Adrenaline From Go To Whoah!
This morning marked the second time on this trip we have been jolted from our blissful slumber by an ear piercing alarm. While the whining air raid siren from Methven had been fairly loud, this alarm – sounding more like a cat being strangled than anything – was like the other alarm on steroids. Even Sam and Toby, who are almost in a state of comatose when they are asleep, couldn’t have missed this baby! It was LOUD, in every room in our apartment and every apartment in our complex! At 6:01am sharp.
It’s funny to watch the way different people react in an emergency. Ross leapt up out of bed like a man on a pogo stick, pulling on pants and tying up shoelaces; it was like he knew what was going on and was acting on pure instinct. Sam too, was ready for action, springing into his clothes and having a clear enough head to go straight to the evacuation procedure poster on the back of the front door, reading it aloud to us all and telling us we needed to get outside the building and meet out the front. He got clothes ready for Maisy too. My head was swimming with questions fuelled by panic: “do you think this is real?”, “do we need to wear shoes?”, “can we go in our pyjamas?”, “won’t it be freezing outside?”…
Tobes was in the middle of a dream where his friend had made an alarm and was testing it out for Toby’s approval. Tobes was admiring the alarm in his dream when he suddenly realised it was a reality! Meanwhile, Molly and Maisy were obeying orders to get jackets and shoes on, preparing to congregate out on the footpath, in the pitch darkness (the sun doesn’t come up here until 8:15) with everyone else from our complex.
The one poor staff member on duty was having a bad day. He was clearly in a panic, racing around, trying to get adrenaline filled people safely evacuated and fielding truckloads of questions. The assortment of outfits on the footpath was hilarious. Most of us were still sporting our pjs, with various ski jackets and dressing gowns thrown on top and there was some epic bed hair! Some panicked souls had fled without shoes or shirts – not great in subzero conditions! Our kind neighbours at Rydges next-door allowed us to take refuge in their lobby; a welcome warm relief.
Three fire engines had rolled up with flocks of firefighters, showing impressive levels of calm, entering our building. The signs in our bathrooms requesting we shut the bathroom doors to prevent the smoke alarms going off, had caused widespread speculation that all of this was simply due to some imbecile who had showered with the door open. Surely not?
After what seemed like a longer time than it probably was, our exciting adventure was over and we, the sleepwear clad refugees, were allowed back into the warmth of our rooms again, feeling like we’d bonded with our fellow guests on a level you can only get to once you’ve seen each other in your pyjamas. Over breakfast we learnt that a small fire had broken out in one of the rooms, caused by a faulty toaster. It’s better to be safe than sorry, right?
Our first stop this morning was the Shotover River where my adrenaline-seeking family were booked in to experience New Zealand’s most famous jetboat ride. It’s fairly well-documented that I have an overactive sense of self-preservation (read: “I’m a monumental chicken”) so I was designated photographer for the morning. Everyone had to rug up and was issued with a long waterproof jacket, life jacket, face mask and clear goggles before climbing aboard the supersonic jetboat. It looked awesome! They were hooning along at break-neck speed, veering sharply to negotiate the skinny gorge, narrowly missing rocks and cliff faces as they sped past! The grinning passengers couldn’t get enough, hooting and squealing; having a ball! Poor Molly, who has now joined Maisy and I in acquiring Toby’s cold and cough (he’s much better now), couldn’t get her hands – numb with cold – warm again. Some trusty hot chocolates did the trick.
Ross, having been here a few times before, played tour guide for us, showing us around and taking us to a beautiful golf course he’d once played, where the view of the Remarkables was sensational. We all jumped out of the car to admire the vista, all that is, except Maisy who was still in the car. She eventually popped herself out and delivered the line no mother wants to hear… ever: “I’ve got some really bad news Mum,” Oh no. That could mean anything. Did I really want to know? Was there some good news to go with it? I swallowed hard and waited for the end of the sentence. “I’ve just vomited in the car.” G R E A T. I mean, poor Maisy. She’d had a coughing fit and thrown up. She did reassure us by telling us she’d only had a small breakfast – a consolation of sorts! What is it with Maisy’s penchant for depositing bodily fluids in hire cars? Luckily the Golf Club came to the rescue with disinfectant, sponges and paper towel and after a quick mop up job we were on our way again; Molly, Sam and Toby squeezed into the backseat like sumos in a Mitsubishi (not so squeezy), avoiding the middle seats like the plague.
Now, fully recovered from our ordeal, it was time for the Zip Trek (or Zup Trik, as they say here in NZ). Ross, Sam, Molly and Toby walked up Queenstown Mountain – no mean feat – while I took a recovering Maisy up on the gondola and met them at the top. Molly’s ankle held out, which was great. Everyone was given a beanie and helmet and harnessed up for the trek – “an exhilarating zipline adventure situated high above Queenstown…breathing pristine mountain air…you’ll glide through ancient native beech tree tops with spectacular views on a stunningly beautiful guided journey…”
As the rest of my family embarked on their zipline journey high above Queenstown I was told I’d see them in a little while. ‘How long could it take to fly down a zip line?’ I thought. Long enough to do an entire cross-stitch and learn a new language it turns out. They were gone for hours! The Zip Trek definitely lived up to the brochure though and everyone absolutely loved it! Maisy told me it was “the BEST experience of her entire life!” Quite an endorsement!
Popping into town to get the ski hire gear for tomorrow, we bumped into Matt and Ryan-o, Toby’s footy coaches. We’d been in contact but this was the first time we’d actually seem them. From all reports they’ve also been having a brilliant time in Queenstown! Dinner tonight was at “Sombreros” Mexican restaurant (which we’d remembered to book) and came highly recommended. It didn’t disappoint, especially for Ross in the hot chilly department! The events of the day had obviously taken a toll on tired Tobes and as he leant back on the wall conveniently located behind him, he drifted off into a sound slumber, right there at the dinner table (much to the amusement of the staff and other diners)!
