I Have Developed a Hearty Dislike of Sheep. . .

OK, so here are the answer to all of your questions that I’m sure you’re all dying to ask me: yes, yes, no, maybe, of course, I only did that once, and I can so do a whole blog update without getting lost in my own side tracks! Oh yeah? You watch me!

I started bicycle touring in the second week of April. I left my hostel, waving goodbye to Benny, an employee at my hostel who’d helped me with assembling my bike and who I had somewhat of a crush on. He looked at me worriedly as I fumbled clumsily with my heavily ladened vehicle.

“Don’t worry,” I said. “I know it looks like I’m depressingly incompetent, but I can do this.”

Two seconds later I’d run straight into a bush.

Blushing furiously I thanked god that it was cold outside so my Benny had hurried inside right away and so hadn’t seen me. I righted my bike, brushed back my hair, and started my journey again, this time with some anti-bush sentiments. Not political – only vegetational.

I set off again, laughing at myself, saying at least that I’d gotten my little bit of embarrassment out of the way now.

Before I’d navigated the driveway a saddle-bag fell off.

Thus began a trip that only ever figuratively went downhill. Before I’d even reached the city limits of Christchurch, my start-off city, I made a wrong turn and had to ask directions. Before I’d reached my second town I realized that I’d forgotten to fill any of my water bottles with their key ingredient – water. And then I got bit by an ostrich.

I explain that last incident by saying “If you saw an ostrich farm off the side of the road wouldn’t you try to feed them bits of grass through the fence and film them while you’re at it? Wouldn’t you?”

Actually, never mind. Don’t answer that.

Just look at those ostriches though. Aren’t they so funny-looking. They remind me of those yo-yo-ing flamingos in Disney’s Fantasia. . . hey; don’t give me that look! Disney’s a genius. And that was so not getting sidetracked.

The trip only got worse, and I got so cold and so smelly, that by day 5 I quit. I was actually very close to quitting my entire trip going back home. Fortunately Melanie, my friend since (literally) birth, sent me this thing about volunteering at NZ farms in exchange for room and board and restored my trust in travel. I started. . . oh god, not again. . . anything but that. . . nooooooo!!! . . . DUN DUN DUUUUUUUN. . . .Planning!

Yes, I know. Lentil planning is a Bad Thing and must be Avoided at All Costs. But alas, ‘tis a vice I find hard to escape. I tried my best.

I got a bus back to Christchurch and stayed at a different hostel than the Jailhouse that I’d been at before. I didn’t want everybody (read: Benny) to see how quickly I’d given up. I didn’t have a serious crush on Benny; just enough so that I didn’t want him seeing just how stupid I really am. Unless it’s a cute sort of stupid. Then it’s OK.

I bought some “civilian” (non-biking) clothes, hung out an indecent amount of time at the public library, considering I couldn’t even take out any books, and got a job at a certain NZ “farm”, from where I’m writing this. But that’s for another update. ;P

Ta,
Lentil,

The Girl Who Decided To Give Up The Multi-Lingual Sign-Off For An Oh-So-English Goodbye

PS - the explanations for the photos are as following

Photo #1 - is of me in my tent, feeling very cold, and trying to capture in camera just how much a particular shirt my sister got me glows. I actually couldn't sleep with it as a makeshift pillow because it was too bright!

Photo #2 - the guy on the right is Benny. Isn't he so cute?!?! More comments about him can be found on my facebook album