12-1-10

It was a short drive in to Motukea for the crew to try our favorite meat pies at Patisserie Royal, however we had just eaten oatmeal for breakfast not 30min prior to our arrival at the bakery. This can't stop us from a little indulgence to some of the best meat pies in NZ.  It soon turned ugly, meat pies were not the only thing on the menu, apple fritters, custards, cream filled donuts, and a chocolate croissant also made it into our belly's! Feeling like fatties we heaved our big asses back into Serena and drove to Blenhiem low rider style.

In Blenhiem we booked a night at Watson's backpackers that was recommended by the couple from Vale, CO that we met at the Barn. We set up our tents, rented bike's, and peddled to the vineyards. I felt very french, with my new pixie hair cut, riding a bike through acre's or hectars (as they call them) of vineyards, and having the next few hours of my life be all about wine! This romantic fantasy was interrupted once I realized I had keep my head out of the clouds and concentrate on directing the guys who were all over the road!  

We went to 5 vineyards and one brewery, while I wish I could recount all of the wines, and vineyard names, here are the highlights I remember (from sober to tipsy):

1.  The first place only let us try 5 out of there 10 wines this = lame but was a good place to start

2. The second place was extremely lame because we had to pay $2 to taste, but we still got a little fuel to keep going

3. Moa brewery was great we were only supposed to try 5 beers,  the gal behind the counter was from CA so we chatted with her and she kept pouring good portions, we made it through all their beers and ciders! VIVA America!

4. The next place looked like it was in a strip mall, and the worker did not care about her job so she poured all of the wines and let us behind the counter, silly Kiwi, she could have refused to serve us do to our level of intoxication.

5. Pulling into the next winery Ben got footage of me twice attempting to parallel my bike in a huge car spot and not quite succeeding either time…the lady working said it was our lucky day since they never have all 6 bottle of the sparkling wine (champagne) open but the french wine maker had a private tasting with a british journalist so we reaped the benefits and drank the bubbly like rap stars!

6. Paul goes crazy after seeing a street sign "Paul RD" he climbs up it like a monkey. VIVA Pablo

7. Kasey's bike is broken and is peddling harder than the rest of us, which I imagine is getting harder after each tasting.

8. We get to the last winery close to closing time, we roll up very loud and "shhh" each other and try to play it cool so we will be served…this lady was very boring, however she let us try all 11 wines! Sucker!

9.  Ben keeps riding on the back rack, chopper style.

10. We somehow make it back to the Backpakers riding along side the highway.

Needing some good old pub food to soak up the wine we went to the Cork n Keg and ordered up some fish and chips, it hit the spot.  After looking around we were defiantly surrounded by good ole boy Kiwi's just off from work, and one random one who was wearing a flannel shirt, plaid barrette style hat, and well i'm still not sure if he had any shorts on (the shirt was long and i'm hoping his shorts were just extra short.) Getting sleepy we left the pub and walked back to Watts. The guys left in search of more booze and Kasey and I in search of water! 

Kasey got sucked into a conversation with Meredith and Mikey a couple from Georgia (not originally) they started their traveling in Nicaragua and went into Columbia and other central and south american countries, they will be in NZ for the next 2 weeks before heading to SE Asia.  They were very nice, but soon Meredith got annoying and would not stop talking, maybe we were tired and coming down from our vino overload and did not give her a fair chance but we were both done with the conversation.  They guys were outside playing bocce ball and having a grand time, but darkness crept in and chased them in doors, for round two of cribbage.

Let me first say that not one of us was in the right state to be playing cribbage, for one thing Meredith was talking the entire time and it was very distracting, second me, Kasey, and Justin lost only because our heads were not in the game, and this lead to lots of drunk shit talking and people missing points and accusing each other of wrong counting and other cribbage related jargon. Then Paul brings out these platic pre made shot glasses that were baily's in one half and melon liquor in the other, just peel back the foil top and enjoy (it was better than it sounds but not much.) Most of us made the right decision and went to bed after cribbage, but Paul and Jeff stayed up for a Gin and Tonic and told fishing stories.  Something worth noting is the disclaimer Kasey and I gave our men "if you guys want to stay up fine, but don't wake us up when you come to bed" And of course the promises of being quite were just as true as a Kiwi saying there roads are good, total BS! I'm awakened by "Hey babe, sorry to wake you but do you know were my toothbrush is?" Having anticipated this and left it right by the tent door gave my annoyed answer " "YYEESS", and pointing to it as I let out a growl of irritation. Paul "Thanks babe, I love you" then after brushing his teeth "Babe is there a water bottle in the tent?" "no" "Well can I have the key to the van to get one?" "here" "Thanks babe, I love you!" It was pretty funny and we both passed out for the night, and I'm pretty sure Paul did not take one drink from the water bottle.