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Wild Releasing, Wildlife and Wild Times

2006 BCNZ Convention, Dunedin
by Sherlockfan
March 20, 2006
Oh! What a splendid convention!

What would a BookCrossing convention be like? I first started thinking about attending back in November when Christchurch BookCrosser Futurecat was in Wellington for a day and prodded me into arranging a BookCrossing meet-up. The talk drifted naturally to the forthcoming BC convention. Airfares from Wellington to Dunedin are high and I could have a trip to Sydney for less; surely that would be more attractive. Quick as a flash Futurecat suggested that I could fly to Christchurch, have a bed with one of them and then share a car on the drive down to Dunedin.

It was a beguiling suggestion, especially as I’d never driven through that part of our country. My beloved was encouraging, knowing how much pleasure I’ve had from BookCrossing, and how many delightful people I’ve ‘met’ through it. “Go for it” he said.

I realised that I was committed to the idea, sent a box of books ahead to Boreal, and bought the tickets. On February 16th, in the nick of time, just before leaving for the airport, a bag of books arrived from DreissM in Texas and I managed to squeeze some into my already bulging suitcase. I flew in to Christchurch, met the effervescent Lytteltonwitch and my adventure began. Firstly a small meet-up with Lytteltonwitch, Futurecat, Alithia and natecull over a tasty Chinese meal. When an array of books revolved on the table a Tess Gerritsen flashed by. My plans for releasing only weakened. My #1 catch.

A comfortable sleep in Lytteltonwitch’s new home while Futurecat went to the airport to meet Wombles flying in from Caboolture in Queensland. Lytteltonwitch’s alarm went off all too early and we headed to FutureCat’s house. Second attack on my good resolution when Wombles handed me a book – she’d checked out my Wish List and sought out She’s Come Undone for me. What a sweetie! That was Book #2. Resolution cancelled.

After a rapid construction of a kilt for Ballycumber from a handy tartan tea towel, Alithia’s car drew up and our two-car convoy took off. Petrol at Templeton, breakfast at Dunsandel, quick stop for fruitless geo-cache hunt in Hinds, short leg-stretching walk in Caroline Bay then a detour through Waimate to collect Otakuu. Books were released each time we stopped and Wombles’ cameras worked overtime all the way.

We stopped to acknowledge the important plaque marking the 45th parallel, halfway between the equator and the South Pole, then on to Moeraki to view the famous boulders which Wombles saw as “looking as if they were being spat out of the cliff”. An apt description. Another fruitless geo-cache hunt at Shag Point then to the lookout where we saw shags nestling on the rugged cliffs, and seals in abundance frolicking on the rocks. Stopping in Palmerston for lunch was interesting for me, having lived in Palmerston North for 20 years. The former is never called Palmerston South though, just causes confusion with mail sometimes.

After lunch Alithia and Otakuu decided to take the direct route to Dunedin while Lytteltonwitch drove FutureCat, Wombles and me on the scenic route along the coast, engaging in a flirtation with the Taieri Gorge train carrying a load of tourists who’d arrived in Dunedin on an enormous Princess cruise boat. The rail track criss-crossed the road and each time we stopped to give way the passengers waved enthusiastically.

Eventually we arrived in Dunedin and found Next Stop Backpackers in the very steep View Street which caused Lytteltonwitch to declare, “That’s it. The car stays here and we walk everywhere” as she battled with parking her car so it wouldn’t become airborne.

As we signed in to the backpackers’ we were enthusiastically greeted by Skyring with big hugs of welcome. And thus finished my introduction to BookCrossers as individuals rather than an amorphous ether group. Wonderful.

We spread around our bunk room leaving one bunk set for Awhina and her Meerkitten daughter, who were arriving later, organized our books, then got ready for the Meet and Greet. Suddenly someone remembered the books we were to pre-wrap for a Lucky Dip. Oh Dear! We unprepared but innovative Kiwis helped ourselves to maps from a brochure display, using BC stickers to seal the hastily wrapped packages. Following Skyring’s lead we reached the Outback Inn where the yellow balloons directed us up some stairs to a welcoming private room with a bar and soft music. The organization was superb, registration table with smiling Rarsberry and Boreal in attendance handing out individually prepared goodie bags. Each contained specially chosen books plus BC M&Ms, labels, bookmarks, maps, postcards, a wine charm from the SA BC convention organizers, a Paua shell bookmark, a 2006 patch, release notebook, and much more. “Thank you” to the many people from the BC community who had contributed to these exciting bags.

Introductions all round, a warm speech in Maori from Otakuu, cries of delight from those spotting BC friends, and in my case, a huge surprise and joy when I was recognized by Artemis99, the daughter of a loved, old friend. Books galore had eager fingers scrabbling through the mobile OBCZ piles for treasures. The table masquerading as a Lucky Dip bag was piled with packages of all shapes and sizes. One gorgeous floral-wrapped packet tied with a sumptuous gold ribbon caught my eye. At first it looked so good it seemed a pity to spoil the package. When curiosity overcame me I found my book # 3: Lost in a Good Book,contributed and so lovingly wrapped by KimKerry and including a super bookmark.

Later that evening Alithia’s hotel room hosted a small group to link up with BBC Radio Shropshire where Rarsberry talked with the so enthusiastic JimOnTheRadio, sharing our convention with his listeners.

Early next morning we tackled the very large breakfasts at the renowned Tip Top café before we joined the other BookCrossers in Dunedin’s eight-sided town square (known as the Octagon) for a group photo on the steps of St. Paul’s Anglican Cathedral. Meerkitten quickly showed her statue climbing skills for strategic releases. Her first target was Robbie Burns’ Statue where a book was nestled into Robbie’s cold hard hand. Perhaps a book with a picture of a hammer and sickle on the cover was not the most appropriate offering.

The planned release walk took in historic sites in the centre of the city and themed releases were the order of the day. FutureCat’s clever placing of Stone Maiden on a statue of Queen Victoria eventually won the grand award for best themed release. My favourite was Cats in the Belfry placed on a plinth beside a very old bell in the grounds of First Church. FutureCat’s idea again I believe. Meerkitten climbed every statue we passed and left books. We called into Dunedin’s grand Flemish Renaissance Style Railway Station to admire the famous mosaic floor. I had a delightful encounter with two UK visitors who had just caught Willy Nilly, released in the station by Lytteltonwitch. They were obviously puzzled by the “free” nature of the book. After my general explanation about BookCrossing, and my assurance that it would be fine for them to take the book back to England, they walked off with happy smiles. Two future addicts I hope.

A rich chocolately smell greeted our next brief visit to Cadbury’s, manufacturer of NZ’s greatest chocolate. Alas there were no free samples, the huge seductive pile of Crunchie bars was made of wood. ChocolateCrossing? I wonder. Back in the Octagon Highland Pipe bands were in full competition mode, showing off their street marching skills; so appropriate in Dunedin and stirring to the blood of my fellow Celtic descendants.

Rarsberry’s instructions for the flashmob saw us walk down the steps beside Robbie Burns Statue, drop books on the steps then stand back and watch as people come to look. One of the low points of the convention occurred when some youths came over and started stuffing books in their backpacks. Meganh intervened and managed to get some books put back but the louts returned shortly after and grabbed again. They were told off again but may have come back. All the books were gone later in the day.

During lunch once again at the Tip Top there was another encounter of the BookCrossing kind. The book FutureCat had freed at breakfast was still lurking on the serving counter. The service was slow and as we waited a woman in the queue behind me said –
“Look! That book’s free!” It was enough to start me off explaining all about us. She tucked the book under her arm sounding really interested. I think she’ll join. Lytteltonwitch and Wombles had another look for a geo-cache in the Octagon without success. Just not a good geo-caching weekend.

The agenda included a release walk around the Dunedin Writers’ Walk, a series of brass plaques set into the pavement that curves around the upper Octagon. Each plaque bears a quote about Dunedin by a published writer. We’d all brought books to leave by the plaques of authors of our choice. Time was running short at this stage as we’d been invited to participate in a special event back at the Railway Station. The Mayor of Dunedin, Peter Chin, welcomed us to the unveiling of a new writers’ plaque that was to commemorate author Janet Frame and, in particular, her association with and love of Dunedin’s railway station. Janet Frame’s sister, June Gordon, neatly hooked the veil off the plaque with the help of her walking stick and the Mayor. Appropriate books were released by the plaque and the Mayor, who’d only just learned about BookCrossing, left with two books, thanks to Cackleberry and Skyring.

The efficient Rarsberry stood by the door of our chartered bus and checked us all off on her trusty clipboard as we hefted our weary selves aboard ready for a tour of other Dunedin sights. First stop was the famous Baldwin Street, the steepest street in the world. Several enthusiasts took the opportunity to walk to the top – they had to really, because they’d planned themed releases. We others watched in admiration from the safety of flat ground.

Next stop was the University, some new buildings and older ones magnificent in a Flemish Renaissance style similar to the station. One of the new buildings hosts a web cam where we waved to BookCrossers around the world but we were later than planned so not many saw us. Skyring took the opportunity to release Search and Rescue in double plastic bags into the Water of Leith. On to St. Clair beach where we had coffee, watched surfers and released books. Skyring once again had his plastic bags out and threw a book into the surf. From the pavement above we watched a bemused group of paddling girls catch “My Life as a Snow Bunny”. Lytteltonwitch’s release of Neville Shute’s On The Beach was well chosen. We stopped at St. Kilda playground where a few eager beavers leapt off the bus for releases and Bally lost his kilt!! Then along John Wilson Memorial Drive we marvelled at a purple-draped wedding party spread across the rocks below. After a hill-top photo-opportunity we were finally released, just like books, close to the Octagon. Calling into a bottle store for evening supplies it was then back to Next Stop, to collect more books and get prettied up for the evening.

The evening’s activities were in the spacious Burns Hall, in the grounds of First Church, close to the centre of the city and easy to find. Weijun Collins, author of Desert Rose was a wonderful guest speaker. She talked about the hardship of being exiled to China’s Gobi desert and her tales were inspirational. Nine copies of her book sold like hot cakes later with people keen to learn more about her exceptionally hard yet courageous life.

After a plentiful dinner delivered from a Chinese restaurant it was quiz time. Lytteltonwitch had had the bright idea of colourful headgear to identify team members so after names drawn at random from a hat we were in teams of witches, ladybirds, bunnies and other furry creatures. This was a great way to mix and meet with folk we’d not spoken with before. Kiwijan and her friend proved able quizmasters with some very tricky questions, many based on things we’d seen and places we’d visited during the day. The bunnies, skippered by Skyring, came from behind to be overall winners.

We held a short post mortem back in our bunk room, and settled down tired but elated. All too soon FutureCat, Wombles and I were awake and ready for Skyring’s promised trip to Taioroa Head Albatross Colony. It was a great trip with the unfenced road right on the harbour for most of the drive, a little scary on the corners at times but FutureCat said the road had improved very much in the last few years. We didn’t see live albatross but lots of fur seals, rabbits, swans, and seabirds. Skyring got a little closer to the seals than he’d planned. Back around the harbour for our farewell brunch at St. Lees café in a beautiful old transformed church.

Various awards were presented based on popular votes and ‘happy birthday’ sung to Jawin. “Little Johnnie & the Naughty Boat People” did the rounds. Otakuu delivered a moving speech of farewell in Maori thanking Boreal, Rarsberry and Kiwijan for their excellent organization. Gifts were shared and we all received a lovely Paua shell pendant that Rarsberry and her mother had made, a fitting end to a superb weekend.

As an afternoon postscript a few folk went along the peninsula and the first thing they saw when alighting at the Albatross colony was a tourist looking at a BookCrossing book left by the morning visitors.

I went back to Christchurch with FutureCat, Lytteltonwitch and Ballycumber who’d been photographed in every conceivable position with many of the releases; but there is no record of him losing his kilt. We stopped in Oamaru on the way for a look through an historic old market. FutureCat and Lytteltonwitch released some books and did a great sales pitch for BookCrossing to two stallholders and promised to take a trip down to Oamaru if those two arranged a meet-up there. And I took home 16 books!!

BookCrossers from Australia made some good pitches for the Adelaide Convention in October and I’m so tempted to be there. Right throughout the weekend questions were raised and hints dropped about the next NZ convention being in the North Island. I was propositioned frequently about Wellington as a venue and Kiwiwonder was about Auckland. Sincere thanks to everyone who made this a superb time for my first convention. But what a standard to live up to. Watch this space.

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