November 29, 2008

Divine campsite last nite right on a little bay flanked by steep, piney slopes (Whatamango Bay...Whataname!). Meet some dudes playing frisbee and they turned out to be support staff for the Antarctic research station at the South Pole!!! they had recently finished working through the winter down there, when they are basically closed off to the world. these guys originally hail from Alaska and Colorado, and we had a great time shooting the shit and watching the stars come out. they are northbound.
today, i drove to nelson on the Tasman Bay. the roads here are endlessly windly marvels of engineering. average speed is probably 30 mph.
I had my first moment of real fear getting off the ferry yesterday: i couldn't find my ipod shuffle. this would have been a disaster, as its the huge assortment of music i loaded on it that keep me sane when homesickeness or loneliness start pawing at me. it is amazing how much a single song can give you strength, and bring your head around to your mission. (this is something i learned in so. america back in 1995).
Kiwis are so mellow.....this dude drove up on me while i was taking a slash in his driveway way out in the stix...i thought he was going to say something nasty, but we was just like, "how's it go, mate?" (which is kiwi for "how's it going?"). I said I was sorry to be pissing on his land, and he said, "no worrries; you gotta pisss, then you gotta piss." (I should note that dude had what looked like a hundred or so fresh beef ribs sitting int he back of his truck, baking in the sun.)
T-5 days til i pull the stitches.