Shifties Hit Taupo

We left on Thursday, in Taera’s little amazing Civic. I don’t think it had ever been revved over 3000rpm, but Andy and I managed to get Taera storming into the 4000rpm heady heights. The first night was just like a school camp, missions to the liquor store, infighting over who got the best beds (bad arses in the bunks - man I wanted some NWA) and merry drinking and first meetings.

The following morning we had an early start and progressed through the days workshops. I found them pretty interesting, I maybe should have been listening more about what people were saying, but to be honest I was more interested in how they said it, and their thought processes. I guess I learnt more about how to talk and think about business decisions more than anything else.

That afternoon we divided into teams and had an amazing/race treasure hunt, taking images based around keywords. It was a pretty good bonding session, and apart from some minor traffic incidents we all survived. School bus styles to dinner, classy place, and then to the local back-packers hang out “The Holy Cow”. Back to the lodge with some Jagermeister and good times were had by all.

Singstar is a pretty crazy game, I may have been drunk, but I wasn’t game enough to embarrass myself that badly. Especially after Auckland coder Damen administered the most perfect a cappella Sweet Child of Mine ever recorded.

The following morning, I think it was safe to say most of us felt like crap, the conference took on a more somber tone, but by lunch everyone was feeling a bit better. We finished up at the hot springs, enjoying the hydroslide until a number of senior staff got told off by the lifeguards for inappropriate slide techniques.

Saying goodbye to Wellington, and the rest of the Auckland team, Andy, Taera and I managed to hang in the pools for an hour or so longer. I get a funny feeling at these times, like the empty, sad, last-person-on-the-earth, blues you get in an empty dorm at the end of school camp.

We took the easy road to Rotorua, had a quiet night and decided to try and find some rumored free hot water springs in the bush outside of Rotorua. Well, nestled around 15 minutes of Rotorua, we came upon it. A pumice lined pool, filled by both a cold freshwater river, and a hot spring meant that by simply locating yourself in different parts of the pool, you were able to control a suitable temperature.

Unfortunately our arrival was preceded by some Shore kids (bleached hair, loud mouths, vacant heads) which kind of ruined any calming atmosphere we were hoping to enjoy. Though they soon left, and we were joined by some characters I won’t forget.

Garth and his mate had driven 5 hours from Porirua with 24 beers, Fanta and a Continental Chocolate selection, just so that they could enjoy a great night at their old childhood haunt. Friendly and generous we had a few good laughs and beers as the place grew totally dark. I can still see the image of Garth leaning up against the bank, torch hung above him on a tree root, like a spot light. Hot water up to his chest, beer in one hand, cigarrette poking out of the corner of his mouth, as he nonchalantly referred to the Chocolate Selection chart and plucked his choices out of the box propped on his knees.

After boiling away our aches and pains from the last few raucous days we headed back the cabin for an early night. Andy and I had to share a sleeping bag, and endure someone else’s volcanic snoring.

Early morning we awoke and headed out to Forest for some mountain biking. I once again demonstrated my appalling fitness, and scary speed-in-the-place-of-skill technique by having a number of tumbles, include a large one right down into a gully. I don’t know how I managed to land on something soft every time.

After testing the patience of my riding buddies, we made it back the car in one piece. We snuck back to the holiday park for quick showers before heading up to the Luge.

Fortunately this was my time for retribution. Luge-virgin Andy put on a brave effort, but sadly pushed it too far resulting in the hugest luge crash I’ve ever seen. He hit the curb so hard he came out of the luge and continued sliding down the concrete on his bum. His whole body twisted on impact like a jelly-man. We won’t mention in the incident involving side-swiping the little girl causing her to crash and start crying. I’d like to think that I won our races, but there were a number of racing incidents that meant the result is somewhat debatable. It was a very funny and exciting afternoon.

That afternoon we left Rotorua and headed for home, after a truly awesome weekend.