If Mikey likes it, it must be good

Hello friends,  

It has been one day in one of the largest metropolises in New Zealand, and I am already awestruck by the natural beauty that this country boasts. 

  After arriving in Auckland I was happy to have conquered the 13 hour flight from Los Angeles. The flight itself was less than ideal as I was situated in between an obtuse, albeit friendly gentleman who claimed the armrest as his own, and a kind old lady. We got along great, although I feel the old lady was mildly offended by the sexually explicit scenes exposed as I watched Californication throughout the duration of the flight. As I stepped off the plane my back ached as I was hunched forward in an attempt to stay within the confines of my temporarily leased seat on the plane. 

  Google maps showed me there was waterfront nearby, and I was anxious to explore the area searching for potential spots to wet a line. I was greeted by a very low tide and marginal fishing opportunities. I was lucky enough to stumble across a bird sanctuary with a thriving avian community wading through the mudflats feeding on crustaceans. I need to purchase a birdbook, as aside from a few species of gulls the only birds I was able to identify was thanks to an interpretive panel. 

  After my stroll I took a quick nap and greeted the wonderful Andrea Chomyc. We went on an adventure to climb a dormant volcano located a few kilometers from our hostel. After a calf busting climb to the top we were greeted by a scenic vista overlooking the Auckland harbour. The site seems to be a popular place with locals using the steep slope to burn calories and is also seemingly overpopulated with rabbits. A few hours later we arrived back at the hostel and dined on some fine indian cuisine before calling it a night.

Frustration with my inability to identify the local species of trees and shrubs is steadily increasing. The vegetation has incredible diversity, with redwoods, coniferous trees, flowering shrubs and a variety of tropical plants. Tomorrow we are meeting up with John Campbell, a true canadian beauty out of Owen Sound, Ontario and hitting the road  due north with our rental car. I am looking forward to further exploring this wonderful country, and I am anxiously awaiting the soothing sounds of running water and the splendour of big wild trout rising for cicadas. Watch out trout, the river ninja’s coming for you.

Keep it real,

Mike