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  Auckland, New Zealand
Saturday, October 6, 2007

I was talking to my mum earlier this week (oh the joys of Skype for the budget conscious world traveler) and she pointed out a strange fact. When we were stuck in the middle of the most technologically backwards countries in South America, updates from the road came thick and fast - and now that we've finally hit civilisation, it seems we're traveling incommunicado. What's gone wrong?

Well, in truth...not a lot could be going much better. Since we arrived in New Zealand almost 4 weeks ago, Sinead and I haven't stopped. We've driven almost 4,000 kilometres, seen some of the most incredible scenery and experienced some of the wildest rides we've ever been on. I'll try to give you a quick run through on what happened where....so, sit back, relax and get a cup of coffee. This could take a while.

We arrived into Auckland on the 3rd Oct after a 13 hour flight from Santiago. Now I know all about the International Date Line in theory, but I still haven't got my head around where my Tuesday went to. We get on a plane on Monday evening, fly for 13 hours, and arrive on Wednesday morning. Now I'm not a huge fan of Tuesday's ordinarily, I mean they sort of sit there lumpily between a Manic Monday and an Over-The-Hump Wednesday. It's usually a good day to get a 10% OAP discount at Woodies. But when you lose one...ooh, how it hurts. I don't resent getting older, but I do have a problem getting on when I can't even have the pleasure of actually experiencing the day in question. (notwithstanding the day I slept right through after a particularly heavy evening in the company of Mr Barry Tighe).

So, Tuesday-less, we arrived in Auckland and were met at the airport by my old mate Rob McDonnell. Rob not only picked us up at the airport, but had also responded to my emailed request of a full Irish breakfast when we arrived to his house in suburban Auckland. After many months of bread and jam breakfasts (not that it did me any harm), a few rashers, sausages, eggs and beans went down a treat, and fueled us up for the days ahead. It also fueled us up for the obstacle course that is living with two energetic kids - namely Finn (7 years old) and Poppy (4 going on 40). We had a blast getting the kids sugared up and hyper, and then sitting back and watching their 8 months pregant mum, Gina, and Rob try to get them to bed.

First things first, Marge and I scooched off into the city to try to find ourselves a home on wheels for the roadtrip around New Zealand. We'd heard about this backpacker car market in the city centre where we could find a trusty steed to purchase, ride around the islands and then sell on again at the end of our stay. The theory was we'd pick up a bargain at the start of the tourist season and sell it when we were leaving for more or less the same amount, saving ourselves the EUR1500 it would cost us to rent a van for the 6 weeks we'd be touring. So, after re-negotiating our standards somewhat (no longer looking for a van with a shower, microwave oven and DVD player - settling instead on 'engine' and 'no chickens roosting in cabin') we found a sure footed Nissan HOMY (think long wheel base Urvan), 13 years young and with a gamine 164,000kms on the clock. It had a bed, a few camping odds and ends and was around 10 years younger than anything else on offer. A mechanical check, a visit to the bank and bish bash bosh...it was ours.

Then, after a visit to a few shops (and 17 visits to a hell hold called The Warehouse, where apparently 'everyone gets a bargain', but all I got was a pain in my arse) and a few hours on Robs driveway, we had decked the lovemobile out with gingham curtains, a scrap of carpet and a general interior makeover...we had our home for the next 6 weeks. And after 6 days of being made part of the McDonnell family (and commiserating Finn when the All Blacks crashed out of the World Cup) we bid Auckland ADIEU and headed into the west.

I've changed my mind. This isn't going to be a long one. I'm bored looking at a computer. But it will be followed shortly by tales of more capers. Promise. Till then, adieu to you too...

If you'd like a photo fix, check out the galleries on Picasa at http://picasaweb.google.com/richard.mcguinness

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