SO - SDU Cruise to Queenstown

SDU - CRUISE TO QUEENSTOWN MAIN TOP

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SATURDAY, 05 TO MONDAY, 07 JUNE 2004
For what its worth, the Queenstown trip did actually turn out to be a very awesome one.

People had been pulling out left, right and center and it was starting to look like it might not go ahead. The lodge said we couldn't get the group discount anymore because of all the people pulling out (everyone had months to prepare for it...) so eventually we all had to book our own accomodation which really wasn't that hard at all.

But anyway. Me and Dad were the first to arrive at about 1:30pm Saturday and we got our cabin key and took off to mosey around Queenstown then the two Josh's (Escudo, GTS-t) arrived just a few minutes or so after we left. We later got back to camp wondering where everyone was - then found out they had been there for ages already. D'oh!

So we all went out for tea at an Indian restaurant (i won't say anything Vince ;)) and headed back to camp for a few drinks. I busied myself holding up one of the walls in the 'lounge' while listening to everyones conversations (up to three conversations going on at the same time to people on every side of the room!) while not drinking anything (don't drink alcohol you see). Later on when it was black outside Matt, Janine and Daryl a.k.a. losseunit (went home the same night) all arrived and joined the party.

The next day it had snowed overnight and was 'quite' cold. kyteler and his brother arrived from Invercargill in the morning with his C110 Skyline and we (C110, GTS-t and GTS-4) went over to see what Matt was up to but there was no sign of life at the cabin. So we then headed off to Arrowtown because thats where we knew the rest of them had gone (to a 4WD track in the mountains).

Then once they got back from the 4WD trip they were on we all took off to Q-town and got lunch. McDonalds was enough for me and Dad - but it got cold sitting in the car after we arrived at the gondola place because the few of us that were there wanted to go up the gondola. So then we all headed up it, joking about the cables snapping or why there was a cemetary right at the bottom of the gondola ride. The view was very awesome. The air temperature wasn't.

The luge had been closed due to ice but after a while they re-opened it which sent Josh and Tracey up for three luge rides. Me and Dad could only manage it once - will remember to bring gloves next time... The luge is very awesome fun though.

Michael and co. headed off back to Invercargill after the wee cruise around town (four cars) and later after going out for tea at Pizza Hut (us two taking a ride in Matt's car) we headed off on a drive. Which consisted of going left. Then right. then left, right, left, left etc until we somehow ended up in a carpark. Was very funny to say the least (you had to be there!). losseunit then called up and headed off to Arrowtown to meet us. We then took off to Arrowtown via a very windy road (sorry about the handprints embedded in the back seat Matt!) and it was at night too which made it seem faster than it was. And the massive orange moon? Can you say 'freaky'?

After meeting up with Daryl we all decided that four cars are better than three so we went back to camp to pick up the GTS-4. Then another cruise around town including three or four laps around the main shopping area - only attracting a Ford Falcon ute and Lancer EVO II. This town is dead on Sunday nights. We did get more than a few looks from people though which was really great.

The Police didn't get a good look at our cars so drove past two times while we were parked opposite KFC on the main street. Local Queenstown Skyline owner Shane told us the next day (a bit too late) when we met him, that the Police would have been watching us cruise around town via the cameras set up everywhere. Bugger.

Sunday turned up the best lineup of cars. A R33 GTS-25t, three R32 GTS-t's and an R32 GTS-4 were involved in another cruise and photo shoot until lunchtime where we all bought something from McCafe (Janine finally letting Matt have KFC) and had it in the parky thing across the road.

Then goodbyes were said and everyone slowly piled out of the town. I drove all the way back here. The car wasn't used to going so slow so it packed up for Dad when he took off back home!

So far it has been the best cruise and neither me nor Dad wanted to leave. But after spending $600+ we had no choice really.