Got a feeling there’s going to be a lot of funny signage as we make our way across New Zealand :)
Frame ‘n’ ek!
Sound advice?
Some words of wisdom spotted outside the vets in Kaitaia. He clearly has to handle something more formidable than your average rabbit. Picturing a caged lion in there getting a root canal or something!
So now we’re finding it quite poinient on our last night before the big day ( being dropped off at the remote tip of a country in the wind and rain! ). So wish us luck… We might need it :)
In a way I guess you could say we’ve run away from the world for a bit. But as the big drop-off day draws closer I think the alternate meaning is resonating more ;)
What’s your poison?
And no this is not for boozin’ ! I know what you’re thinking ;)Who would of thought a big bottle of poison was essential kit..Hot Mail
We’re not missing the big-smoke technology down here in the wild. We’re fully kitted out with the latest in kiwi t’internet gadgetry!I’m actually stood on a sand dune right now, trying to upload a few posts with the first bit of mobile reception we’ve found! View’s amazing as the sun sets, not sure how many I’ll do before I get too cold.No bikes, no dogs, no Cookie!
I don’t think they really expected folk with packs the size of mine to be coming along this track, it was a pretty tight squeeze through this turnstile!
Spooky Loo!
Our friends Gavin and Jason are famous for turning our Loos at Poke into a bone tingling Halloween theme park. But I’d challenge them to have a poo in this scary loo! A full day’s walk into the forest, this long-drop looked like something out of Blair Witch. You were waiting for some zombie or something to bust in through the back wall. Dare you to go in after dark… I had to leave the door open when I went! In case I had to make a run for it…
Excalibur!
What a random thing to find on the side of the road haha! We couldn’t resist popping over and positioning Cookie with sword in hand.
Turns out I’m not the true king of Britain, oh well.. Not a bad bit of advertising for a local landscaping / stone supplier :)Attack of the Tonies
Aside from Steven Sea-gall we’ve been followed all this way from 90mile beach by a curious fellow with a long orange beak. Now, being foreign explorers in the wilderness without people in the know to question, we’ve been slowing bequeathing names to all the inquisitive fauna. So as well as ‘our Steve’, we have the SID (Steven In Disguise), Pete the Penguin, Daffyd the Duck, and Tony as frequent stalkers / compadres.
Tony, as it happens, turns out to be an endangered Oyster Catcher. And he does nee like you going near his nest… He goes flippin’ mental to be precise. These two crazed Tonies were chasing me down the beach squeaking their beaks off. Backing away slowly to grab a quick snap, but just fast enough to avoid the shell peircing face-weaponry - I think cute little Tony could have your toe off in a jiffy if he so wanted.
It’s shearing time!
Shave Him! Captain Cookie decided it was time to get ship shape, so we headed for what seemed the best barber’s shop for the job: ‘The Stylish Man’.
Casually heading down the main street in Auckland the follow day and a girl stops us in the street:
“Cookie! Is that you? The guy with the blog?” …” I recognized you from the free beer post! You can’t forget that face…”
Crikey, you’re in a country for a few weeks and Cookie’s already being waved down by fans :) A bearded icon! It’s like going out with a celebrity ;) Awesome! Haha
Well I must be a few grams lighter now! Also hopefully a few degrees cooler in this humid heat, always feels a bit weird after a big trim though.. Surprised that Katie still recognized me without all the face fuzz, thanks for the offer of dinner next time we’re in town!
Before:
