Diary Readings

February 11th - A Monday.

I'm not quite sure where I am other than in a tent by a stream in a meadow near mountains in Northland. It's our first night camping in NZ. The landscape is spectacular. We started our journey the 16th of January, but not too much before today is worth recalling. That's a bit bold. Maybe they will be recalled. Further on, I suppose. The surfing with Mickey was the best. Of course you'll remember the big wave you got crushed in along with the big wave you finally caught (5.5ft maybe? hardly big), but remember all of those smaller moments too; like this one. Washing dishes in the creek, drinking red wine, and eating chocolate by the moonlight.

February 14th - A Thursday.

I just arrived in Raglan. I'm sitting on a porch. I'm drinking tea. I'm periodically looking at the bay. She sings encouragement. I'd rather not be with anyone at the moment? The last several days have been great. Camping, Camping, and Camping. Now I'm at a hostel. The money is running out way faster than I intended. I'm anxious. Can't decide to go for a run or have a smoke. I can do neither. Damn... Have I spoken of Cape Reigna yet? Well, It was nice. Look to the left and smell the air, feel the breeze, close your eyes. You're there. Now you're running into the water under the massive rock bluffs. It's a great feeling.

February 15th - A Friday.

At this very moment, I'm listening to the album "Kid A" by Radiohead. It's out there, but good. I'm still in Raglan. I wish I could stay here. I can't wait to leave here. I went for a surf today; was too scared to go for the big boy rocky point break. It had great waves, though. We're going to Hobbiton tomorrow. I'm awfully excited about that. I've been drinking too much beer lately. I attribute that to the Nelson Bay venture where we drank just about every night. Nothing serious, but continuous. Yoga was quite nice today. She pronounced her O's oddly. Oregonians. I want to go to French Polynesia and work on a pearl farm. The potential position in Nashville has me on a edge a bit.

A Digression; Side note 1.

This is my first side note. I don't know how long this is supposed to last. Maybe I should continue to talk about Cape Reigna? It was big and beautiful and blue. I went skinny dipping in broad day light where the two oceans met - the Tasman and the Pacific, of course. I was 100% sober. The Kauri forest was nice. I don't think that I'm spelling that correctly? I think it inspired the creator of ferngully. Especially that second tree being 17 around or more? I miss being off of the beaten path. I want - NEED - to climb a mountain. I want - NEED - to be challenged brutally. I think about it all of the time. I rode a good wave. Now I need to yell atop a snow covered peak, beat my chest, and yell into the nothingness that sets above the world. Damn, my handwriting is bad. Cruising around the North Island is beautiful. I'm having a hard time imagining how the South Island can be so much MORE beautiful. I miss stability. I long for chaos. I hate roads, yet I live my life on one. Cello or piano? There are still so many things that I want to learn. I'm going to get good at one of them when I get back. Not like Dr. Sebba or Dr. Simon good; hell, not even half that good. But good enough to play a song. Carl, my dread, is hungry. He's growing. He's also trying to raise a family.

February 16th - A Saturday.

I'm by the light of my lantern. I'm in a tent near a lake near mountains near the sea. Today was a great day. I drove to Matamata with the amigos. We drove further, led by Eugene of course. We arrived in Hobbiton just before our tour began at 1. We saw it all. Buckland even! The party tree was still there. Hobbit holes of all sorts still in tact! My favorite was having that free tasty ale in the Green Dragon. Purchasing Micah and myself another round was just as rewarding as the first! Geeze, I was excited. I wanted to run through the meadows and hills, swim down the streams, and dance and sing all night long never leaving the pretend world dreamt up to be the Shire.




February 19th - A Tuesday.

Not much happened today other than eating. Lots of it. Nvm. We went to Wellington. We went to the Te Papa museum. We saw the giant squid. Miraculous. It was a great museum (I touched the raptor even though I wasn't supposed to!!!). More important note! We climbed Mount Doom yesterday! And Tongariroo! We took the Tongariroo Alpine Crossing and turned right towards Mount Doom. I keep referring to it by it's fictional name merely because I cannot pronounce nor spell the real name. What a sharp, ashy, barren, steep shadow of a path it was. Into the mist and clouds we went only to arrive standing on the rim of the volcano. We smoked our cigars and had pb&j's. Lovely. Tomorrow we're crossing the Cook Straight with the South Island in our sights. HooraH.

February 22nd - A Friday.

So I'm making a habit of writing in the tend before or after reading. Wednesday we crossed the Cook Straight and stayed in White Bay. Thursday morning I woke up to scower the rocks searching for my breakfast; abalone and green lipped mussels. I was successful  Breakfast was successful. Those two Americans biking New Zealand were nice to talk to. The hostel we stayed at in Motueka that night sucked. The steaks, potatoes, and beer was great. Today we woke up and at 30 eggs, a loaf of bread, and a block of cheddar. We're men, damn't! I'm hungry just thinking about it. I'm always hungry. The Hangdog climbing park was pretty cool. Felt good to be on rock again. I almost got that overhang. Almost. Though, my knee has been hurting ever since. More climbing tomorrow along with prep for Mt. Arthur and Mt. Owen in the Kuhurangi Mountain Range.

February 23rd - A Saturday.

The full moon has risen over the mountains  It has a cast a silohuete of the sub-alpine ridges and peaks surrounding us. It's chilly outside. Our fire is-a-goin'! The back country of New Zealand has been all too welcoming. Man, that moon is bright. And the stream flowing down from the nearby brothers of rock and stone, Arthur and Owen, tastes delicious. As long as the weather holds, the hike up to Mt. Arthur throughout the Tablelands and Kuhurangi forest should be nice and clean. This is our first multi-night camping venture into the bush. I'm so packed with granola and peanut butter, I could explode and feed the entire populous of Bonnaroo. Climbing was good this morning too. Three lead climbs and my first clean! Though, I couldn't have done it without Drew's expertise. Climbing by the mourn and tramping by night. All is good.

February 26th - A Tuesday.

I'm listening to the sound of American and Canadian voices. I can't remember any of their names. I don't miss America per se, but I do miss good, cheap beer. And cheap things in general. When I get hungry, I miss the States. When I am thirsty, I miss the States. So basically, my homesickness can be quite wretched sometimes. Anywho. We climbed Gordon's Pyramid and Mt. Arthur yesterday. Tomorrow, We climb Mt. Owen. How 'bout that hike in? Jue puta! The guys are getting weary. It's tiresome work, the trekking and tramping, but it's oh so rewarding. I'm worried that they are not seeing the reward. I'm worried that they are not feeling it like I am. Maybe their spirits will pick up. I'm sure they will. I want a massive burger. One that will make my heart fear for its life. We haven't been eating much. I'm energized enough, but I'm constantly hungry. That 30 egg breakfast seems so long ago. Le sigh.

March 3rd - A Sunday.

I'm clean! I'm full! I mean sorta full! Did I mention that I'm clean? It's been over a month since I have washed my hair. I can't remember my last shower. The Scottish dark ale was absolutely delicious. This Crafty Beggars Pale Ale is quite nice. Remember: they're crafty, but not too crafty. Shall I recount the journey up Mt. Owen thru Granity Pass? Along Sentinial Mountain keeping right across the sub-alpine mixture of tussock, boulder, flower, and granite? Scrambling up grey sheets hanging from the side of Owen as he stood proudly in the beating sun? How we jumped over crevasses with no visible bottom? Scanning the horizon to the South and looking at snow covered peaks chatting above the clouds? I'm in Christchurch. Our bodies hurt. We need to rest. We are weary but not broken.