Today I caught two possums then James and I worked on the hut. Back at the farm we had a big dinner and Aaron came to camp and trap with me. After setting a couple traps we played some soccer and I had a cold late night shower.
03/24/2013
Today we caught one possum and I cut off the hind legs for Aaron and explained how to prepare them. Next I rode into town for the church meeting and later the Macdonald's visited me at my camp.
03/25/2013
Today I caught one possum and worked on the hut with James.
03/26/2013
Today I caught another possum and returned the bike to Mike. We watched some cricket and then I packed and went to the Macdonalds'.
Today I went to Wellington for a pest control meeting but was a day early so I headed to the farm where spent the night in a wet tent during a rain storm next to a river that could overflow and take me with it at any time.
03/20/2013
Yesterday I tossed a couple possums that James had shot while I was gone and today I set the traps again then did some washing in a river that occasionally flows sewage... Next I took a cold shower in the high winds that flow through the valley then tried doing some carving but ended up cutting my thumb wide open and using a slice of bread to stop the bleeding.
03/21/2013
Today I caught three possums, two small and one juvenile. While I was heading up to the upper traps I saw James coming out and a hunter landed his helicopter in opening between us. We ended up talking to hunters all day and later I sorted out my traps. One I wanted across the river from my camp so I made a bridge of stepping stones and blazed a trail along the river bank. Back at camp I made a chair and table from sticks and stones.
03/22/2013
Today I didn't catch any possums, just had two that got away. I went with James to survey his property and while we were there Mike texted me about returning the bike. With this in mind I started thinking through whether to go to Christchurch to labour or back to Cairns to ride bikes but then James suggested we just build a hut on his property for me to stay in. At 20 minutes walk from the CBD and an awesome view - it was a no-brainer. Later I went to the library and applied for security work.
Today we stayed for the meeting at Doug's then left for Karosene Creek. After a quick swim in the spas we stopped again at a hidden and forgotten gem called Bruce Park Scenic Reserve on the way to Bulls.
From there I drove us the rest of the way back to Lower Hutt, Wellington.
Today Peter finished buying the Prius and we drove to the Hamilton Training Centre to see Neil and the other trainees. Next we went to Cambridge to meet the Browns then over to Rotorua where we had Indian takeaway and stayed with Doug.
Today I flew to Auckland with Peter and he haggled for a Prius. Later we bought some burgers from BK and somehow ended up getting one free! Next we drove to Whangerei to stay with Peter's brother for the night.
After the meeting today I hiked into Belmont Regional Park.
I walked down to a dam and back noting many DOC traps which would prevent my success there.
Later, Peter took me to see Wesley's Farm and we went up into the hills where we looked out over all of Makara.
03/12/2013
Yesterday I spent the day in Petone riding around and using the library. Today I went to Warehouse to buy a self-inflating mattress but they were out of stock. On the way back to the farm a truck randomly tried backing into traffic causing me to back into a car. I slightly scraped the car and, after checking the damage, the owner concluded that his car wasn't valuable enough to warrant further action. At Wesley's Farm (Kinnoull Station) the tenant James, who I had met the other day, loaned me a self-inflating mattress and went with me to set traps.
After setting five traps we went in to work on a design for the house he is planning to build on his section just outside Wellington CBD. He pulled out his plans and I put it all together on Google Sketchup. That night I caught two possums - a large and a juvenile, one escaped.
03/14/2013
Yesterday I set five more traps and today I caught one juvenile possum... four escaped. Later James and I went to check out his property.
After that I rode to the Macdonalds' and we went to the meeting.
Today I caught another rat and still no possums. After a trip to the library I returned to move some traps and make more improvements. Though, I wasn't about to get my hopes up considering my last couple nights so I made plans to leave the next day.
03/02/2013
Today I caught yet another rat and no possums. I forgot to zip lock my soap so that was eaten again by a possum. After packing up I headed over to Eastbourne Domain Recreation Preserve and hiked in with a new Canadian friend but found only stagnant water. On my way out I called Hudson from the church and he invited me to stay over for the night in order to attend the Wellington meeting in the morning.
On the way over I stopped in Petone (Pe-tone-ey) for the special spring water that they have there and then finished riding over to Wellington.
03/03/2013
Today I went to the meeting and met a fellow American who is keen to join me doing some possum trapping.
03/04/2013
Today I met with the trainees (ones studying in order to be constituted with the Truth) downstairs and we went out to talk to with uni students. Afterward we headed for Neil's house where Neil and I walked barefoot through the bush and down a stream until we arrived at a waterfall. Then we climbed a ridge through Bush Lawyer and finally followed the road back.
03/05/2013
Today we all went to Victoria University to invite students into the VU Christian Club. Later on we had tea at Stevens and I went with Neil to set some traps near his place.
03/07/2013
We spent yesterday and today at VU (Victoria University) and this evening we held a welcome dinner for the club. Later I pulled the traps with Neil.
03/09/2013
Yesterday we went to the Casey's (Americans) for a BBQ and today we went and jumped off of Taita Rock after which we had tea (dinner) at the meeting hall in Wellington.
Today I caught a rat and no possums. I hiked up Butcher Track and over on Cattle Ridge for a swim in the Orongorongo River. Then I took Orongorongo Track back to camp where I noticed that one possum had actually stolen my soap...
Today I caught one medium possum and another escaped. Next I went to town for the shops where I got a space blanket to help with the cold and used Skype at the library.
02/26/2013
Today I caught one medium possum and one escaped again. In town I went to Salvos and found some great motorcycle boots for $8, perfect fitting like-new jeans for $3, a sleeping bag for $8.50, and thermals for $6.50! I called local dealer Chris about selling the fur and he actually buys tail fur as well so I'll be collecting that from now on. At the library I met a kiwi traveller who has spent years in America and Australia monastery hopping. The ski resort called me back having struggled to contact my references. Back at camp I set three more traps and at 11 pm went out to deal with a rather big possum. As I was checking its eyes to see if it was healthy it suddenly jumped out at me from a meter away and almost ripped my face off! Fortunately the trap yanked it back down...
02/27/2013
Today I had no possums when I woke up. I made a trail and moved a trap to it then made improvements on the rest.
Today Aaron and I turned in our fur and cashed the check for $98.70 - about $10 or so less than we expected... Later we had some drinks and a big fish & chip feed then I planned my travels for the following weeks.
02/24/2013
Today I packed up and said farewell to the Kerrs. Outside of Wainuiomata I stopped to check my location and ended up giving a kiwi fella a ride back into town who otherwise would have been walking for days!
Though, I'm sure he would have hitched at some point. Apparently he got left behind after a party because nobody knew where he was. When I finally reached Rimutaka Forest Park I had just enough daylight to set up camp and put some traps out.
Today I had six escapes... leaves and sticks kept the traps from grabbing and we should have checked at night while they were still caught. After brekky we moved to base camp three (BC3) and hiked up to set the traps up on the ridge.
At the end of the line we got reception and we sent Samala a text to ask for more lure. I also responded for a position as a caretaker at a ski resort on the South Island. On the way back we found that we had already caught one rat and one possum.
02/15/2013
Today we caught one rat and one possum. After Aaron went home I headed back for camp and foraged for some water cress on the way. Back at camp I built a teepee and cooked up minced meat with veggies and the water cress.
02/16/2013
Today I got a new fur bag and caught three possums - two large and one small. I cleared the whole trail on the way up to make it easier and set seven traps so I didn't get back to camp until late. After taking a shower under the moonlight using the camp shower I had pasta, some bland veggies and tea.
02/17/2013
Today I saw four goats on the slip on the way up to check the traps. I caught three possums - two large and one small, one escaped.
I set eight more traps and on the way back saw what looked to be goats or maybe boar walking in the scrub. After tea I had tea made from leaves of the Kawakawa shrub.
02/18/2013
Last night I was woken up by scratching on the tent at 1 am so I checked the traps by the camp and found one rat and one large possum. In the morning I found five possums - three large, one small and one juvenile caught by his stuff... three escapees. I made a basket and ended up putting four legs in it by the end of the day. Later that evening I smoked them.
02/19/2013
Today I caught two rats and six possums - five large and one juvenile, none escaped. For dinner I had pasta, two possum legs (kebab and pan fried), rice and tea.
02/20/2013
Today I caught three possums - two medium and one juvenile, one escaped. Back at camp I thatched a roof for the teepee and weaved a hat. Aaron soon arrived and noted that I had the "wild eyes" - a condition where your forehead becomes completely smooth, your eyes kind of squinty and your facial expressions change very little as a result of being removed from the stimulation of society. That night we ate Paua patties and Aaron gave me a mini palm-sized camp stove to help with my packing woes.
02/21/2013
Today we caught three possums - two medium and one juvenile, one escaped. Later we hiked up and looked for a place where Aaron came off his bike a few months back. He was severely injured and had to be rescued by emergency services.
02/22/2013
Today we caught one baby possum and decided to head out. Back at the house we had some drinks, cooked up some steak and sausages on the barbie then fixed a problem with the bike by sanding carbonate off the spark plug and cleaning the air filter with petrol.
On Sunday, February 10th, we caught five possums, four evaded my improvements and another three escaped. Later Aaron came back and that night we caught two possums and smoked the hind legs.
The next day we caught one possum and one escaped. We decided to start burying the traps so the possums don't see them. Back at camp I skinned the legs of the possum we caught, chopped up the meat, cooked some on a kebab and the rest I fried up with some curry and onion.
We caught three possums and headed out and, the next day, I applied for a job at a ski resort and we headed back into the bush where we found that two possums had escaped our traps.
Today we caught one possum. Another one licked some of the other lures but avoided the traps. We hiked up to see base camp two and three (BC2 & BC3). Later we set more traps and cooked steak and sausage kebabs over the fire again.
02/08/2013
Today we caught three possums - one large, two small. Aaron went home and I set two traps close by to test out the "minefield" technique.
02/09/2013
Today I caught a rat and a possum. While I was eating my lunch by the river I helped direct lost hikers. Later I set six traps and improved the others. For tea I fried up some bread made from the lure (flour and cinnamon) and water.
Today we went to Whakarongotai Marae and had a Hangi. Pronounced "hungy" a Hangi is food prepared in an earthen stove. Later we returned to the bush and set up camp at base camp one. After setting some traps we cooked up some steak and sausage kebabs over the fire.
Today I packed and lost the rego for the bike on the way to the library in Otaki. After getting some food I rode to Aaron's where we ate Kina (Sea Urchin) then some Paua (Shellfish) patties for dinner. Later we went to the beach and hunted for Cockles and Pipis.
02/04/2013
Today we had bacon and eggs for brekky, made some Portuguese fried bread and went to base camp one (BC1) in the bush by Kapakapanui in the Tararua Ranges. There we set some traps and set up camp next to the glow worms. That night we took a couple test shots with the air rifle. I didn't realize how powerful it was and had my eye too close to the sight so I ended up getting my head sliced open from the recoil. For dinner we had steak, sausages and ramen.
02/05/2013
Today we caught two possums and I replaced the rego on the bike.
Today I showered, packed and rode to Feilding where I spent the day at Maccas then found a place to camp by the Oroua River just outside of town.
01/29/2013
Today I weaved a mat and ate my brekky while exploring a trail behind my camp. Then I smoothed out an area and moved my tent further back. After making a bench I bathed in the river and went to Maccas.
01/30/2013
Today I worked on the trail behind my camp, went to the library, did more trail blazing and went to sleep. While sleeping I heard a guy in the farm behind my camp yelling, "oi oi yaw yaw yaw!" - probably mustering some stock.
01/31/2013
Today I picked up the new rego at Mikes house in Halcombe then went to Maccas in Feilding. Back at camp I did my washing and bathed in the river again.
02/01/2013
Today I went to Maccas with a passenger in my helmet... a big, hairy huntsman. After returning to camp I packed up and went to Palmy for my mail then stopped at the Manawatu River for a swim with some gypsies before heading to Otaki. There I camped with some new friends, Aaron and Brendan, at a place called Monakau North. Aaron and Brendan are keen bushmen and offered to teach me about possuming (trapping possums). I also ran into Paul and Matt from Reid's Farm back in Taupo.
02/02/2013
Today I dove in the river and then set up my fishing gear that Aaron made for me out of a line, hook and sinker wrapped around a stick. Later I moved my camp down by the river and made ramen, mashed potatoes and beans for dinner. While sitting at my campfire I could hear possums in the trees behind me.
Today I packed and rode to the shuttle for the Tongariro Crossing. During the hike down from Mt Doom (Mount Ngauruhoe) I lost my camera in an avalanche but later found it after climbing halfway back up!
On the way back out I stopped at Soda Springs for a shower and to do my washing a bit.
Back in Turangi I had a drink with some CSers then rode to Vinegar Hill Campground.
Today I met up with some camping friends from last week and later I bought some soda so some Swedish guys (Victor and Robin) and I could make mixed drinks around the campfire.
01/18/2013
Today I hit the thermal spas with a couple fellas I met yesterday, Paul (English) and Matt (Welsh). After hiking to Huka falls and swimming in the spas a bit we eventually headed back. Later after playing with the ducks a bit I had drinks with Victor and Robin again around the campfire while listening to music and learning French.
01/19/2013
Today I spoke with Paul and Matt about naming my bike. We played with "Trusty Steed" and "The Dream Machine" but, since the bike is a Suzuki, we settled on the name "Suzy."
I then took Suzy to buy a new sleeping bag at the warehouse. We have all been freezing at night lately so it seemed a necessary expense. Fortunately I found a $59 sleeping bag that was marked down to $35! After checking out I went to the library to skype and met a German named Rick who supports a movement called Zeitgeist. It's a very strange movement where nobody has to work and somehow everything is expected to just keep going. I let him try and explain but, alas, it just wasn't for me so we headed back to camp where we both happened to be staying.
01/20/2013
This morning I bathed in the river, played some guitar and listened to music a bit with the French campers and a sketchy fella with a swastika on his arm... Later we all had some drinks by the fire and listened to music from my ipod until some annoying drunken teens showed up. One of them was alright but the other one was just stupid. He tried throwing punches at the Toggy and, after that confrontation, continued to spit all over everything around him for the rest of the night...
01/21/2013
Today I applied for some ski resort jobs and swam for golf balls out at the Lake Taupo "Hole in One" Challenge. I found 250 balls and made $10... after a couple hours of diving. At least it was something to do and it was kinda fun, at least until I lost feeling in my extremities... Later I ate croissants and BBQ around the fire with the French campers.
01/22/2013
Today I woke up, put on my pants and, to the astonishment of a few, dove straight into the river - washing (laundry) done!
01/23/2013
Today I dove into the river again before going to the library. Back at camp I watched some of the French guys cooking up some crayfish they caught in the river.
Then some kiwi guys floating the river showed up and gave me a couple drinks as we talked. Finally, I cooked up some pasta while the other French group prepared a trout that they caught earlier that day.
01/24/2013
Today I continued the habit of jumping into the river every morning and went to the library to apply for jobs at ski resorts, lodges, etc. Back at camp the Paul and Matt caught a large trout and we all sat around the campfire.
01/25/2013
Today I bathed in the river again and went to the library where I applied for a job teaching English in China next year. Back at camp I met a kiwi named Kev who gave me some drinks as we talked and then Brendan and Daniel, the kiwis floating the river the other day, showed up and were arrested for disturbing the peace. Apparently they had been yelling at some tourists up the river and when they arrived Brendan was arrested on national telly. Soon the police returned for Daniel because he refused to leave. Before Daniel left he had me watch his stuff in exchange for a couple drinks in his chilly bin (cooler). Later the French group prepared a couple fish that they caught that day. One was more cooked than the other so we had a bit of variety in the flavour.
01/26/2013
Today I dove in the river one last time before packing up and heading to the library. After the library I made my way down to Turangi for camping where I met some more French campers and had a couple drinks.
I went to bed early so I could get up and arrive in time the next morning for the Tongariro Crossing hike with others from Couchsurfing.
Today I woke up, got ready and hit the road to Hastings. About 130km later I arrived and started sussing out fruit picking work. Unfortunately that doesn't start for a couple weeks so I took a hint from some fellas on the road and stopped in at a local public house for some more info. When I entered I took off my bag and noticed my arm was in serious pain - it seemed I had pulled a muscle. After helping me with some picking info, one of the girls who ran the place for her parents gave me some water and had me sit down in the rest area while they made me some soup and homemade bread - on the house! After downing homemade goodness that brought me back to my childhood, we had a talk about some of the local spots for picking and camping and they sent me on my way. I stopped in at some spots along the way but found that the picking really just wasn't happening yet so I went for the camping area at Cape Kidnappers.
As nice as that spot was it just wasn't suitable for me and my bike so I continued on my way to Taupo as I had originally planned. On the way I took in some of the most beautiful scenery which made me wish I had a helmet camera and, at one point, I pulled off and checked out some really nice waterfalls.
About 160km from Hastings I arrived at the thermal spas in Taupo and soaked for a while. The gates were closing in a half hour but so many cars and people were there that I figured I'd be fine, but soon I realized that everyone had left and made my way up to my bike. Unfortunately I had dropped my glasses so I went back looking but just couldn't find them. I do have a spare pair so it's not so bad. Back at the bike I found that the gates were closed but luckily my bike fit down the pedestrian passage out of the park. Back at the campsite from last week (Reid's Farm) I set up my tent in the same spot and started cooking tea. While I was boiling up the noodles the rain started pouring down and suddenly the tarp let up and a small spout of water poured into my burner, soaking the flint starter.
Today I caught a ride into Palmy with Fiona's neighbor, Austin. I took the road code test for my license about five times (extra $200) but I finally got my license... Why did it take me five times? You can miss three but I always seemed to miss four or five until the last time where I got 100% - I reckon it's rigged. I've spoken to many since and they all laugh until I give them some examples, ie: what do you do at the yellow line? If you said stop, you're wrong! You only stop on the white line... there is no yellow line. Another question is about parking on dashed yellow lines to which you are given two valid answers. The correct answer is that none may pass, but I put that I may not pass because I reckon many of those spots are kept clear for emergency vehicles. The other questions I got wrong were mainly about distances which I mostly knew but, again, found the question to be phrased in a way which prompted me to choose the wrong answer... After walking out with my temporary motorcycle license, and a massive dent in my budget, I visited Cherie at the backpacker hostel to ask about her receiving some mail for me then took a bus to Fielding. When I arrived I bought some beans and walked 2.5 km to the campsite there. After I set up my tent I watched TV till late then tried sleeping in my tent till about 2a... but it got so cold/damp that I had no choice but to sneak back into the lounge and sleep on the couch.
01/15/2013
The next morning the manager saw me lying there and, while he seemed a bit perturbed, he left me alone. On the way back to Fielding I took a wrong turn but eventually arrived and bought a helmet and tie downs for the bike. They also gave me a learners plate that they had lying in the display, for free! Mike called me at this time and we talked about the conditions of our agreement as well as the fact that they still hadn't found the key for the bike... Next I went to apply for my tax number then spent the rest of the time hanging out waiting at Maccas. Later Mike's mum called me to say that she was still having trouble finding the key but that she would pick me up at 5p. At about 5:15p she called me to say that she had found the key and was on her way! Ten minutes later we were on our way to pickup the bike. We pulled it out of the shed and I took a minute getting oriented with the bike. At first it wouldn't start but then I remembered riding dirt bikes and how we sometimes had to pull the choke to start them up. Sure enough I was on my way and 50km later I arrived in Woodville to sort out my stuff at Fiona's. After I somehow managed to pack everything I needed into one bag I went down the road and camped for the night.
