Moving on

So much has happened since I last wrote. Early last week I went and hiked the Pinnacles. It was an amazing hike through the bush to point where you can see across the coromandel peninsula. I have discovered that instead of providing distances for trails the Kiwis provide fairly conservative hiking times. The whole time thing takes a little getting use to. Saturday morning went to the farmers market to help Brent. and in the afternoon I was able to go to a dairy and help with the milking. This experience furthered my beliefe that cows are among the dumbest animals around. The experience was fun but it also involved getting stepped on shat on and pissed on. My biggest fear was that one of the beasts was going to relieve itself on my head when putting the milking thing on. Brent also introduced me to rugby league. This game while having similar rules to rugby is much faster as it doesnt have the stops and time outs other games have, it is also quiet a bit rougher.
Yesterday Brent and Sue took me to Hot Water Beach. This beach has geothermal springs in the sand, so yolu dig a hole and when it fills with hot water you can soak. It was wonderful to soak right on the beach.
Today I am continuing my journey and have come to Coromandel Town. Spent the early afternoon bicyling around the area. The views are amazing and the water is so blue. I still feel like I am in a dream and will wake up back home soon.
Because I am having trouble up loading pics to this blog I am trying to put them on my facebook so I will provide the link. http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2098766&id=27713515&saved I have also figured out how to recieve mail and will provide an address as soon as I dig it out of my bag. The only thing is that there is a time frame things must be sent by so they arrive in town before I move on.

on the farm

I have been helping on a farm on the Coromandel Peninsula for the past week. The farm is about 15 min away from Thames. The couple I am helping have about 100 chickens that provide eggs, 5 sheep, and numerous apple and citrus trees. So far all I have been doing is odd jobs around the place but yesterday we went to the farmers market. We had a booth with eggs, vegetables, and fruit and a booth with local organic cheese.
Brent took me to watch a rugby league game the other night. It was pretty fun and the match went really fast. It is different than regular rugby and doesnt have all the stopping most games have. The New Zealand Warriors beat the Australian Roosters putting them in the finals.
Today we went to the Karangahake Gourge and did a bit of walking. In the past it was the site of extensive gold mining activity so there are shafts all over the place. The Department of Conservation has made many of the tunnels safe for visitors so there are trails that walk through them. One tunnel parallels the cliff face and has windows cut through to the outside providing light and amazing views of the gourge.

auckland wanderings

I have been wandering around Auckland the last few days and today I went to Waiheke Island. Auckland is a great city with lots of space to wander and friendly people. Went to the museum several days ago and saw some cool Maori things and other numerous exhibits. Yesterday went to the fish market to get things for dinner. Was relatively quiet as far as other markets I have visited go. Went to a bar with a group from the hostle last night too. It was karaoke night, the spelling it weird. They sing the same songs we have back home.
Waiheke is a great island with many tracks for tramping. Ended up walking about 9 miles. Ate lunch on a beach and eventually wound up on a nude beach, or at least it was a beach with alot of naked old guys.
I am trying to figure out how to upload pictures but am currently unable to figure it out so pictures will hopefully come soon.

day 2

I made it yesterday. The airline left my baggage in LA so I'm hoping that it arrives today. Spent a little time wandering arround the area yesterday and am going to go check out downtown Auckland today. This is a short post just to let everyone know that I made it.

leaving

Here is my first post. I am leaving for New Zealand tomorrow, my flight leaves at 3:49 from Tucson and I arrive in Auckland at 6:15am September 9th. I'm excited, nervous, and a whole medley of other things. I still can't believe that I am going to New Zealand, up until this point it has only been a thought in the back of my mind and now I am going. Will try to keep up with this regularly along my trip. Next time I write I will be in another country going where desire and my feet take me.