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TRAVEL NZ ONBOARD A STRAY BACKPACKER
BUS
Stray Newsletter
24 July 2008
Short shorts!
Kia Ora!
Neil’s Stuff:
Hi everyone,
I’m off catching up with some of our North Island operators today with Taxi (Stray’s Operations Manager) and Heather (Stray’s General Manager) so I thought I’d just leave a quote I found in Lonely Planet’s ‘The Travel Book’ about our favourite country…
“One could be forgiven for thinking that Mother Nature decided to take her best features and exhibit them all in this South Pacific island nation. All the classics are there – awe-inspiring Alps, plunging fjords, expanses of pristine beaches, dense rainforest, and active volcanoes but what makes this such a stellar performer is the sheer concentration of it all. Top it off with a lively indigenous culture, cosmopolitan cities and people with a distinctly Kiwi lust for life, and you know this is one special country.”
If you haven’t already, come check it out for yourself.
Lots of cheers,
Neil
Craig’s Stray Stuff:
Hello,
I’m writing this as I dry out from the stormy weather that has gripped Auckland over the past week. We’ve seen it all, from wind and torrential rain to ducks throwing parties in the numerous puddles that have sprung up! What a week!
A reminder to all those who’ll be passing through Auckland on Friday that it is the First Annual Stray Olympics being held at Base Fort Street. This is shaping up to be quite the event as the teams start to prepare themselves. There will be games and prizes for the best athletic outfit. (Lycra usually proves to be a solid winner!)
In other news, Stray’s 20% off deal is quickly coming to an end. While the 2 for 1 activities will continue through until the end of September, 20% will finish up the end of this month. Get in now while the deals are great. Remember that you have six months to start your pass from the day you’ve purchased it.
Well that’s it for me as I’m off to find the shortest running shorts in Auckland for the Olympics (be scared).
Keep dry, and start training,
Craig
Stuff from the Road (by Apples the driver!):
Hellola!
Coming to you from The Park Travellers Lodge this week, National Park. It's been ages since I was last through here. The place is looking great. They've put in a big new internet station which they have nicknamed "The Tardis". Plenty of computers for everyone situated near to the open fire and close to the ambiance from Spiral Bar. The landscaping out front looks fantastic and they are cooking up a curry every Tuesday, washed down with a pint for ten bucks, yum ... yum their meals are great!
Went to Gordonton this week for the first time in my life, to pick up one of our new trailers from the Stray/Spaceships factory. When I pulled into the yard, Rory appeared to be involved in some sort of conversation with this big shiny new trailer. Getting out from my bus and walking towards this work of art on wheels, it seemed the trailer was talking back, until Rory opened the side door and up popped Leon, who had been impersonating a backpack.
I got a tour of the yard; there were heaps of Spaceships landed, waiting for summer. They made me a cuppa, while various Dave's in blue overalls were putting the finishing touches to the trailer; the first of it's kind to come off the Gordonton production line. Sparks were flying (orange to match the bus and the trailer), modifications were made to the wheel while I watched, the foldaway wheel that takes the ache out of shifting trailers from the tow bar. Bloody genius! It's also fitted with bike and surfboard racks, and looks super styling! Drove out of Gordonton proud as punch, and standing out like an orange bus with a new trailer attached! Rock n roll with your Kiwi ingenuity G town!
There's a few of our favourite drivers moving on, boo hoo we will miss you! On behalf of Gollum and all of us drivers, two and a half words....
Chur chur bro!
Ciao Chicos
love Apples xxxx
Catch ya further off the beaten track,
Team Stray and Space
PS not too short please Craig!
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