I'm not a rock star. I'm a soft person. I'm not a rock.

Today is my last day living in Wanaka. I have spent much of the morning running errands here and there, and I will spend much of the afternoon cleaning out my pig-sty. I'm sort of sad to be leaving Wanaka. Life here has been incredibly lively and comfortable and I can imagine myself getting stuck here for quite a long period of time. I am, however, very glad that I have stuck to my plan to go tramping for the next month and in reality I will probably not miss Wanaka in the least. Martin (my tramping partner) and I are leaving tomorrow morning to begin the big trip. We've been sorting out the details of trip for the last few days and between the both of us we are on top of everything.

Here's some info on the trip:

23- Orientation (te Anau)
24- Doubtful Sound Kayak
25-""
26-""Deep Cove Doc Hut
27- Start Dusky track from trail head to Upper Spey Hut
28- Upper Spey to Kintail Hut
29- Kintail to Loch Maree Hut
30- Loch Maree to Lake Roe
31- Lake Roe to Halfway Hut
1- Halfway to Hauruko burn Hut
2- Hitch-hike from lake Hauruko on Southland Scenic Highway to Te Anau and pick up car

So, excluding the kayak trip, the dusky track will take 6 or 7 days, but possibly up to 9 if wether gets troublesome. Here's the map of the trip: http://www.doc.govt.nz/pdfs/southland/Dusky-Track/Dusky-Track-Map.pdf
Here's the informational booklet on the Dusky: http://www.doc.govt.nz/pdfs/southland/Dusky-Track/Dusky-Track-Brochure.pdf
Here's the weather forecast page:
http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/Weather/regiondetails.aspx?regionid=639

This last weekend here in Wanaka has been absolute madness for me. Every person whom I ever met in Wanaka seemed to be wanting to spend time with me. I usually lay pretty low on the weekends, but this last weekend I was drinking wine and schmoozing with all sorts of people, I'm tired, Goodbye's are hard and exhausting!

Well, talk to you after the Dusky! Oh, and those two folks in the picture with me above are Martin and Talea. My two friends that I spend far too much time with. They even worked at the same vineyard as I.
Collin

Bollocks for you and yours

I Bruise Like A Grape

Giving Up The Grape

Today was my last day working at the vineyard, and Oh boy, it was a doozy. A whole bunch of people had chosen this friday as their last day at work so nearly everyone was going nuts, talking constantly, and throwing grapes this way and that. I was unexpectedly sad when the day was over. I've made quite a few close work-mates and it is odd to be saying, "goodbye" to them for what will probably be the last time. Three gentlemen from Argentina became close acquaintances of mine over the last few weeks and I have taken a personal vow that I will one day visit them in Buenos Aires. They have been teaching me some key spanish phrases over the last weeks and I have convinced myself that I absolutely must learn spanish one day. The boys from Argentina have been trying to convince me to move there at some point in the future and teach english while learning spanish myself. Sounds good to me!
This is my last weekend in Wanaka and I am bound to become "muy triesta" (very sad) as my departure date comes nearer. It's been so great living here in Wanaka.
Since the beginning of my time in New Zealand each week has been better than the one before and I can only hope that this trend continues.

I think more children should play with mudpies, but that's out now

Good Day-
Life has been cruising by for the last few weeks and unfortunately I haven't been updating the 'ol blog as often as I should. Last weekend I hiked up to a nearby glacier called, "Rob Roy". The day was perfect and the hike was marvelous. Upon arriving at the glacier my friend Martin and I plopped down and sat in the sun for a few hours enjoying both the weather and view. This coming week is my very last week of work at "gibbston valley vineyards". It's good that work is nearly over cuz I have been getting itchy feet and each day at work I watch my watch constantly. After this week of work is over my friend and I will head to Fiordland National Park to do a 4 day kayaking trip with a guided group. Here's a little description of what I'll be up to:
After we do the kayaking we will immediately go into an 8-day tramp that sounds as if it will be incredibly challenging. Lots of mud and lots of rain and some seriously long days. I hope I can hack. Yes, of course I can hack it! Here's some info on that: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/002~Tracks-and-Walks/Major-Tracks/Dusky-Track/index.asp
After finishing Dusky Track we will take a few days off and then head down to the tip of the south island and take a ferry over to a little island called, "stewart Island". We'll be doing a 10-day tramp on this little remote island and the trip will undoubtedly be the toughest of the lot. There's a pretty good chance that I'll see a real-live kiwi-bird down on stewart Island.INFO: http://www.doc.govt.nz/Explore/002~Tracks-and-Walks/Great-Walks/Rakiura-Track/index.asp#North%20West%20Circuit%20Tracks

Right now I am devoting most of my time to reading. I picked up "the Trial" by Franz Kafka the other day and I have spending most of my free time wrapping my mind around that one. The weather here has been getting colder, so I have been spending more time inside that usual.
Well, until next time.
Herr. Pruitt

Alpha Blondy

Nothing Much to Say Today

. Will Write More Soon.