Just for the record....

So the last post was a little out there for many of my readers.  I would like to assure everyone that I am still indeed drug free.  I am sorry my babbling rant on candy might have led you to believe otherwise.  Its just that I've been eating a lot of candy while here and I get mad at every banana piece I encounter.  Its really a money thing.  I view every banana piece as wasted money hence my anger and rant.  Sorry for any confusion.

On to the good stuff...... A lot of rad things have happened in the last couple of days.  Sarah is officially employed in New Zealand.  She found a job as a bartender and an english pub called "The Bard on Avon."  Its like a five minute bike ride from our flat so its super close.  She also has been employed as a daytime bartender so late night bike rides are not an issue.  I'm sure some of you are saying  "a bartender can make money during the day!"  allow me to let you in on a secret;  It is not customary to tip in New Zealand.  Bartenders are paid an hourly wage so time of day is not an issue.  The minimum wage in NZ is currently $12.50.  Granted I am sure she make more than that.  I actually don't know how much she is making.  She'd be the one to talk to about that.  If you really want to know, tell me and I'll find out for you.  I know people who can give me answers to question like that.  

On another super rad note, I bought a car today........for $600 bucks NZ.  With the current exchange rate its like $340 US.  And the best part is that its not a total piece of shit.  It belonged to a french guy that was flying out of the country in a couple of days.  I waved some cash in his face and told him that I'd buy it right now.  On top of everything its not stolen! I got papers with it.  89 Mitsubishi Lancer.  Its got some dents and scratches and stuff but nothing major.  Its only got 235,000 kms as well.  around 140,000 miles.  Not too bad for $350 bucks.  

I'll test out its mountain capabilities next week.  I have to drive it over Authurs pass to help Dave finish a board order.  

Not much else to say,  I've been skating everyday soaking up the nice weather.  It is supposed to rain tommorow so I might go to the climbing gym.  Hopefully I can talk Sarah into going and we can belay each other.  Their bouldering room is insanely difficult.   

take care ya'll

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I haven't been able to upload any new photos lately so I am going to treat you with some pre-trip photos... hope you enjoy..

The future and bananas

I reckon that most people who read this are in the States.  If you are in the States, then that would officially make me ahead of you by a day!!  Well technically its 18 hours, but nonetheless its awesome.  I love talking to people on skype on thursday and be able to say its wednesday there.  

On another side note, my mind wandered today.  I buy bags of candy every once in a while and today was no exception.  Most bags of candy include a yellow flavour of banana.  I could be wrong, but when I share my candies people almost never like banana.  Its never a grey area either.  Its black and white.  There no "there not my favorite but I still like em" or "I don't love em but I guess I'll eat them."  Its either "I fucking LOVE banana, give me them all," or "eeewwww, I HATE banana! I wont touch em!"  This leads me to a question for the candy companies; Why the hell are there still so many banana pieces in my bags.  There always seems a greater banana to other fruit ratio in the bag.  And seeing the black and white situation of the banana flavour, why isn't there a banana exclusive bag.  The candy companies need to take out all of the banana pieces in the mixed flavour bags and sell the flavour individually.  The banana lovers can buy both bags if they must absolutely have a banana inclusive mix of flavours.  I really don't think anyone would be upset over the absence of banana but I know of at least two people that would buy more assorted bags of candy if such an action would be taken!  Just a thought.

Some Visual Pleasure

Castle Hill. These boulders are like three stories high!!!

Well this morning we woke up in our home. It was awesome. Its nice out.

well well well

So a lot has happened since I last left you.  Last time we talked, Sarah and I were in Queenstown.  From Queenstown, we drove towards the west coast and up towards Greymouth yet again.  We saw Wanaka with is puzzling house, Franz Jospeh Glacier, Fox Glacier, Hokitika, and up to pancake rock for a second time.  We witnessed a rescue operation at Fox Glacier which was pretty rad.  When we pulled into the car park, there was a helicopter and a nuch of fire and search and rescue people milling about.  Shortly a second helicopter arrived as well as a second helicopter.   The two helicopters took off and were seen landing on the glacier.  They brought a man back to the car park fully strapped to a back board to be loaded into the waiting ambulance.  We found out later that the man was on a guided walk on the glacier when a land slide took him down seriously injuring him.  Pretty crazy stuff.  

At Greymouth I headed east for about 15min towards Dave North's skate factory.  He hooked me up with a couple of decks, a pair of Indy's, which are almost impossible to come by in NZ, and some bearings.  Deane, the skate shop owner in Greymouth finally hooked me up with some wheels to complete my setup.  I am still in awe of the hospitality of the people over here.  Dave didn't make me pay a dime for any of the stuff.  After spending the night in Punekaki, we drove over Authurs pass.  We stopped at a place called Castle Hill which is basically a bunch of huge boulders on the side of the road.  It is a rock climbing mecca.  There were heaps of climbers around just playing on the rocks.  We then drove into a rock and back into Christchurch.  I should clarify that I drove into a rock as Sarah was not at the wheel.  There happened to be a huge rock the size of shopping cart in the middle of the parking lot at Castle Hill.  I'm really glad we opted for the extra full insurance on the car.  In Christchurch I have been going to a local skatepark everyday that has a super fun steep pocket.  Today we finally rented a flat.  Its really nice and the guy that owns it cooked us a steak dinner to welcome us into the house.  

The guy that owns the house, Rob, has some real promising leads for some bar-tending work for Sarah.  He seems to know tons of people and has heaps of contacts.  In addition to rental property he owns a construction company so I've got options when the park is done.  Its been a pretty rad day today.  Its the first time in three months that I have had some stability.  For once I don't have to wake up in time to vacate a camp site or move on in fear of a park ranger.  We can actually buy groceries for more than two days.  Its really nice to settle down after months of being nomadic.  Christchurch is a really rad place and we are looking forward to being able to call it home.

Some photos

In absolutely no order

So you really need to click on the above photo. Blogger cuts out all the good stuff. Just click on it, youll see.

Steepest street in the world

Oh yeah, We went bungy jumping today!!!! I went four times and Sarah went three. Sarah did two straight forward and one backwards. They actually had to push her off backwards. I went running forwards, running backward, falling backwards, and running doing front flips. It was awesome. You should go find somewhere to do it!

Thats Sarah in the air!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Its been awhile

So its been while a long while since I last updated this here thing.
I left off with us still being in Greymouth. Rest assured we are still in New Zealand. From Greymouth, we took the Tranz Alpine train over Aurthurs pass. You can call us what you will but I personally didn't feel like riding a mountain pass after having sat on our ass for three weeks straight. I took heaps of photos but haven't uploaded them so you will have to wait.
The train arrived in Christchurch to a wind blown cold hail day. Super rad weather to ride your bike in. We didn't have far to go and made it to the city center. The next couple of days were spent lounging around the city center. Actually, I had to get my medical exam for my visa done. Three visits and some needle poking was done. We also went rock climbing twice. Well I went twice, Sarah went once. Christchurch is a pretty rad city. Theres stuff going on everywhere. People playing music, magicians trying to make money etc. We left Christchurch two days ago and had our furthest day yet. We absolutely killed it. something like 275 kilometers. The crazy thing is that we did it in like four hours, maybe five. We are true athletes.

That photos is way out of context! but none the less its rad. I stacked those rocks like that and then I took that amazing photo!!

So I guess I might tell you that we are cheating big time!!!!! We rented a car and are driving around. So far we been to Dunedin, invencargill Milford, and are in Queenstown right now. The coolest thing yet has been taking a tour of the Cadbury chocolate factory. They had a chocolate waterfall. pretty awesome. They wouldn't let me take photos though! I can give you an image of words though...... there was lots of metal and fast moving belts and machinery and brown stuff in everything!
The reason we are cheating is because we want to see as much as possible before I start working. Its going to get cold on the south Island relatively soon so we thought we'd get the big stuff out of the way.
Cheers

Hectic Couple of days

Well the last couple of days have not really been hectic, but none the less very eventful.  I have made some real promising leads on work.  There is a skate shop just down the street from the backpackers I am working at.  I went in the other day to try and find some information about a NZ board factory.  I had heard that there was a factory somewhere on the south island that presses there own boards.  Dean, the shop owner, told me that the factory is run by an english guy by the name of Dave North.  The factory happens to be twenty minutes form here.  Yesterday Dean gave me a ride up the Dave's factory so that I could meet him.  It was a super rad place.  Pretty much in the middle of nowhere, we are driving around the mountains to get to his property and then all the sudden there is a huge vert ramp in the distance.  Dave has a 13 foot vert ramp in his yard.  Pretty awesome.  He also has a small board factory that him and his wife run.  In addition to making boards, Dave also builds concrete skateparks.  Fate would have it that he is about to start a new park in two weeks in Christchurch.  After talking with him a while and skating the vert ramp for a bit, I am more than likely going to work on the park.  I just need to get my visa stuff taken care of.  Its not a real big park, but looks really fun.  A big flowing bowl with some bigger sections and a small street course.  Im looking forward to building parks again.  

Yesterday was the first day in almost three months that I have skated.  Both Dave and Dean kept asking "and why didn't you bring your board?"  I don't really regret not bringing my board, but its funny how things worked out.  I came over here trying to get away form everything I knew and try new things.  I thought that being in new places and doing new things would bring me nothing but happiness.  And it has made me happy.  I have had a blast traveling thus far doing rad things with Sarah.  But even doing such things I'm still quite aware how far away I am from home.  Yesterday I finally felt at home.  It was so nice just sitting down and talking to some people that had the exact same interests and passions as me.  Skating vert and walking through a board factory felt so good.