christchurch v1.0

and so begins the new zealand notes. i woke as we began our decent over the misty moutains. the arrival to christchurch was without incident, though worth a footnote as the 3rd airport lyds and i had visited in 24hrs. note on christchurch: christchurch is the largest city on the south island, yet retains the feeling of walking across a uni campus. it has a definate english feel to it, from the avon river to its conservative gothic architecture. lyds and i had arrived in to new zealand in their new jerusalem.

once through customs (once again lyds got tagged for having liquids in her belongings) we were a tired and haggard troop. our reward was to splash some money on a holiday inn room for a clean bed. we took advantage of the clean ensuite bathroom by each taking an extended soak in the tub. i love that fresh linen smell sheets in hotels have. crisp and clean.

the next day we moved out of the holiday inn for our hostel which was built in 1881. we spent the rest of the day going over maps and planning our transportation. with only a month in this country, and so many ways to kill ourselves, we had to be organised. unfortunately, after our first night's stay in the hostel i woke up with the flu. but, drugs, sleep and the power of positive thinking healed me.

travelling is adaptation. it is now autumn in new zealand and the trees have begun to lose their leaves. it gets dark earlier. we are cold after having experience nothing but heat for months. the weather makes me think of nfl sundays and the cottage. it also is making my tan disappear. in order to adapt we went shopping for jackets. unfortunately, lyds and i could not believe how much wampum stores wanted for their jackets. so we hit up the salvo and secondhand shops. i think i "won" by finding used kleenex in my "new" jacket. lyds enjoyed a fellow shopper who marveled at the colours on a garmet he examined. it was black. he was stoned.

next day we left christchurch for westport.

finished reading the second book in the gates of room series. on to an englishman abroad. spiderman 3 lacked venom.

adrenaline shots start tomorrow. we'll ride to the sound of the guns.