November 5, 2008

People keep asking us form the US "You're a day ahead...who wins?" We're a day ahead, but we're only paralleling in time!  We aren't seeing the future people!

Last night we slept in the van on the side of the road in Waipo Beach...it was actually a lot of fun and really comfortable..for me at least. We found a park on the water that was posted "no overnight camping" but didn't close until 10 and had really nice bathrooms. At the edge of the park was a row of thin trees and the other side was an emergency pull-out. So, we made dinner in the park.  Rice, beans in tomato sauce, garlic, onion, and Spam Turkey...yes, we had spam.  Add a little pepper and the onion and garlic and it didn't taste so much like cat food. It was actually pretty good. We've decided that when this is finished we'll get rich by Ari making a gourmet on the road out of a van cook book. :)

I was thinking last night about these blogs and how we are driving around all over everywhere. In actuality I haven't talked about the actual driving. We have been rotating days. I drove the first day, Mitch the second, and Ari the third and today is my day again. But this is no normal driving. We're talking gravel roads.  And that's not all. Imagine driving a steep windy gravel road on the right side of the vehicle on the left side of the road....and not letting your rear tires slip over the right hand edge because you're pulling to the right instinctively. I can't tell you how many times we have gotten in the car and reached over the left hand shoulder and grabbed at air. I want you to actually do this: Imagine sitting at the wheel and reach with your LEft hand over your right shoulder for your seat belt.  Feels ridiculous and awkward, doesn't it!?!?

Last night, in the van, it poured rain again.  It's been raining all day. It's cold and wet, but still absolutely beautiful out here!  I've really been loving waking up to thunderous rain...it's so natural out here and so nice to be away from the city life. But it's a bit of a challenge too. It's hard to have no internet or connection to the outside world. I made the boys come to a real city today so we could keep an eye on the election and I could do some homework. Still doing well in school...somehow.  :)  We have made it to Whangarei (Fangarei) and I'm not sure how much further north we'll go today. I think we will get to Bay of Islands and see about getting some work to get a little cash. But we might just keep going, too. Who knows.