Wellington to Auckland. I meant to go to Tauranga, but you know.. the sign was kinda small and the driving too fun. So I stayed with Christi for the night.

Auckland to Tauranga. Where I grabbed Doug and went camping at Rotorua.

.. back to Tauranga. Spent the most lovely five days with Dad and Judy. I have yet to get decent photos of the two of them. I suddenly became aware of the fact that I have more than one home to go to when I need a boost. A really nice thing to know!

Tauranga to Auckland. Julia. Auckland Airport. 5:30am. We spent a day shopping in Auckland and hanging in our hotel room. As you do. Julia summed the experiece up really well. We were having such a lovely time but it so felt like something only other people would do. We don't, we stay in tents and on people's couches. Every time there was a knock on the door we both imagined it was the hotel staff coming to say: "Right you two, your game's over now, your mothers are waiting downstairs in the lobby". Funny. We bought some fabulous clothes (check out our desert road photo shoot in the gallery).

Auckland to Tauranga This time with Ju by my side and the K and D sessions on the stereo. We did the usual and arrived ad Dad and Judy's at short notice. They were ready for us though... well, as ready as anyone can be for me and Julia combined. Fashion shows ensued. Of course.

Tauranga to Taupo. Via Rotorua. This trip was too short! We were just getting into the swing of the road trip thing and it was all over. We set up camp in one of the five Taupo Camping grounds and went in search of coffee. And a bottle opener...

Taupo to Wellington We were going to stop and have an icecream. It was such a hot day. Um. I didn't want to stop.. once you get in the fow of driving and all.. but it meant that the dreaded 4 hours since i last ate limit was exceeded and by the time we got to Tohia's I was catatonic and vile by turns. Poor Ju. Fortunately Tohia had a spare pizza in the oven. Things were set to rights and Ju and I happily spent the rest of the night dancing. You know that feeling when the birds start chirping and the sky lightens and you're not yet home? Of course you do!

I kinda disappeared off the map from here for a couple of days.. Paul knows where I was. we took photos of each other.

Wellington at Aunty 'P's. Thats where I am now. We've been trying to outdo each other in the kitchen. Patricia tries to keep me up really late at night.. then I go out to prove i'm still a youngster. I suggested we become flatmates and she only shuddered a little.. I mean it's great.. a whole wing of the house to myself.. come and go as I wish.. someone else to help cook and clean.. and all in the FABULOUS city of Wellington.. what more could a boy want?

I've been going out a bit too. coffee and dancing and meeting people and stuff. Nice.

Auckland via the east coast next..

Righto!

Chris