Picton to Wherever

I ended my STRAY journey where it began in Picton. I knew I wanted to spend more time in the South so I stayed a couple nights at the Villa Backpackers in Picton to plan my next move. If I board the ferry to the North Island where I have peeps who can put me up, I know I wont be going back to the South Island. I was talking to Steve the Pirate from Toronto and he highly endorsed The Dangerous Kitchen in Takaka in Golden Bay. I called the owner and she said she had a spot available on Tuesday the 23rd. I decided to check out of the Villa this morning and try to hitch hike west. Steve said he may want to hitch with me so I waited around till he woke up and I asked him if he was still kean to go. He changed his mind about 4 times the night before so I felt compelled to ask him again if he was sure he wanted to go. He said he would pack his things and think about it while he was packing. I waited over toast and coffee, just to see him approach me during my last bite wearing the NO IM NOT FEELING IT face. He asked me if i could bring a tool set to some dude in a town along the way and I hit the road while he went to his room to look for them.

I walked across Picton to a popular hitching spot and laid down the thumb. It took about a half an hour before the first person stopped. I told him I was trying to get to Picton and he said that he wasn't going that far and said Id be better off waiting for someone who was. Two more cars and the same story. Finally some fancy pants named Nick driving a brand new BMW pulled up and was game to take me to a town half way there. He used the speed the car was built to display and we got to the crossroads prompt. I was at the Nelson/Bleinhem fork for only about 10 minutes when Neil picked me up. Neil is a Kiwi bloke in his late 40's. His first question to me was "you looking for work too?" I eased his competitive concern with a "no" and we were off. Apparently Neil has been driving around the South looking for some odd jobs. He lives out of his van and buys milk, bread, salt and pepper and hunts for the rest(possum, venison, trout, etc.) He talked about all kinds of shit i had no input on, so i responded with cordial "hahas and yeah totally." He was cool because he wanted to stop at all the photo worthy spots along the way. I wasn't sure if i should be concerned about Neil or not. He was a really nice guy, but I'm sure people said the same thing about Jeffery Dahmer. I was wide awake when i got into the van but within a half an hour I could feel myself getting really tired and my limbs started feeling all tingly. At this point I thought either I was being bored to death by Neil's childhood stories or he was gassing me with some knockout toxin. I instinctually lean towards the latter and as soon as I told myself that he was going to tell me that he was going to kill me he asked me, "I bet you get some pretty hairy drivers, hitching around NZ like this?" I told him that it hasnt been bad and I just have to go with my insticts. The city of Nelson couldnt have appeared soon enough. I had Neil drop me off at the info center and that ended that. I found a backpackers called The Green Monkey and that's where im at now. Chill place with free internet and ill be here until monday.

Sorry for the abbreviated tone of my writing. Peeps are waiting for the 'puter.

:)