Visiting Jasmine

I got the ferry over to Sydney city centre this evening to meet up with Jasmine. I have only met Jasmine three times and always fleetingly but whenever we are together we get on so well. We're very similar in personality and interests so even though I really hardly know her we never have any trouble chatting or finding things to do.

I owed Jasmine big time as I stayed with her for three days last time I was in Sydney, just after I cut my foot open in the shipwreck. I must have been such a pain as Jasmine had planned a few days of trail running, paddle boarding and cycling. I, unfortunately was only fit to sit on the sofa. But Jasmine and her family made me feel so at home and I had a wonderful time with them all.

I started of repaying her by being half hour late and soaked with sweat.

I didn't realise the CBD bus only ran until 3pm so I sat at the bus stop for half hour before setting off on foot. I also didn't realise how vast Sydney is. After 40 minuets of brisk walking I was only half way there so I jumped on a train then still had a twenty minuet walk the other side. Ten minuets if I hadn't have gone the wrong way out of the station.

Luckily she hadn't left and was still pleased to see me. We went for dinner and some drinks and were joined by her friend who was visiting home during her working holiday in London. 

I gave Jasmine her, rather tenuous present. She had mentioned in passing last time we met -over a year ago- that she really wanted a Swiss Army knife. So I picked one up for her. It was well received but I don't think she actually remembered actually wanting one.

We had a really great catch up and I worked hard on trying to persuade her to come to the UK for a working holiday.

Wish park re-united

After bidding farewell to Charlie and her housemates (both conveniently named Sam). They dropped me at the airport for my flight to Sydney.

I arrived in sunny Sydney and got back into my normal traveling routine... Making poor decisions and taking ages to get anywhere! I missed my bus as I was trying to be a cheap ass and get one from outside the airport before realising that would mean I had to walk down a three lane motorway for an hour with my full pack on. So I waited half hour got the right bus (on the third attempt as I just kept getting on every bus that showed up. Then met an Indian guy named Sebastian who was also transferring at the local train station to get to circular quay. Due to me facing about getting a ticket at the wrong terminal I missed my ferry too. So I sat and listened to a busking swing band under the Sydney harbour bridge for half hour. Eventually I got on the ferry and sailed around the well lit opera house to Manly.

After grabbing a cheeky pie I met JJ my old school friend on the corso. It was great to see him again. He's got a pretty cool job coaching Sydney FC youngsters and is contracted to AS Roma for scouting purposes.

We went to a huge open air pub. It was a massive culture shock for me after being in New Zealand for nearly a year. Going from no young people and dancing on a Friday night with a crowd of four people to a Sunday night with a good few hundred 18-30 in this pub alone!

We had a good catch up that evening and the next morning I went surfing at Manly Beach.

JJ's board was pretty huge but I still did pretty well. I managed to catch a couple of green waves and rode them all the way in to shore. The unfortunate thing was I didn't put any suncream on the backs of my thighs. So my arse was to be red raw for the rest of my trip!

That evening, when JJ got back from work, we went to get some food from the big open air pub again. JJ and I split a burger and salmon making ourselves a very unusual surf n turf!

We then played a couple of games of pool at the harbour side before heading home.

On my final day in Manly I wanted to go surfing again, but my thighs just wouldn't take it! So I decided to go for the scene walk way. After walking only about 20 minuets I found a nice tree and had a nap until it was time to go into Sydney and meet my friend Jasmine.

Charlie Brown

Today I caught the ferry across Auckland harbour to meet Charlie. Charlie and I met in Thailand and traveled together two weeks there before a month or so in New Zealand.

We had a really great few days together. We went on a hike up the island volcano of Rangitoto. Just like every other time Charlie and I have traveled together it was grey wet and miserable weather. We still had a lot of fun scrambling up past the lava fields and enjoying the limited view from the volcanoes summit.

We also had a really fun evening game of glo-put. An indoor crazy golf course all under only black lights with balls, clubs and scenery all done up in uv. It was really cool and a lot of fun. We then had some Thai food for dinner at a local restraunt.

Surfing NZ

Today I went over to Muriwai beach in west Auckland for a surfing lesson. I got the bus over and paid extra for a pick up from the bus stop to the beach.

After a heavily unsuccessful surf clas where I was relegated to the baby board and couldn't stand up for shit I arranged my ride back to the bus stop for 3:30 for the last bus.

After the class I joined a couple of air New Zealand pilots for a sandwich and a beer before returning to the beach for a little hike and a visit to a huge blue gannet colony. One of the bastards managed to shit inside my book!

I then returned to the surf shop where the owner ignored me then went on the phone until ten minuets before my bus left. He then came out with a stream of crap excuses why he couldn't take me. His noble solution was to make me a sign and let me hitchhike back to the city.

Luckily I approached some other surfers who had rented from his shop and they kindly gave me a ride to a shopping complex where I could get another bus into town.

I got back just in time to pick up some fish from the harbour market for dinner.

On the road again

So Liv dropped me on highway six. I didn't have to wait too long before a nice family picked me up and took me to Blenhiem. From there I hitched another ride to the port town of Picton.

I dropped off my bags and went for my last trail run in the Marlborough sounds, and in New Zealand. It was a good run. Pretty steep and challenging in places, with some great views too.

That night I realised I have become the weird guy in the hostel. I was knackered so I went to bed pretty early. I was woken in the middle of the night by my dorm mates. It transpired, however, that I had been woken in rem sleep. I was completely paralysed. They could see my eyes open when they turned on the light. But I physically couldn't move! They kept talking to me and I wanted to join in. Eventually I managed to get out a long pained groan. They stopped talking to me after that. I'm not sure why. 

The next day I hiked over to the ferry and got my ship over to Wellington. I met a nice lady on the ferry off to visit her son in London.

As soon as I got to Wellington I joined up with a young girl also toteing a large backpack and we got the bus to the airport. She was a Canadian, studying in oz and was back off over the Tasman. I flew up to auckland. After a long bus journey I arrived at my friend from uni Chris' place where I was to stay for four nights. 

We went to a pub quiz on Tuesday and I cooked us a fish supper on Wednesday. Apart from that I spent most of my time getting free trials at Auckland gyms doing exercise classes.

Last week in Nelson

On Saturday we had our works Christmas party. 

Simon, Milly and I drove out to upper Moutre to meet everyone else; Jo, Margreet, Andrew, Candace, Alan and their children Zack and Ben.

We exchanged the car for a ride in the tralor into their farm.

We went Clay pidgeon shooting!

It was really good fun. I came third. Behind Simon and Phil, who are seasoned shooters. It was very funny as Margreet kept forgetting to point the gun down when she wasn't shooting. Scaring the crap out of Simon, who she kept pointing the gun at!

We also got to have a run about in their dune buggy. I took Zack, Alan and Candace's eldest son out. He's not much into danger and speed, so he didn't ask to go out with me again!

After the fun we had a nice BBQ. Jo and Candace had a go on the Guitar and we had a bit of a sing song.

On Monday we had a Physio only do. We ordered take away Indian and got a box of beers in. We turned the gym and a Physio bed into a buffet hall and ate sooooo much!

On Tuesday Tim and Suze went out wind surfing with me. It turns out wind surfing is not like riding a bike. 

I hopped on the board and straight away sailed across the harbour, no worries. Then it was time to tack. SPLOSH! No chance. Could I go the other direction? Could I balls. I spent twenty minuets getting up and then falling in. Eventually the time pulled me around the boulder bank and dragged me out to sea. So the life guard had to come out in the boat and rescue me.

Tim drove out after another twenty minuets of falling in and gave me some tips. Finally I was wishing around on the water!

Liv and I went out for Thai on the Wednesday.

Thursday was my final Judo session. I have always struggled with stand up fighting. However on this, my final session after seven months it clicked into place and I fought pretty well.

Friday was my leaving do. It was absoloutly perfect, I had a great time. All my favourite people came to the local craft beer pub and everyone mixed in and got on really well. We had a great laugh. At about 11 we were all heading home. When I was collared by Jeremy; my best friend in Nelson. "Gary, I've got two young kids. Alyssia has given me a free night tonight to send you off. I've not been out at night with the boys for three years. We're sure as hell not going home now!" How can you turn that down!

Unfortunately, Jeremy was a very excitable drinker... We had three pints and two shots in aroun twenty minuets. 

We then headed to the local nightclub, which being Nelson had five people in it, and dropped the dance moves!

Saturday was a hangover day for me. I just cycled over to Livs house and had some lunch. Then we both went to Simons and met Milly and drove down to Cable Bay. My favourite spot in Nelson. We had a BBQ with the fish simon had caught that day.

On the drive home we had an impromptu accapella sing song to build me up buttercup and some John Legond. It was a really fun evening, we followed up with a couple of beers at Simons.

And that brings us to Sunday! My final day.

I packed up my things, said my goodbye to Ben, my housemate, then off to Simons to say goodbye to the guys. After an hour or so Liv dropped me on the road out of town and I stuck my thumb out and waited for a ride to the next chapter of my life.