N Zed notes and such...

Hello from New Zealand!!

So last night we stayed in Raglan and, more specifically, at the Journey's End B&B. The owner, Barry, is 70+ and his wife died last year. She was the business-end of their 48-year partnership, so he's strictly a cash business now, which I gathered means that sometimes he doesn't get paid at all, and the government rarely, if ever, gets it's share. He could talk like nobodies business. He was also super sweet and very cool. Sherrie talked to him (or more precisely listened to him talk) for about 45 minutes while I finished packing, straightening up, and loading the car this morning. He reminded me a lot of Sherrie's Papaw Voyles, what with his huge hands and extremely witty, and wise, comments. I got the sense he wanted us to stay a lot longer, just so he had company, but he was nice enough to gently let us leave.

We did our first trail run today.... Pirongia Park, southeast of Raglan, on the North Island. Only 8.3 miles, or so says Mr. Garmin, but slow going due to lots wet spots on the trail. The roots were therefore very slippery and there were a lot of places where the roots were such that it seemed like we were running through one of those agility course thingies where have to step inside old tires and make sure you get your knees up. We both almost fell a few times. Ok, Sherrie actually fell once, but she was a super trooper about it and and kept going with one foot totally soaked and mud covered, and a scraped up leg. I looked back just in time to see her splash, very nearly face first, in a big mud puddle. It took us over two hours, and we got to see the tallest Kiwa????? tree in New Zealand. The only bad part? I've grown accustomed to listening to music whilst getting my sweat on and I'm not allowed to turn my iphone on for fear of charges that will bankrupt me, so I had to go without. I know, not much to complain about, but still.

Other random observations: 1) beer is very expensive here, and when I say I want a hoppy beer, they think I say happy, and look at me like I'm from another planet, which seems fitting enough, since it sort of feel like we're on another planet. 2) Driving on the left side of the road is scary, which is why I'm making Sherrie do it. I just sit in the passenger's seat and complain about how scary it is and tell her to slow down. 3) I didn't bring a good, mid-weight wool sweater and every day since we've been here I've wished I had one. I guess it's time to go shopping. Given how many sheep we've seen in desperate need of a shearing it should super cheap, right? 4) they have super low volume toilets, but super high volume showers and faucets. What gives?

We're at a B&B in New Plymouth right now, drinking McGuigan Black Label Sauvignon Blanc and looking out over the Tasmanian Sea. The kite-surfers have called it a night, so the bay is empty now, save one or two kayakers. So so pretty.

Maybe do a hike around Egmont Park, and Taranaki Mountain tomorrow. Then again, maybe use that riding gear I lugged 1/2 way around the globe. We'll see...the planning committee meets tomorrow morning to mull its options.