Bob Dylan Excites New Zealanders By Not Being Seen On Holidays In New Zealand
God bless New Zealand. As some of you may be aware, I’ve got quite the affection for the land of the long white cloud. Lovely people, stunning scenery, cold weather… heaven! Well, for me anyway. And while I try to figure out how on earth and when I’m going to get over there again (and can one walk across New Zealand once they get there, do you think?), I try to sate my Kiwi desires by perusing their publications online and revelling in their local news.
And the following article from a local paper about Bob Dylan not being spotted by anyone in New Zealand pretty much made my day, and had me wishing that the country itself were actually a small cherubic child whose cheeks I could squeeze and whose hair I could ruffle.
The Marlborough Sounds are beautiful, and wouldn’t it be great to share them with celebrities trying to holiday in privacy? Well, that may be the case. Rumours suggest that both Bob Dylan and Shania Twain have separately been spending time in the Sounds.
What follows is an epic tale of absolutely no one having any evidence whatsoever that Bob Dylan is holidaying at The Marlborough Sounds.Here are my highlights from the article.
· … water taxi operators and staff and visitors at Lochmara Lodge say they have not spotted the musician. Nor have they heard anything about his visit.
· “I didn’t see him I only wish I had.”
· Freight Train singer and lead guitarist Dave St John was cautious when talking to meda, and said he was hopeful Dylan would make an appearance. A small crowd stayed late – but Dylan never showed.
What kicked off the rumours? It all comes down to a mysterious car driving around town. From what I can tell, here’s how it went down.
· A limo pulled up outside the local pub and some men who looked like they could be minders emerged from the vehicle.
· A couple of locals told the guy who owns the pub that they’d seen Bob Dylan (drunk or pisstaking? You decide!)
· Mrs Looms from Picton saw “a man with long hair and a blue shirt entering the limo” and he looked as though he could be Bob Dylan.
And at the end of the report, we learn that the limo had nothing to do with Bob Dylan in the first place.
· … this morning it was discovered that the limo belonged to a vet who lived in Hastings.
Ha! I love you, New Zealand. This reminds me of the time I was vaguely convinced Lindy Chamberlain had opened up a second hand clothing store in Crows Nest.
In short, I suppose we can answer The Marlborough Express’ question (as posed in the headline) of “Is Bob Dylan on holiday in Picton?” with a gentle but firm “No.”
Unless he’s working as a vet in Hastings?
Comments
I thought the story was going to be that Bob Dylan went there so often, people were excited when he didn’t go — but the real story is so much better. Dylan should show up now, just to make their day.
And maybe treat some sick animals while he’s there.
My Daddy said that Bob Dylan is at the aquarium in New Orleans working on a documentary——-it’s about fish,—-i think.
Bruce Nicholl,(hope I got the spelling right) formally of wellington, worked for the ministry of works in the 1970′s….Introduced me to the music of Bob Dylan been hooked ever since. Be good to catch up. Just so I know its you, what kind of car did you drive then and what friends did we have in common?