We arrived in Auckland between 5 and 6 in the morning. Since it was early and Escape camper van rentals didn’t open until 8, we decided to hang around the airport until 7. Then we took the Airbus into the city center.
It’s hard to imagine losing an entire day traveling. We left one location on July 1st and arrived at another on July 3rd. People have tried to explain how you actually lose a day but I don’t think you fully understand it until you are a part of it.
We left San Francisco around 9 P.M. on the 1st so it was just getting dark. I thought we would follow the rotation of the Earth and it would be light out while flying but I was wrong. The plane never actually catches up with the Sun. In fact the rotation happens much faster than the plane travels. As the plane travels in the shadow of darkness, the rotation of the Earth is causing the Sun to move around the Earth. Eventually, the Sun comes up behind you. We stayed in perpetual darkness while flying. When we landed it was morning and the Sun caught up to us a few hours later. It was now the morning of July 3rd. What happened to the 2nd? It was lost forever.
We arrived in Auckland center around 8. I checked a map on the bus and realized that Escape van rentals was up the road a few blocks. We found that the gate was locked and there was a sign on the side of the building. It said if the building was unoccupied to call a number. We did and apparently they didn’t open until 8:30. After waiting for a few minutes someone arrived. We placed our bags in the office and the man told us it would be “a little while” before the owner was there to finalize the paperwork. After we inquired what “a little while” was we went for breakfast up the street and came back about 45 minutes later.
The owner gave us the “insurance-extra-charge” spiel and we declined. We would take a gamble and it would be a big scary gamble since we would have to train ourselves to drive on the left hand side of the road.
We inspected the vehicle and Andrew, the owner, explained everything about the vehicle. Soon we were on our way but not without taking the emergency brake off. Oops.
It was difficult to get used to driving, first of all, because I was on the right side of the vehicle. I turned the windshield wipers on at least five times instead of the blinker. The goal was to drive straight and follow the car in front of me. It was easy to get to the highway: two lefts and straight. Then I had to get used to being in the correct part of the lane because I was positioned on the right side of the vehicle. I now had to look to my left to see in my rearview mirror and realized I had a large blind spot on the left side of the vehicle. It was definitely difficult to get used to. I developed a phrase to help me making proper turns: little left, big right. When turning left it is a small radius turn and when turning right it is a large radius turn.
We stopped for gas and that was an event in itself. We could not figure out how to use the gas pump. Some nice Kiwi asked us if we needed help and gave us some. The gas was $2.12 a liter, which basically meant $8 a gallon. $95 later our tank was full and we were back on the highway.
Our destination was only about a half hour from Auckland; a half hour of driving up hill, downhill, through neighborhoods, overlooking beaches, and a combination of windy and straight roads, all while thinking that oncoming traffic is on my right and the vehicles behind me were just to close. After a half hour of driving my head was spinning. It was way too much stimulation for whatever day it was. We parked our camper van at a camping site right in front of the beach. We couldn’t have asked for a better spot, except for the ground being wet. It was quite slippery.
We hung out for a bit, Holly took a shower and afterwards mentioned how frighteningly cold the water was. I decided then that I would not be taking a shower. We decided to venture out in search of a supermarket. Apparently, I hadn’t had enough driving yet.
We thought we would be adventurous and get some chicken to cook up. We battled wind and rain while cooking on our propane burner. We wound up having fully cooked teriyaki chicken yet lukewarm and covered in dirt because Escape rentals never cleaned the pan. Mmmm. With rain sporadic for the rest of the evening we hung around inside of our van playing cards and making up games. We went to bed at a nice round hour of 8.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Setting Free Your Mind
Once you realize that what you really want is what you already have, you will be able set your mind at ease.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Breaking and Entering (excerpt 3)
I leaned my head back, turned my body to go back down the hallway and carefully began making my steps toward the stairwell. As I walked I thought to myself, what will I take… as a memento of this occasion? Something that will be missed but not to noticeable. I reached the top of the stairs and looked into the living room. I went to the lamp stand with the picture on it. There was one coaster on the table as well. I looked for the matching set of coasters and clear across the room there they were all stacked up nice and neatly on the other lamp stand. I bent over and picked up the single coaster and placed it in my back pocket. Perfect. Surely she would notice that a coaster was missing but she simple could get another one from the other side of the room. She might ponder about that for a moment.
Back at the top of the stairs, I slipped my way down to the basement. I was much darker down there so I had to carefully take my path from before so as to bump over one of the boxes. I approached the back door, carefully opened it without the slightest sound. I turned the knob to lock the door, passed through the door way, turned to face the door and gently closed the door shut. I checked that the door was locked. I turned and walked toward the shed. I opened the door, stepped inside, and closed the door behind me. I smoothly placed the key back exactly where it was, slipped out the doorway and latched the door shut. I walked straight out the driveway and turned left when I hit the road. Again, not a soul around, not a light, or car, no one knew what I had just done.
Now, what I believed to be my most difficult task, getting back into my bedroom window. I just needed a boost or something to stand on. But I couldn’t leave something at the bottom of my window until morning, surely someone, probably my Dad, would notice it. I stood in the backyard staring at my bedroom. I couldn’t help but think, shit, I really should have thought about this before I jumped out of the window. All I needed was a foot maybe two to get back into my bedroom. I thought of plenty of things to use, a patio chair, my sisters plastic slide, my Mom’s gardening bucket but I couldn’t keep any of it right outside by bedroom window. Then I saw it, the garden hose. My Mom had watered the flowers yesterday afternoon and was moving the reel all around the house. No one would probably notice if the garden hose was moved so picked up the reel and moved it a few feet closer to my window. I stood on top, put my hands on the window sill and jumped up. It was just enough height to get in. I would have to come up with a better plan in the future. Once inside I closed the window partially, took off my shoes, placed them in the closet, took the coaster out of my back pocket, placed it in my desk drawer, stripped off my tight jeans and t-shirt, removed my bracelets, and moved slowly into bed. I laid atop the sheets face up with my hands behind my head. I smiled and thought to myself, what a spectacular night.
Back at the top of the stairs, I slipped my way down to the basement. I was much darker down there so I had to carefully take my path from before so as to bump over one of the boxes. I approached the back door, carefully opened it without the slightest sound. I turned the knob to lock the door, passed through the door way, turned to face the door and gently closed the door shut. I checked that the door was locked. I turned and walked toward the shed. I opened the door, stepped inside, and closed the door behind me. I smoothly placed the key back exactly where it was, slipped out the doorway and latched the door shut. I walked straight out the driveway and turned left when I hit the road. Again, not a soul around, not a light, or car, no one knew what I had just done.
Now, what I believed to be my most difficult task, getting back into my bedroom window. I just needed a boost or something to stand on. But I couldn’t leave something at the bottom of my window until morning, surely someone, probably my Dad, would notice it. I stood in the backyard staring at my bedroom. I couldn’t help but think, shit, I really should have thought about this before I jumped out of the window. All I needed was a foot maybe two to get back into my bedroom. I thought of plenty of things to use, a patio chair, my sisters plastic slide, my Mom’s gardening bucket but I couldn’t keep any of it right outside by bedroom window. Then I saw it, the garden hose. My Mom had watered the flowers yesterday afternoon and was moving the reel all around the house. No one would probably notice if the garden hose was moved so picked up the reel and moved it a few feet closer to my window. I stood on top, put my hands on the window sill and jumped up. It was just enough height to get in. I would have to come up with a better plan in the future. Once inside I closed the window partially, took off my shoes, placed them in the closet, took the coaster out of my back pocket, placed it in my desk drawer, stripped off my tight jeans and t-shirt, removed my bracelets, and moved slowly into bed. I laid atop the sheets face up with my hands behind my head. I smiled and thought to myself, what a spectacular night.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Breaking and Entering (excerpt 2)
This was awesome! The lights from the street provided a hint of glow throughout the house. I could make out some of the tiniest details. I could see magazines laid out on the coffee table and a remote for the television as well. I saw a picture frame standing up on the lamp stand, and a snow globe on the T.V. stand. Candles sat atop another lamp stand. I smile came over my face. This was awesome!
I continued to sit perfectly content. The couch was soft and moderately worn from years of use. I leaned back, put my hands behind my head and gently put my feet up onto the wooden coffee table. I twitched; the thought to lean forward and pick up a magazine popped into mind but the thought vanished more quickly than it had arrived. I was certain that first, the magazine wouldn’t be worth reading and second, that the dim light would not be enough to read comfortably. The sound of silence was amazing. I thrived in it. I could have stayed there all night but I felt the urge to explore more.
I slowly lifted my feet off the coffee table. Leaned forward and stood up straight. I turned and walked right toward the T.V., I turned again and walked straight for the dinning room. A tea set lay atop the table and placemats were set in front of the four seats. There was a hutch in the corner with plates neatly displayed behind glass doors.
I turned to my left and peered into the kitchen. There was a small round table with a red checker board table cloth pushed to one side of the room. There was a candle and a long thin lighter on the table. I thought about lighting the candle, not so the house would burn down. I didn’t want that to happen. What I wanted was Ann to wake up in the morning and be startled by the lit candle. I could hear her thoughts; did I leave the candle burning last night? Then she would quickly blow out the candle as to try and erase the event. But, I didn’t want to take the chance of something bad happening so I turned around to peer at the rest of the kitchen.
The curtains in the window above the sink matched the table cloth. I could see wooden cut outs of chickens nailed to the wall underneath the cabinets. The dishtowels hanging over the railing on the stove had the same matching chickens. I walked through the doorway to the kitchen and now faced the stairs. I turned right and looked straight down the hallway. The hallway seemed a mile long. I took one step, and another, and another. I continued making my quiet steps down the hallway. I passed the bathroom on the right, a bedroom on the left and suddenly there was a creak in the floor board. I stopped quickly, waited, and listened. I sensed no other disruption within the house. I noted the position of the creaky board so as to not step there again on my return. I continued and shortly approached the end of the hallway. There were two bedrooms at the end of the hall. The one on the right would be Ann’s bedroom. I stopped for a moment and listened. I could her heavy breathing indicating sleep. I leaned my head forward and eyed into her bedroom. I could barely see her amidst the sheets and blankets but I could tell that her face was turned in my direction. I smiled. All she had to do was open her eyes and she would have seen me. My smile grew larger.
I continued to sit perfectly content. The couch was soft and moderately worn from years of use. I leaned back, put my hands behind my head and gently put my feet up onto the wooden coffee table. I twitched; the thought to lean forward and pick up a magazine popped into mind but the thought vanished more quickly than it had arrived. I was certain that first, the magazine wouldn’t be worth reading and second, that the dim light would not be enough to read comfortably. The sound of silence was amazing. I thrived in it. I could have stayed there all night but I felt the urge to explore more.
I slowly lifted my feet off the coffee table. Leaned forward and stood up straight. I turned and walked right toward the T.V., I turned again and walked straight for the dinning room. A tea set lay atop the table and placemats were set in front of the four seats. There was a hutch in the corner with plates neatly displayed behind glass doors.
I turned to my left and peered into the kitchen. There was a small round table with a red checker board table cloth pushed to one side of the room. There was a candle and a long thin lighter on the table. I thought about lighting the candle, not so the house would burn down. I didn’t want that to happen. What I wanted was Ann to wake up in the morning and be startled by the lit candle. I could hear her thoughts; did I leave the candle burning last night? Then she would quickly blow out the candle as to try and erase the event. But, I didn’t want to take the chance of something bad happening so I turned around to peer at the rest of the kitchen.
The curtains in the window above the sink matched the table cloth. I could see wooden cut outs of chickens nailed to the wall underneath the cabinets. The dishtowels hanging over the railing on the stove had the same matching chickens. I walked through the doorway to the kitchen and now faced the stairs. I turned right and looked straight down the hallway. The hallway seemed a mile long. I took one step, and another, and another. I continued making my quiet steps down the hallway. I passed the bathroom on the right, a bedroom on the left and suddenly there was a creak in the floor board. I stopped quickly, waited, and listened. I sensed no other disruption within the house. I noted the position of the creaky board so as to not step there again on my return. I continued and shortly approached the end of the hallway. There were two bedrooms at the end of the hall. The one on the right would be Ann’s bedroom. I stopped for a moment and listened. I could her heavy breathing indicating sleep. I leaned my head forward and eyed into her bedroom. I could barely see her amidst the sheets and blankets but I could tell that her face was turned in my direction. I smiled. All she had to do was open her eyes and she would have seen me. My smile grew larger.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Breaking and Entering (excerpt 1)
I was sixteen years old when I broke into my first house. I don’t know where the desire came from. I come from a good home, loving parents, a good neighborhood but for some reason I was driven to break into a house. It wasn’t even about what I could possibly steal. It was the thrill of being in a house, when someone was home.
It was a small ranch just a few houses down from my own home. The woman, Ann, who lived there was a 74 year old widow. I know, I know, what a coward for breaking into an old lady’s house. Well, because I had so little experience in breaking and entering I thought it would be best to start out on an easier target. Call me a jerk, I guess.
I waited until 2 A.M. I was still dressed in the clothes that I had worn to school that day. I wore skinny jeans and a black Led Zeppelin t-shirt. I had six or so wrist bands on my right arm: various strings ranging in colors, black leather with metal knobs, and various colored stretchy bands. My jet black hair was neatly spiked into a short Mohawk. I slipped on my black etnies shoes, slide open my bedroom window, swung my legs out the window, and hopped out. Getting out was the easy part, getting back in usually required a boost from a friend but that wouldn’t be happening tonight. I’d figure out a way back in later.
I casually walked down the dimly lit street. There wasn’t a single light on in any of the houses I passed. Not a single car drove by. I was confident not a soul knew where I was or what I was about to do. I turned down the driveway of 16 Birch Street and calmly walked to the back of the house. The property sloped downward so the ranch had a walk out basement. I used to mow the lawn for Ann and knew there was a hidden key in the shed near the gas can. It was pitch dark so I hoped that everything in the shed was still in the same place as when I mowed the lawn for her. I quietly twisted the knob and swung the latch open. I slowly opened the shed door, stepped inside and closed the door behind me. I then crouched down so that I wouldn’t bump into anything. I moved with my hands first and moved left to the front corner of the shed. My hands felt plastic, the gas can! I slide my hand to the shed’s wood frame and…jackpot, the key. I slithered backwards to the door entrance and slipped out. I would be putting the key back later so I left the latch open after I closed the door.
I walked over to the back door, slipped the key into the hole, and quietly turned the knob. I was in, so easy. I pushed the door to close it but left it just slightly ajar. The house was dark and I had to go from my memory on how to get around the house. I walked slowly and allowed my eyes to pick out the faintest shapes within the room. The room was mostly boxes. I made out an old ironing board standing up against the wall. I made my way through the basement being careful not to bump into anything. I stepped gently over to the stairs and took each carpeted stair with care. Once on the landing I turned and looked up and could see the main floor of the house. I continued my ascension. At the top of the stairs the kitchen was straight ahead, to my left was the hallway to the three bedrooms and my right was the living room. I turned right taking each step with care. I stepped over to the couch and slowly, carefully sat down. I stopped, sat for a moment and took in my surroundings.
It was a small ranch just a few houses down from my own home. The woman, Ann, who lived there was a 74 year old widow. I know, I know, what a coward for breaking into an old lady’s house. Well, because I had so little experience in breaking and entering I thought it would be best to start out on an easier target. Call me a jerk, I guess.
I waited until 2 A.M. I was still dressed in the clothes that I had worn to school that day. I wore skinny jeans and a black Led Zeppelin t-shirt. I had six or so wrist bands on my right arm: various strings ranging in colors, black leather with metal knobs, and various colored stretchy bands. My jet black hair was neatly spiked into a short Mohawk. I slipped on my black etnies shoes, slide open my bedroom window, swung my legs out the window, and hopped out. Getting out was the easy part, getting back in usually required a boost from a friend but that wouldn’t be happening tonight. I’d figure out a way back in later.
I casually walked down the dimly lit street. There wasn’t a single light on in any of the houses I passed. Not a single car drove by. I was confident not a soul knew where I was or what I was about to do. I turned down the driveway of 16 Birch Street and calmly walked to the back of the house. The property sloped downward so the ranch had a walk out basement. I used to mow the lawn for Ann and knew there was a hidden key in the shed near the gas can. It was pitch dark so I hoped that everything in the shed was still in the same place as when I mowed the lawn for her. I quietly twisted the knob and swung the latch open. I slowly opened the shed door, stepped inside and closed the door behind me. I then crouched down so that I wouldn’t bump into anything. I moved with my hands first and moved left to the front corner of the shed. My hands felt plastic, the gas can! I slide my hand to the shed’s wood frame and…jackpot, the key. I slithered backwards to the door entrance and slipped out. I would be putting the key back later so I left the latch open after I closed the door.
I walked over to the back door, slipped the key into the hole, and quietly turned the knob. I was in, so easy. I pushed the door to close it but left it just slightly ajar. The house was dark and I had to go from my memory on how to get around the house. I walked slowly and allowed my eyes to pick out the faintest shapes within the room. The room was mostly boxes. I made out an old ironing board standing up against the wall. I made my way through the basement being careful not to bump into anything. I stepped gently over to the stairs and took each carpeted stair with care. Once on the landing I turned and looked up and could see the main floor of the house. I continued my ascension. At the top of the stairs the kitchen was straight ahead, to my left was the hallway to the three bedrooms and my right was the living room. I turned right taking each step with care. I stepped over to the couch and slowly, carefully sat down. I stopped, sat for a moment and took in my surroundings.
Friday, July 1, 2011
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