Made a new friend

[sawinmontana]

A couple of weeks ago I was getting ready to leave New Zealand after having just worked for 5 months in McMurdo, Antarctica. I had seen on the member map that there was a tree close to Christchurch so I decided to email JDKid and see if he would mind if I came and took a look at his setup.  We made connections and I drove to his sheep farm on a saturday morning.  I met Pete and his partner Helen and can honestly say they are two of the nicest people I have every met. I ended up looking around there place all day and then they invited me to stay the night!  I had to fly out the next afternoon and I really kick my self for not giving myself at least a few more days there.  They really made me feel welcome.  If I make it back down that direction next year I'm going to for sure plan on a few days there.  AND, they have the most spectacular views I've ever seen!!   I want to really thank you two for treating a country kid from Montana so well!! I even got to watch Pete mill a log!  Anyway, with all thats going on in the world and wondering what people from other countries think of us Americans it was really an honour to get to meet Pete and Helen.

Scott Baney

[Jeff]

I'm amazed. I mean this forum. You would think? Bringing people together as friends from opposite sides of the planet. I'm just simply amazed as I sit here in my house, in my chair, where I got the idea for this. What a dream eh? Sure glad ya'll are part of it and making this place more then I could have ever conceived.

[DanG]

Scott, I'm tickled that you got to hook up with one of our New Zealand members. I know it must have been a thrill for you, and I'm sure it makes Pete feel a whole lot more like part of the family. Congrats to you both for making a good contact! 8)

[Norm]

That's sure cool Scott, I love being able to talk with folks all around the world here. Meeting them in person would be even better.

Now what the heck were you doing in Antarctica?

[sawinmontana]

Jeff B. my hats off to you and this forum. I usually sit on the side lines and listen, but I do that almost everyday.  I'll have to post some pictures of Pete and Helens farm down there.  Really breathtaking!!

DanG  I hope Pete and Helen enjoyed meeting half as much as I enjoyed meeting them!  If the rest of the members of this forum are as nice and interesting as those two were, I'm looking forward to meeting them all!

Norm_F I ran heavy equipment, mostly Cat dozers and Cat Challengers. Either pushing snow or pulling grooming equipment on snow roads and runways.  Everything that goes on down there is science related. The National Science Foundation owns all the equipment. I was just one of the grunts supporting all those scientists. Our tax dollars hard at work!!  I could have them from here that is was cold and white down there!!

Scott

[Corley5]

That musta been a really  8) experience to spend that time in the Antarctic doing what you did.  Meeting some FF members from down under sounds super  8) 8)

[VA-Sawyer]

Did you move your tree while you were in Anarticia ? Then we could have a lot of people wonder about "South Pole Wood" :D
VA-Sawyer

P.S. It would also have added another continent to the FF list.