NZ

I will have a terrific bunch of pictures to post from New Zealand in the next few days, which will be a great change from all of the text I've been posting lately.

New Zealand is an excellent place, chock-full of characters. They just popped out of the woodwork. For example, an old sea salt named Skip offered to take us fishing on Boxing Day in his little launch. He brought along a lunch of Fanta (Orange Crush) and cheese puffs. His boat was in fine condition, so fine that he felt it necessary to remove the starter and instead wrap a green nylon rope found in the bottom of his boat around the flywheel to start the engine. Did we make it back to shore? Yes, after drifting over mussel nets, failing to start the engine multiple times, flagging down a passing fishing boat, and then finally making it back in. And to show for our troubles one small snapper.

Or today, while sitting near the river in Arrowtown, a guy on a dirtbike pulls up next to us, takes off his helmet and with mullet waving in the wind, asks us to watch his bike. "If anyone tries to take it, just smash them," he says.


So, may those words of wisdom help you in the New Year. If anyone tries to take anything that belongs to you, just smash them.