Pay it forward - Biker style

[Beemer]

What did they do?

I can't imagine what sort of weirdo would accept accommodation and then do anything to upset the hosts.

The first drank us out of house and home, never lifted a finger to help (if he'd offered we would have said no, sit down and relax, but he never even offered), smoked like a chimney and threw the butts in our garden, had bizarre food allergies, stayed for too long (I was dumb enough to let him stay a second time on his way back north) and didn't so much as bring a single bottle of wine to say thanks on either occasion.

The other one was a solo biker and very hard work conversation-wise. He didn't share much information about himself and he made US feel like strangers in our own home!

All the others have been brilliant - five German couples, two English couples (and one couple brought their daughter), an American couple, two Swedes, and the latest - Nick from the UK. All were easy to talk to (even allowing for language difficulties) and left as friends.

[Beemer]

Actually, I've never found one whose parents were married! But kicking the cook might be disruptive ?

Sad, but true for the first part! The annoying thing is, one of our cats, the one who really doesn't warm to strangers, slept on the bed with the first guy - traitor!

As for cooking, none kicked me, but the first guy didn't eat vegetables apart from potatoes because apparently they contain aspirin. As the other half pointed out, with the copious amounts of alcohol he drank, he'd probably swallowed heaps of vegetable matter anyway!

[Number One]

The first drank us out of house and home, never lifted a finger to help (if he'd offered we would have said no, sit down and relax, but he never even offered), smoked like a chimney and threw the butts in our garden, had bizarre food allergies, stayed for too long (I was dumb enough to let him stay a second time on his way back north) and didn't so much as bring a single bottle of wine to say thanks on either occasion.

I bet $100 dollars I know who that one was...and if it was you aren't the only KBers that guy has done it to.

[Number One]

As the other half pointed out, with the copious amounts of alcohol he drank, he'd probably swallowed heaps of vegetable matter anyway!

OMG I am convinced I know who this is makes me feel much better to know others had this experience of him actually - sorry

[Beemer]

I bet $100 dollars I know who that one was...and if it was you aren't the only KBers that guy has done it to.

Just got your PM and was amazed to find it was NOT the one who stayed with us! However, he did stay with other KBers and I know at least one who had the same experience we did. Even took him away for a weekend to a nice holiday location with some other bike mates and he treated the place like a hotel and didn't take any stuff to share with anyone!

That's terrible to think there are actually two like him!

[Number One]

Just got your PM and was amazed to find it was NOT the one who stayed with us! However, he did stay with other KBers and I know at least one who had the same experience we did. Even took him away for a weekend to a nice holiday location with some other bike mates and he treated the place like a hotel and didn't take any stuff to share with anyone!

That's terrible to think there are actually two like him!

YUP people like that make good people think twice about lending a hand.

BTW - we never shook on that bet so it doesn't count

[Beemer]

YUP people like that make good people think twice about lending a hand.

BTW - we never shook on that bet so it doesn't count

I shook hands with Shelby (cat on my profile) so I think that does count...!

The worst thing was, that first prick was the first guest we'd had, so we lived in fear of them all being like him! Thankfully the next ones to stay were Tanja and Christian and we really liked them!

[vifferman]

Just got your PM and was amazed to find it was NOT the one who stayed with us! However, he did stay with other KBers and I know at least one who had the same experience we did. Even took him away for a weekend to a nice holiday location with some other bike mates and he treated the place like a hotel and didn't take any stuff to share with anyone!

That's terrible to think there are actually two like him!

Yes. Shocking.
I'd almost forgotten about his strange dietary requirements. We ordered pizza one day, from the "Hells" up the road. Everyone eats pizza, right?
Well.... he ate pizza, but not as you know it. Just the base and a cheese topping.
The only other thing I can recall him eating was bagels and cream cheese. We had to buy heaps of those.

I'm glad he didn't put you off being hospitable to other bikers. It's certainly made me more wary. I did SO much for him, and got so little in return - I didn't expect much, but helping with the chores, contributing a little to the grocery bills, not creating extra work for us - that would've helped.
I had to ask him to give my (unemployed) son some gas money after he clocked up heaps of kms running him around Auckland before his bike arrived. I was kinda relieved when he decided to hire a bike and spend some time sight-seeing. I thought that was what he came to NZ for! That, and meeting people, but strangely, he seemed to have no interest whatsoever in other people, to go with his seeming lack of curiosity about new places, cultures, etc.

I was overjoyed when he returned for another visit....

I hope I've recovered enough to welcome some other bikers into my home. Doubt whether the vifferbabe has though...
Yup, sad proof of "no good deed goes unpunished".

[Beemer]

Andy took him on a BMWOR ride over to Wimbledon and had to keep stopping to wait for him - and this was after he'd made such a big deal about how he'd ridden the 'Ring so many times and how fast he was...

If guests ask if they can help we always say no, but we do like them to offer. He left his wet towels all over the floor in the bathroom, despite the laundry being directly opposite the bathroom. He left 31 butts in our garden, which I had to dispose of for him.

He ate pasta too - well, tagiatelle with grated cheese on top... and curry - well, after he'd picked out all the onions... and potatoes - well, not the wafer-thin skins of new potatoes.... but he did like beer and whiskey!

I still haven't forgiven the bloody cat for being so nice to him! But then she probably figured he wasn't a cat person and decided to piss him off by sleeping on his bed!

I'll never forget how generously he was going to thank his neighbour for looking after his place for six months, including arranging for a plumber when his boiler burst... SIX bottles of wine... that he planned to help him drink. What a man!

[MarkH]

a biker was just pulled over for speeding in front of me, so i did a wheelie past the cop while doing the fingers, obviously the cop took offence so he chased me, then obviously i lost him by way of excessive speeding.

the end result. That biker didnt get a ticket!

all in days work

That was damn decent of you
I would love some random biker to do that any time I get pulled over.

[MarkH]

Yes. Shocking.
I'd almost forgotten about his strange dietary requirements. We ordered pizza one day, from the "Hells" up the road. Everyone eats pizza, right?
Well.... he ate pizza, but not as you know it. Just the base and a cheese topping.
The only other thing I can recall him eating was bagels and cream cheese. We had to buy heaps of those.

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

I would never expect someone that is giving me free accommodation to go out and buy special food to meet my fussy requirements - if I wanted to eat nothing but bagels and cream cheese then I would buy those things and eat them. If I wanted a cheese only pizza then that is what I would buy.

So far I have only gotten accommodation from a KBer once - all I wanted & expected was a room for the night - I am old enough, big enough and ugly enough to figure out how to feed myself. The next time I head down to the South Island I don't think I'll do Auckland to Christchurch in the one day again, I'll be asking for accommodation in Blenheim. I would only be after a spare bed or a couch or a bit of empty floor for my bedroll or failing that a bit of spare lawn for my tent. I wouldn't be looking to drink a hosts alcohol and eat their food - when I get offered free accommodation I don't expect that I should get 5 star hotel service, just somewhere to crash for the night is good.

If I was staying multiple nights somewhere and drank their alcohol on the first night then I would be out the next day buying replacement alcohol for what I drank as well as enough for the next nights drinking. The only time I have ever been a moocher/sponger/freeloader is at my mum's place and only because she is my mum and is happy to feed me for free - I don't expect strangers to act like my mum.

Some people have such manners that you wonder if they were brought up or dragged up! If I was providing accommodation I would happily tell my guest to let me know if there was anything they wanted - I would not hesitate to take the time to direct them to the relevant shop!

[Number One]

Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?

I would never expect someone that is giving me free accommodation to go out and buy special food to meet my fussy requirements - if I wanted to eat nothing but bagels and cream cheese then I would buy those things and eat them. If I wanted a cheese only pizza then that is what I would buy.

EXACTLY...geez some people - well at least I know who this is and can avoid offering him any hospitality

[Beemer]

The funny thing is, he posted on here some time last year, asking if he'd done something to offend those he met during his stay, because he hadn't heard from any of us! No shit, Sherlock!

Even if I go and stay with a friend or relative, I would turn up with something - if I was going for lunch I'd arrive with some fresh bread, tomatoes, something for dessert, etc and at least a bottle of wine or some fruit juice if they didn't drink. If I was staying for several days, I'd buy some groceries or offer to take them out for dinner or something.

The Germans all stayed at our place for several days and they ALL arrived with food or drink, and three or four of them bought the ingredients and cooked us a meal in our home during their stay.

All we ask is a little common courtesy really! And a thank you is appreciated too.

[Number One]

The funny thing is, he posted on here some time last year, asking if he'd done something to offend those he met during his stay, because he hadn't heard from any of us! No shit, Sherlock!

Interesting...must be the thing with that sort. Our man concerned made comments about '1 day I will return the favour' like whatever wouldn't spend the time to catch up long enough to have him return the favour