Melbourne, OZ

The Mother Ship has Landed!

I have got my van. I'm about as happy as can be right now, I bought the van last night, finally sorting out all the paperwork and everything else I needed to do. After taking 10 minutes or so to find reverse, I got on the road and drove to Ty's place where I slept in the driveway. The van's great, the bed is very comfortable. Today, I'm spending the day buying things and cleaning the van, before I start to move in. My first purchase for the van was a disco ball, of course. In the end, it cost me less than 2,300USD, which I think was a pretty good deal. Now, it's simply getting ready for the road.

Melbourne, OZ

And I'm still waiting for the Mothership. Didn't get the van as expected on Monday, but I was told that it'd definitely be Wednesday.

Other than that, I'm trying to take care of some of the other errands I've had on my list to get done here in Melbourne. Apart from the sightseeing things, I'm also finally having my video camera fixed. Also, I've gotten myself a mobile so that for the first time since around last Halloween, I've got a phone number and am reachable. If anyone wants my number, just drop me an email and I'll send it to you. I'd liked having my time, being out of touch with the world; but, if I'm going to drive across Australia, I want a phone in case I break down somewhere.

So, I hope everyone takes a moment to think nice thoughts for me, like that I'll be sleeping in my van tomorrow, the one I've been waiting the last week and a half on now. . . grumble, though I must say, I'm enjoying the hostel I've been in the past few days. The Coffee Palace is one of the more chill backpackers that I've been in recently. It's got a fair clientele of longterm backpackers which generally makes a place friendlier.

Melbourne, OZ

"Well, good evening y'all, do not attempt to adjust your dial...the Mother ship has landed, uncut Funk, the Bomb!" Two weeks now in Melbourne, anxiously anticipating my Mothership, a Toyota Hiace Pop-top. I've been negotiating the sale of said van for a week now, a bit complicated with no phone, language difficulties and ignorance about the sales and registration laws of Australia ("No worries, Mate, my shout and we'll sortya out.") I've been stopping daily at the tink tank to get the money I need for the van, a cumbersome affair when you can only withdraw so much cash daily. My time here has flet like an overloard of creature comforts. Ty's recently returned from Tyland (Thailand, get it? heh heh) and brought back a bag full of DVD's. Heaven for a movie junky. I've found Melbourne warmer than NZ and the women warmer still be it over a pint of beer, or singing some unfathomable Aussie classic, "What? You don't know this?"

"No."

I've shifted abodes several times now and am now staying at a funky little hostel, called the Coffee Palace awaiting the Mother Ship's arrival, hopefully tomorrow. From there, I plan to clean and then outfit the van in preparation for driving all over this country. But I'm having a great time here, so I'm not rushing off as soon as I get my wheels. Well, that's all for now.

Melbourne, OZ

I love Aussies! I am now crashing at Ty's place and have been in Melbourne nearly a week now. My camera is fixed, again. While New Zealand had a total of 3 camera repair shops (maybe 4), and none in the S. Island, I was able to have my camera fixed in 10 minutes here in Melbourne. and free of charge. I've met some rather cool Aussies since I got into town. Last Monday, I went out to a pub that has, "Neighbors Night," an evening devoted to an Aussie soap-opera type show that is huge in the UK. I figured, why not, though I've never seen the show. I didn't know that there was a $35 cover and had to laugh when this was explained to me at the door. I instead opted to drink in the front bar with some local Aussies instead. That led to a far more interesting evening than I'd expected.

I've been van hunting over the past few days, looking for a ride to carry me around OZ. I may have found one, but until I get the title, who knows. I'll keep y'all posted as to how my van hunting goes.

Melbourne, OZ

Well, I've finally made it back to OZ. I got into Melbourne no problem and am staying in St. Kilda. I've checked into a hostel for the night, and hope to track down Ty tomorrow. That's all for now, just letting everyone know what country I'm in and that I'm safe and sound.

Christchurch, NZ

Okay, last posting from NZ, my bags are packed and I'm off to the airport in about an hour. Next stop, Melbourne.

Christchurch, NZ

Well, I've finally got my flight out of NZ. I'm leaving this Sunday and heading back to OZ, to see the mainland this time around. I land in Melbourne and will be meeting up with Ty, one of my best mate's from my travels in 2001. I had another late night here, last night, I don't seem to have had any early ones in Christchurch, but getting to bed at 7.30am was by far the latest. All in all, yesterday was a hell of a day. I spent the day wandering around Christchurch with Jesse, from Sweden. Later I went out for a few drinks with Blake and Jo, and met up with Esme and a Martin at the bar. Jo and Blake skipped off leaving me to drink with Esme. Yada Yada Yada, I had a fun night.

Christchurch, NZ

Still in Christchurch, been mostly chillin' out here, the weather has been rather lousy, for the most part, but the people here aren't. Sunday night I got a bit tipsy with some of the people working in the hostel, which culminated in me rocketing Jo around the smoking deck of the hostel in a baby's high chair (no idea why it was there). As it turned out, we shoulda used the safety harness, for when I threw the chair in reverse, Jo kept going. Fun night. For those of you who worry, that was the first time in weeks that I've been drunk, so no I'm not drinking too much. Figuring out my flight to Melbourne now, planning on leaving sometime in the next few days.

Bob

Christchurch, NZ

Well, I've finally made it to Christchurch, my final destination here in NZ. From Stewart Is. I retraced my steps back to Queenstown, stopping in Invercargall and Te Anau, and spent a day out on the Milford Sound. The waterfalls tumbling over the cliff tops were simply amazing. And on the 1st of June, for the first time since the spring of 2004, I watched it snow. Having seen snow, I've now made my way North, to Christchurch. From here, I plan to head back to OZ, though when that will be remains to be seen.