Settling in, in Whakatane.

This is Blue. I'll be staying with him for the whole of my stay. As you can see he's a meat and potatoes kind of guy, OK by me. He works in forestry doing odds and ends. He has two kids, Emma 12, and Hunter 8 that live here every other week. Pictures of them to come. They are very energetic and love to jump on the trampoline. Pictures of them to come.   

These are Blues two Black labs Missy on the left and her energetic daughter Maggie on the right. The only time I have ever seen her without that soccer ball is when I have thrown it for her.

I bought a new bike today called a "black thunder". It only cost me about $350US. I rode it to the top of a hill next to town and back down. About an hour later I rode it to the beach with a surfboard strapped to me. I surprised myself when I actually stood up on the first wave tried to catch, but the next one confirmed Kristens prediction that I would eat it. I got churned but as they say down here, no worries.

Arrival in Auckland! Thor Does the dateline.

Arrived in Auckland yesterday and checked in to the base backbackers right downtown. I am still there but planning on getting out of the city today. One of the other guys in my program is staying here at base as well. This place is wild there are people from all over the place, lots of german, french, and Irish
among them. Headed to Whakatane this afternoon on a bus called the naked bus. Here are some pictures of my first night in Auckland. By the way thanks for the camera Mom.

This is me touching the Southern Ocean for the first time

  Below From left to right is a random Mauri, myself and Jay of Jay and Flynny's radio show and a guy who taught me a cool trick to light a match. They were on a pub crawl to Promote Jay and Flynny's show. 

    Very friendly guys.

Last Days Stateside

Hello everybody.

Welcome to my blog. This is my first and last post from the USA. I've spent my last week with my beautiful girlfriend Kristen camping, going to waterslides, and ziplining. I am going to miss her like crazy. She has challenged me to post more than once every two weeks, and doubts I will, but I will prove her wrong.  

I fly to seattle tomorrow, then onto LAX and Auckland the next day. Tell anyone who would knows me or dosen't but would be interested about my blog. I hope it turns out to be popular and entertaining.