Bloody Telecom
December 31st, 2007 at 5:01 pm by David FarrarOkay this is a near unique reason to be peeved at Telecom. Nothing to do with phone service.
Auckland Girl and I decided to go for a little jog, and I suggested we go to Shelly Bay, go up the path to Massey Memorial and then climb the track to the top of the hill, by the prion rugby league field. Then after that you go over the hill a bit more and then go down a track by the pine forest, which eventually comes out on Fort Dorest Road next to the Telecom satellite there. From there you go down onto Massey Road and it’s just 2 or so kms back to the start point along the coast.
The (Google) map above gives a general idea of where we we planning to go from and to.
I’ve been over the trail many times, but not for over a year. Anyway we took off at 1 pm and headed up. Eventually got to the top, and then a faster pace going down the track. It is always a bit overgrown so you can’t go too fast, and it was rather swampy also. Auckland Girl was less than pleased with her now stinky shoes.
Then I could see the Telecom satellite dish just 50 metres away and we were just about down to Fort Dorset Road. And what the hell is at the end of the track? A fucking great big barbed wire fence, stretching as far as one could see in each direction.
Now the satellite dish itself has of course always been protected, by both an electric fence and barbed wire. But this is a totally new fence which blocked off all access to the road from the trail. Grrrr.
Couldn’t they have put a sign up at the start of the track saying it is now a dead end! So we had to turn about and head back through the swampy trail again back up to the pine forest. We then decided that rather than go all the way back the way we came, we’d cut into the pine forest and try and get down to the road from there. Not necessarily the safest thing we have done as the slope in places is oh 70 degrees or so. But we did find a reasonably safe route which got us down around 1 km from the start, so we could at least finish it with some flat road.
For some reason Auckland Girl is now not so keen for me to choose the next route.
Have actually been getting to do some nice routes over the last week. On Friday finally went and visited the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary and did a 2 hour loop track there. They also have a track up to the Brooklyn wind turbine which I am keen to try out.
Saturday I explored some of the more obscure tracks on Tinakori Hill, going up from the top of the Park Street stairs, up until it joined the Northern Walkway and then north along that until you come out in Wilton. It’s wonderful having such superb bush walks and tracks just a few minutes from the CBD. The town belt is a wonderful treasure.
Anyway NYE Party tonight, so best go off and get ready for that. See everyone in 2008!
No tag for this post.
December 31st, 2007 at 5:25 pm
LOL – I heard Perigo’s joke about how you will go for the pies.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 5:33 pm
Dave’s just about ready for 10 days in the trackless, dark, wet bush of South Westland next roar.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Tina,
I hope he watches out for Moa’s or should I say red eye Mao’s, as my pet one got riped off by some telecom bastard who sold it to a pie man , who chundered all it over James Weep .
Happy New Year boys and girls, have a good one and see you next year .
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 5:50 pm
Errr…sorry, my bad…make that Sue Westland.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 5:53 pm
As a Wellington runner I understand your frustration.
However this may not be a Telecom issue. It’s network is regarded as vital infrastructure and frequently the physical security standards (with organisational complicity, – quite properly) are imposed by Civil Defence groups or others. It may well be such intervention.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Happy New Year folks also to you Peter.
Have a good one.
2007 Over and out
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:03 pm
Good on ya David.
Peter, go easy mate, it’s ok to disagree with someone, but… don’t take it to far.
Have a good one James.
Heheheh, and I’ve got a present for all Socialists which I’ll be passing out probably 1 Jan 08. I guess all the rest of us can enjoy it too.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:06 pm
You’re a smooth operator, aren’t you dad…..
There are a number of people alive right now who will be dead by tommorrow morning due al k hol and cars.
Happy trading in 2008, campers.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:18 pm
Good point made.
D4J has some respect right now.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:25 pm
have* – Sorry.
It should be – D4J have some respect right now.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:28 pm
Tina , not a smooth operator darling, just an ex solider and yes I was taught to take it a bit far , you release the safety catch and then you pull the trigger . Respect means nothing when you are at war Andy . Nothing at all . Just do the job until objective is achieved, and by the way experience, like wisdom is better than youth for advise thanks .
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:38 pm
D4J – you have a good evening
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Dave?????? you ran??????
Vote:Hmmmmmm…..
HPNY all. kisses to some.
December 31st, 2007 at 7:02 pm
Sigh…dad, not a literal thing …more a sardonic comment on the deleted post.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 7:14 pm
Sorry Tina, I did not mean vulgarity or profanity with that post , just satire that went too far. I try to take wit to a knife edge fine line and yes, I often overstep the mark . No ball ruled by umpire . Good stuff black caps, mettle at last .
Vote:Good evening me lady .
December 31st, 2007 at 7:54 pm
Now come on Dad, Tina does realy love you.
Vote:Just play the game her way, you may even get a kiss at midnight.
December 31st, 2007 at 8:15 pm
As the bar – b cranks up….you need to know you are not alone…
Rudd is doing a Hulun imitation….as in, making decisions for adults who choose to make their own decisions
Looking like a one termer…
http://timblair.net/ee/index.php/weblog/comments/rudd_flanders/
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 8:18 pm
Steve, talking about a kiss at midnight , just waiting for a cab so me and my good lady can go into town . Hope everybody has a safe night and fun , no aggro crap, truce , keep cool too after school . Cheers and good luck with festivities .
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 8:20 pm
Sorry to be so anal…but it’s fort Balance…fort Dorset was in Seatoun.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 8:31 pm
Original topic here was “Bloody Telecom”
Vote:They need a new image and name change,
“Pelican” then they can both stick their bills up their arse.
Happy New Year
December 31st, 2007 at 8:37 pm
Nah Steve….you didn’t get it.
Original topic was incompetence.
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 8:55 pm
Rudds dreams of control the “inefficent” blogosphere will come to naught….
Aust. rises.
“My dreams of attracting a beautiful Eastern European woman with my massive cock, cost priced viagra from Canada, a cheap Rolex watch plus the inside scoop on stocks that are about to rocket, have been dashed by Rudd and his henchman.”….Infidel Tiger
Vote:December 31st, 2007 at 10:37 pm
dpf? running!?! wow!
Vote:January 1st, 2008 at 12:09 am
new year happy all!!!
Vote:January 1st, 2008 at 7:37 am
happy new years day everyone.
Vote:January 1st, 2008 at 7:48 am
The irony is that these “security fences” [like minefields] don’t keep the bad guys out unless they are actively monitored by a pair of Mark I eyeballs 24/7.
However I’m sure that some smug little bureaucrat gleefully ticked off “Satellite dish, Wellington, security fence” on his check-box list.
Vote:August 29th, 2011 at 7:31 pm
Knickers!!
Vote: