Tag Archives: Beyoncé

Fernhill; Queenstown3

Leave a reply

I’m trying to really make the most of my time in pre-employment here in Queenstown (also known as unemployment). And since I have my first day working tomorrow I had to make the most of my last day of leisure today. I began the day down the gym with a personal training session partaking in my new physical pursuit: weight lifting! An upcoming personal goal requires me to hulk-up (or is it bulk-up?), and it seems fate is on my side for this one. Whilst hitching a lift into town last week, my friendly lift-giver explained that he was studying to be a personal trainer… Me: “I actually need a personal trainer, particularly to build strength” Him “I need clients to train for my qualification. And I can’t charge you. And I specialise in strength training.” If that ain’t serendipity then call me Mystic Meg.

So after a morning pumping iron, an afternoon of scouring charity shops for work trousers, followed by my fave hill home, I could easily have curled up on the sofa with a cuppa and gazed out at the weather and the clouds and the mountains and the lake and the sky. Then I asked myself, what would Beyoncé do? And I laced up my trainers, ran into that weather and towards those mountains, the lake below me and those clouds gently dripping from that sky above me. 

I wasn’t feeling a hill session after my morning exertion, so went exploring for a path leading straight along the valley side. I found just what I’d had in mind and took this path towards Fernhill, a suburb of Queenstown. The path lead me through some wooded areas, up and down, crossing over the many mountain bike tracks that are woven through the pines up and around Queenstown. Tiring, I made it to Fernhill, a residential area built up of lots of houses and not much else. However, as with everywhere round here the views are the main attraction and I made for the highest hill. 

 

My tired and aching body was treated to some of the best views of Queenstown I have seen so far. It’s a shame the weather wasn’t brighter, the hills also look better with a backdrop of blue. After a few moments rest, breathing in the scene, I made my way back the way I came. With more declines it was easier than on the way, and I passed this strange vehicle/camper van. It must belong to a super-cool socialite.

  

Sunshine Bay; Queenstown2

1 Reply

I keep remembering that I live here and feeling a little bit chuffed and excited. After years of living in post-industry industrial British cities (Manchester I still love you), being surrounded by natural beauty is a bit of a novelty. And just like in Piha, getting out and about in this beauty is all the motivation I need to stay active. Even better than Piha, there are so many more tracks and hills to be explored here in the vast mountains. 

Despite starting the day with an early spin class, I was still feeling full of beans and ready to run yesterday afternoon. Who said unemployed people are lazy?! I have recently moved to a cabin on a hill, overlooking the town and lake. Sounds lovely and romantic right? The views are incredible but do they make up for the fact that: I share my bedroom; there is just a curtain between my room and the living room; I have to go outside to get to the bathroom; it’s freakin’ freezin’? Yeah, maybe for now. I’m pretty chilled (in every sense) but may have to be on the move again before winter really sets in. This is the view from my living room anyway.

  

From my hillside vantage point I chose down. This hill is steep. Now you may be under the impression that running down a hill is easy. It can be, especially when intoxicated. But keeping a steady footing to avoid any twists or sprains, or just launching yourself downwards like you’re chasing a huge roll of cheese, takes concentration and control. It’s all in the bum I swear. This time next week my booty will be putting Beyoncé to shame. In my dreams. 

My route took me lakeside to the pretty lake beach of Sunshine Bay. To be honest I’m not a fan of these unimaginative names in English, give me unpronounceable Maori any day. But it did what it said on the tin. The path was pleasantly challenging in its ups and downs and the views did not disappoint. My journey back the same way was joined by a friendly cyclist from Christchurch. The conversation helped those last few k’s disappear and running alongside the bike kept my pace up. As I bid farewell to my be-wheeled friend I took a deep breath at the bottom of the big hill, my little cabin perched at the top. Step by step, I made it home; feeling a little bit superhuman on arrival. Basically Beyoncé.