RyanHellyer.net

“One man. One hockey stick. Many WordPress challenges.”

Railway station

I took this Panorama of the Dunedin railway station on my friend Anna’s camera. We were walking around town while I helped her figure out how to use it. The railway station’s a block and a half from my apartment.

Lake Tekapo road trip

Anna, Harry and myself road-tripped from Dunedin to Alexandra to do a night skate on the Manorburn dam, then headed to Poolburn reservoir the next morning to skate on mega thick ice at Poolburn reservoir, then finished our journey by travelling through to Lake Tekapo for a hockey tournament between the Killer Keas (our team) and the Christchurch Rangers.

Harry on Poolburn reservoir

Harry and Anna at Lake Tekapo

Harry and Anna on Poolburn reservoir

Anna, Harry and Dave during a night skate on the Manorburn dam

Anna and Harry on Mt John, Lake Tekapo in the background

Anna and Harry heading towards the dam face at Poolburn reservoir

Anna during a stopover at Lawrence

Anna on Poolburn reservoir

Anna, Ryan Hellyer (me) and Harry. Unfortunately the flash didn't work too well with my reflectors.

Ryan Hellyer (me) and Anna struggling to keep our eyes open due the glare on Mt John. Lake Tekapo in the background.

Central Otago Rail trail

With my leg out of cast, I decided it was time for some serious fitness. So I agreed to do the Central Otago Rail Trail with Anna! It turned out that my leg wasn’t quite as strong as I thought! I had some serious issues getting from point A to point B. But we did make it back to Dunedin safe and sound eventually. We did the 150 km trail in three days and cycled another 20 km to reach the Tairei Gorge train the next day for our trip back to Dunedin. Unfortunately Anna has banned me from putting any photos of her on the web :( So there’s no pretty photos of her to show :(

Bridge on the Central Otago Rail Trail

Tunnel on the Central Otago Rail Trail

Wedderburn

The Tairei Gorge.

R I P

Some dear friends of mine died recently. They were on the back seat of my car when it was callously torched :(

This is Muncher, he was born at the Cookie Time factory and lived a short but exciting life, taken around the West Coast of New Zealand with Anna Williams and myself. He also made excursions to the Catlins and Invercargill.

Muncher

This is Cartman, he lived most of his life in the rear window of my old Honda Civic. He then camped out in my parents basement on top of their TV set while I went to Canada and then inhabited my Toyota Corolla till his brutal death. Cartman visited most of New Zealand including Palmerston North, Wellington, the West Coast, and every ice and inline hockey rink in the South Island. He was well known for wearing the pimp hat which Mary Mintel and Kerry Perkins made for me.

Cartman

The hat is an interesting story in itself! Mary, Kerry and I hunted high and low for a suitable feather to stick in it for me to use as part of my pimp costume for Stephen Brassett’s 21st party. Luckily we found one in a very nice feather duster.

Lake Hayes

I headed through to go partying with Anna and her friends in Queenstown. I took these photos on the way back home.

Lake Hayes #1

Lake Hayes #2

Lake Hawea and Wanaka

After our trip around the West Coast, Anna and I headed over to Lake Hawea and Wanaka via the Haast pass.

Lake Hawea

View of Lake Wakatipu and Queenstown from the top of the Queenstown gondola

West Coast trip with Anna

Anna went on an adventure to the West Coast of New Zealand. Some seriously wet weather awaited us!

Rain swept panoramic view of the shoreline of the West Coast of New Zealand from near the Pancake rocks

Rocky shore of the West Coast of New Zealand

A glacier

Catlins trip with Anna

Anna and I headed down to the Catlins only a few days after we both arrived back in New Zealand. The scenery was great and the lighting was perfect for some decent photography.

Creek near McLeans falls

Matai Falls in the Catlins

Sheep in the Catlins

A small stream of water flowing near Matai Falls

A famoous tree high up on a hill in the Catlins

Anna visits :)

Anna Williams came to visit me in Calgary :) Unfortunately she wont let me put any photos of her online :( But here’s a photo of the beautiful sunset we experienced while walking back from the Calgary zoo.

Skyline from the Calgary Zoo