(Little Woodie Notes…Bob has always wanted to go to New Zealand, so he went. He just needed to go after some not fun life changing events.
The plan was the “no plan plan”. Just open yourself to what ever comes your direction Kinda crazy and not everyone thinks that way or is comfortable in such a hap hazard approach. After some research on the internet, he decided on the South Island, bought the ticket and let the winds do as they will.)
New Zealand.
Little Woodie here behind the keyboard. I was cramed into a suitcase with the expendable bow and the strangest “arrows” I ever did see. Had little curley cue eye type things on them and were awfully short. Later I found out that these made up into a fly rod and I grew to hate them.
We landed in Christchurch and knocked around the city for several days, trying to get a feel for the Kiwis, the country and driving on the wrong side of the road. Bob went fly fishing and then decided to explore the island.
He knew that Too Short may be in NZ and decided to give him a call. Paul and Bob had never met and other than some emails about Helle knives they didn’t know each other. Low and behold Paul answered the phone and they were only about 3 hours apart! Karen, Paul’s wife, extended a dinner invitation to Bob that very night…what a classy lady…what she is doing with Too Short? The Kiwis love her so much they named a lake after her. She opened her home and heart to Bob.
But all this was just the calm before the storm and Pauls Dark Side came out. He made the local paper.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Christchurch
New Zealand
South Island
Byline by Kiwi Canthit
News Flash !!
Traditional “icon” Paul B Brunner, aka, Too Short, Too F. Short was caught, on film “rescuing sheep” on an unnamed river near Christchurch last month. This reporter’s secret, but highly reliable, confidential and impeccable source ( Little Woodie, owned by Bob McMahan, formerly of Helle Knives and Trad Gang member #6) related the following story to me after several rounds of ales at my local tavern. It was only his strong sense of duty that allowed this tale to come out into the public eye. Because of the scandalous nature of these hideous happenings we have had to tone down the language so as to not offend any of our Trad Gang community.
“I was scouting out this new area looking for game, when off in the distance I heard this terrible commotion of screaming sheep and a high pitched yell. I couldn’t be sure but it sounded something like “Git along little doggie” with a decidedly cowboy accent. After positioning myself where I could get a good look, I rubbed my eyes not once, but twice. Coming across the paddock were a dozen or so sheep on a dead run as if the demons of hell were hot on their hoofs…and pulling up the rear (a’hem) was this very short guy in a funny hat. The photo of this six inch brown trout shows how tall this little fellow really is.
This guy ran the poor sheep into the river and jumped in after them and drove them to the far steep bank.
He grabbed a young one and “helped” her climb the slippery bank. When asked what he was doing, Too Short mumbled something about this is the way we do it in Montana but there we use hip boots.”
This reporter rounded up some of his mates and rousted the scoundrel out of town on a rail!
Report by:
Kiwi Canthit.
Unfortunately the fishing was so good that I didn’t get out of the bow case very much. We did see lots of these…but that’s not what I came for...high fence.
Bob said that "sight fishing" big browns had all the elements of spot and stalk hunting.
One exploratory hunting trip found us stuck while attemting to ford a river.
Too Short finally got out of jail and went fishing again.
Bob's Notes: Paul and Karen are just stand up folks! They didn't know me from Adam, but showed me around, helped me out, took me fishing and out for dinner. Just great folks ! !.
I am planning another trip to NZ and am looking for a traveling friend. We need at least 4 weeks and 6 is a lot better. Probably Feb and part of March.
Next Woodie adventure...Eastern Oregon and a 7 x 6 elk.