Cheeky Kea

An alpine parrot, how cool is that?  Very cool.  Bivy in the high backcountry of New Zealand and you won’t worry about pika or marmots.  The critters you defend against down don’t come with paws, instead they’re equipped with wings.  Part curious, part conditioned by human handouts, kea are cunning backcountry adversaries.  So much so people really do call them cheeky kea.  They will ‘attack’ you and your pack in search of food.  Their size makes them quite intimidating and plays to some sort of Hitchcockian fear.  They will pick apart your car at trailheads, frequently nibbling at the rubber seal around your windscreen.  Mostly they will captivate you with their onomatopoeic call, rich green plume and overall cheekiness.  Just hope they don’t catch your pack unattended.

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It has happened. I never really thought it would happen to us. Steve and I have never been just boyfriend-girlfriend, husband-wife or climbing partners. We are all these things but above it all we are or were best friends. We enjoyed each others company in every way. Neither of us had a posse of gal pals or bunch of old buddies with whom we really had more fun or a better connection. Those days are only memories now. A new entity is in our lives and it has changed everything, EVERYTHING. Fergus.

Fergus will listen to Steve ramble on about this or that, all day long without ever a bored look or disinterested stare. Fergus enjoys being chased around in circles, comes when called and is always ready to go outside.

Fergus, Steve is your best friend now. Take care of him. Keep him out of trouble.