was one of my favorite rides in all of New Zealand. The Devil's Staircase is its name and beauty is its game.
Cycling along the mountain range 'The Remarkables' made me certainly appreciate and realize how they came to be named, as they were just that - remarkable!
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Z <3