Paihai, New Zealand

Well, the sun is shining and I'm back on the beaches. First off, KEG, Andy and everyone else who wrote, thanks for the Birthday messages. This had to be one of the nicer Birthdays I've had in years, no broken bones, or woes with women, and this was the first time I was suntanning on my Birthday.

So, I'm in Paihai, the Bay of Islands. I came up here on my Birthday, so I've been up here two days now. It's hot and beautiful out. As always, I'm not in a rush so I've been taking it rather easy here, but there are a lot of activities. I'm sticking to the one's that are not so expensive for me, and will be going out swimming with Dolphins and taking a Jetboat ride. Also, I've got a day trip up to 90 mile beach, which is supposed to be a beautiful drive, so say those folks that have already done it. I spent the evening of my birthday up here and well... milked that fact for all it was worth at the various bars here. This resulted in me doing a god awful rendition of "Heartbreak Hotel," at one bar's Keroke (you know the word I mean) Night. The song went with the sunglasses. Anyway, I'm gonna head off now, I've got a busy schedule of doing nothing that I'm already late for, though I think I'll try and get on a jet boat later today.