I am finding it hard to write on the road. This is despite being in an actual city. The problem is that it is always a race against the clock. There is literally a bright colored clock window that alternates between flashing the time I've been online at this internet cafe and the amount I am going to part with when I finish. Working on 3NZD. Not too bad but it all adds up.

Earlier this year I read the book "Vagabonding" by Rolf Potts. (He's a bootsnall.com visitor, it turns out.) Shame on me: I forgot what it was all about. Something about it's the journey not the destination. Righto. What does that mean in practice? It's harder than it seems. I was reading through the Rough Guide to New Zealand this morning and got all excited at some of the prospects for tramping (hiking). The places that attract me the most are the more remote areas. I am very interested in visiting Stewart Island. It is NZ's "third" island, like a piece of land that got chipped off the southern end of the South Island. There is a small settlement with roads but aside from that it is pure wilderness. It rains alot, it is viciously windy, and it is one of the few places where you can see a kiwi in its own wild habitat. So, great, what a wonderful place to go get lost. Except now I have a destination. I guess the real vagabonder would have canned the Rough Guide and hopped on a bus to who knows where. It seems to me New Zealand lends itself well to a little bit of planning? There is a lot to miss if you don't know where to get lost.

If you don't understand what I am saying, that is ok, but I hope my friends who borrowed the book would have something to say?

I am really enjoying my stay at the Dreamland Hostel. It is very peaceful, comfortable and the dorm mates are a nice bunch to hang around with. One of them is a rock climber. He knows of a really cool boulerding area not too far from Christchurch. I hope to go check that out with him someday.

This just in: Rebecca sent me pictures of my drop-off at the bus station on the night of my departure:

Mike drove me down to Palmdale:

And Rebecca shot lots of pictures!