Bay Leaves

I leave the wonderful world of Takaka tomorrow. I will be heading out in the a.m. with possesions in pack, bound for Nelson to stay with my fellow nationals for the night.

To everyone I met along the way, I will carry you with me.

To everything positive from my Portland life, I will laugh with you soon enough.

Porst! :)

Thought For the Day

Work like you don't need money, Love like you've never been hurt, 

and Dance like no one's watching.

30 Minutes in Ma Whai Whai Mahal

Charlie and I throwing down some base coat at one frame every two seconds in Takaka, Golden Bay.

Let's Talk Takaka

I was picked up in Motueka by a guy we can call Mark. I retired farmer in his 60s, who now drives a 2008 BMW back and forth over the windy mountain roads between Motueka and Takaka. I told him that he had picked me up at the buzzer and that I was about to give up on hitching for the day. His response was, "Never give up on Takaka." I thought that was a great testimony about the place I will be spending the next month. We talked rugby, Obama, Aussie/Kiwi relations, and the diversity of Takaka. Takaka is home to the wealthy conservative farmer and to the bare footed, astrology reading rope heads. Although they may differ from each other drastically, they will defend the other from critical outsiders. "What you say 'bout my Momma?!" kinda thing.

The talk with my hitch got me stoked about my decision to lay down a few roots in Golden Bay. I had Mark drop me off at a backpackers called Annie's Nirvana. The owner Allan met me in the entrance with a line from a Beatles song. Showed me around and to my room and then asked me about my plans for Takaka. I told him I would be wwoofing with Alex from Dangerous Kitchen. He informed me of Alex's strong personality and proceeded to offer me a job looking after the Hostel for a couple weeks while he travels with his brother. So far so good in Takaka. 10 minutes after unloading my bags, a girl checked in who was from Eastern Oregon. I have only met a hand full of Americans on this trip and half of them have been from the OR. Good on us!

I walked across the street in the morning to meet Alex at the Dangerous. The cafe seemed like it had a great vibe. I wasn't sure what kind of work I would be doing, so I just sat down with my long black and day dreamed. Alex instructed me to throw my bags in the van where I was met by the pooches, Banzai and Floppy. We drove a few kilometers out to her 1924 farm house and the first thing I see is the other wwoofer organizing huge piles of foliage in preparation of the next days task... the wood chipper! The other wwoofer is a 19 year old dude called Charlie from England. The last few days we have been doing renovations to Alex's house. Pulling down wallpaper, pulling nails, filling cracks with stuff, painting things, etc. Hilarious conversations and really loud music help pass the time.

Some rich American who owns a beach house outside of Takaka gave another woman a bunch of money to throw a party at her house while she was away. Last night was that party. Charlie and I went halves on a 15 pack of Steinlager and Alex brought a bomb pizza from the Dangerous. Reggae music was the soundscape for the night. After downing my 7.5 beers I hit the dance floor and showed the middle aged locals how a drunk American in his 20's gets down. After sitting in the rotation for too long by the fire and watching Jim Henson's Dark Crystal on a projection screen, my body was telling me to go into the woods and sleep. I found Alex's van instead and did the same.

Today was a chill out day. No wwoofing on Sundays so I took the dogs for a walk on the beach while Alex visited a dead friend. Charlie still hasn't turned up home from the party. I'm sure he's fine.

Goal, Golden Bay

I set out from Nelson at 10 am on Monday. The owner of the backpackers dropped me off on the other side of town so I would have a better chance of getting picked up hitch hiking. I stood out front of some fancy condos for about 45 minutes with my thumb out and my tunes blasting when i heard some shouts poking through my Arcade Fire. It was coming from above my head and I looked up to see an older tanned couple asking me where I was headed. I quipped "Motueka!" and they volleyed "we are heading there in 5 minutes." That was easy I thought. I waited outside the parking garage and was greeted by a retired realtor, wearing Versace sunglasses. We talked travel, NZ, Obama along the way. I was dropped on the other side of Motueka to further my chances of getting a hitch over the hill into my destination town of Takaka. I waited for ages. a few cars stopped but were only going a fraction of the way and my chances would diminishing if i left Mot. I had to get into Takaka tonight because I had to report to The Dangerous Kitchen by 10am Tuesday. There was a shuttle leaving Mot at 4:20 but I couldn't afford to put it on my credit card so I wanted that to be my last resort. I set my phone alarm to 4:00 so if i didn't get a hitch I could run over and book the bus. I borrowed some cardboard and a Sharpie from a local business and made myself a "TAKAKA" sign. I stood outside the Police station of all places and prayed for my arts and crafts project to pay off........

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.

:)

South Island!

I have had a wonderful time in the North but the South summons me.
I catch the ferry today in Wellington and will arrive in Picton 3 hours later. I have had a wonderful time wwoofing and I have met amazing people in the process. I've decided to book a bus tour too see the South Island. I can get off and stay anywhere along the way and catch the next one coming through. I should be with Stray for about a month then make my way slowly back towards Auckland and catch what I've missed along the way.

Stay tuned for stories and images! :)

Love you all!

Below is the pass I booked. Im Stoked!
http://www.straytravel.com/new-zealand-bus-travel/19/