I guess it ain't over til it's over...
Our last night in Auckland, Justin and I were bumming around the streets.
This man walks up to us and says 'hey, you boys wanna make some money?'
Always the opportunists, we hopped in the back of his car and were taken to a storage unit outside of town.
I was convinced he was going to chop us up, but he turned out to be a nice guy.
He had us sort and organize 2.2 tonnes of donated cellphones. The phones were to be refurbished and sent to 3rd world countries.
This was a trial run, as they are getting 100 tonnes next month. I couldn't believe how many Blackberrys and Palms get thrown out.
Kylee and Danielle from Fraser Island were in Melbourne the other day, so we hooked up with them and partied like 12 year olds. One of the best nights of the trip.
We are currently sitting in a train station waiting for Aussy Phil to get done school. We're going to hang out at his place tonight and see the kangaroos in his backyard.
Tomorrow I hope we will be on a train to Sydney.
For fun I ate at Hungry Jacks for lunch, and I feel like yarking all over the keyboard now.

All our bags are packed, we're ready to go...
Wow, almost 4 months ago Australia and New Zealand were just a twinkle in young Justin's eye.
Now we've conquered both countries, it's a pretty great feeling.
I wont drag this blog out. We have a few more days, but with our bank accounts and energy levels running on empty, I'm not anticipating any shinannigans.
We've made it back to Auckland in one piece.
We're spending the night, site-seeing tomorrow and then spending tomorrow night in the airport before our tuesday morning flight.
We are flying to Melbourne Australia, a city we both really wanted to explore but missed first time around.
My main man Phil has been nice enough to give us a tour of his city, and let us crash at his place for a night (or three {-: )
From there we have to make our way back to Sydney for the long journey home. I don't know what's more depressing, the 24 hour flight of the fact that Detroit Michigan is the light at the end of the tunnel.
It's been a hell of a journey. Thanks for reading.

On the road again....
Justin and I have left everyone we've met behind, and we're on our own once again.
We spent the night in Kaikoura, one of the nicest towns I've ever seen.
We rented tennis rackets and played near the beach. With the help of some 'creative scorekeeping', Justin won.
We stopped at a seal colony and hung out with some foul smelling fur seals. I was filming one when it decided to crap all over the place.
All the bus drivers have nick-names for different types of kiwis. People from Auckland are called 'Jafas' (just another friggin Aucklander) or Auckies, people form Dunedin are 'Dundies' etc.
The name they used to describe people from 'Kaikoura' was shocking.... They had been using this word for 3 years, probably offending many people. Justin told the driver it wasn't ok.
We are hopping on a small 4 person plane today, crossing the 'ditch' from the South to North island.
On the way down we took the 3 hour ferry- the 25 minute flight is only 9 dollars more.
It's a pretty leisurely cruise back up to Auckland. Everyone on the bus is broke and partied out, so it's a much more relaxed atmosphere.
I have all too much time to sit and dwell on what the hell I'm going to do when I get home.
Maybe I'll open a Fergburger franchise...

I heart Queenstown.
I did the Canyon Swing yesterday. This is the prize Justin won at the 'Poo Pub'.
They strap you onto a cable attached to another cable that's strung across this huge canyon.
There are 18 different ways to jump, I went for the backwards fall. There is a 60 meter freefall before the slack of the cable starts swinging you horizontally.
You swing 200 meters horizontally reaching speeds of 160km/h.
The swing was about 10 times scarier than the bungy jumps I did in Auckland.
Today I'm tackling the big guy- the Nevis bungy.
The Auckland bridge bungy was 43 meters, this is 147 with a 9 second freefall.
Justin and Andrew swear they are doing the bridge jump tomorrow, I have my doubts.
We are in Queenstown for two more nights before we head up to Christchurch.
From there we head North, completing the loop of the South island, cross the ditch to the North island, and back to Auckland.
From Auckland we fly to Melbourne for a few days, then probably hitchiking back to Sydney, and flying home.
Welcome home party?

Heartbreak.
I finally made my goal weight to go skydiving. I found out today that the company I want to jump with has different regulations and I'm now over THEIR limit.
Screw Flanders, I'm eating pizza tonight.
Last night both kiwi buses went to the 'Poo Pub' for a 'no clothing' themed party.
People wore shower curtains, wrapping paper, one girl wore only her backpack.
I made a three piece suit out of some tarp and plastic bags, Justin naturally dressed up as a robot. He won the best dressed contest.
The prize was a free canyon rope swing which he gave to me.
We've made two great friends with a couple of English lads, Andrew and Ryan.
The four of us did a two day kayak trip up the coast line. The scenery was nice, and we saw some seals, but we were so unprepared it was a pretty cold and miserable trip.
We've split up with everyone else from the original Auckland bus. I hope you are all doing well.

Must...... update......... blog.........
The past few days have been a blur.
Every day has been packed and we have very little down time. Justin and I decided to take a timeout and stay in Wellington for an extra night to recuperate.
A few days ago we took on 'The Abyss'- a 5 hour extreme cave tour.
With wetsuits and helmets we repelled 250 feet down into this cave. We strapped our harnesses to a cable and did a 100 meter 'flying fox' swing down ever further. From there we all got on rafts and went black water rafting in the dark. The whole ceiling of the cave was lit up with glow worms.
Planet Earth did a segment on the cave we were in.
From there we had to squeeze ourselves through tight jagged rocks, climb two waterfalls and find our way out following the light.
The next day we did an 18k hike up a mountain. One of the toughest things I've ever done, but I did it. Justin and a few others broke off and tried to climb the big mountain (Mount Doom in the Lord of the Rings series) but they quit about 10 minutes in.
The whole climb took 8 hours.
Today I'm going to try busking with my friend Nick from Syracuse.

Reunited, and it feels so good.
Justin finally made it to Auckland late monday night.
The next morning we boarded the kiwi experience bus and began our journey.
It started off lame. We all had to go to the front of the bus, introduce ourselves and say whether we were green (single) yellow (kinda single) or red (not single)
This company is very well set up, and although we are going to miss the freedom of having our own vehicle, it is a nice change to sit back and have someone show us around for a while.
I made a really close friend with a girl I call Vegas. We played poker on a sandy beach for my birthday.
My birthday night wasn't too crazy, everybody was tuckered out from the first day of adventuring.
We are never on the bus for more than two hours without stopping to do or see something.
Some highlights so far were Hobbiton (the city built for the Lord of the Rings movie) natural geysers, Rotorua which is town that smells like rotten eggs, nature walks, street lugeing down a mountain, and a bunch of really nice beaches.
The weather and scenery here beats Australia hands down.
Today we are going to Taupo, which is the party capital of the north island.
Justin says he is going to do a bungy jump today so I've been messing with him all day.

I am very ready to leave this city.
I've been here for a week and I'm running out of things to do.
I've walked from end to end about 30 times, watched every busker, shopped for things I can't afford, watched about 7 movies a day.
I'm also tired of making 'one day' friends, who are always leaving the next morning.
Weight report: I am down 6 kilos. (probably from all the walking and lack of money to buy food)
A couple more kg's and I'll be skydivable.
Justin arrives here early Tuesday morning, which happens to be my birthday (some present)
We are hopping on a bus first thing Tuesday and starting our Kiwi Experience.
I watched some huge rugby tournament tonight with an English girl who filled me in on all the rules. Games are only 14 minutes!
Her boyfriend was at the game, and it was live, so I kept hoping to see him with another girl- no such luck.
The cars here are interesting, have you seen this? They have Cavaliers, but they are made by Toyota.
They have Hummers, but they are made by Holden.
Mid to large size pickup trucks are in HUGE demand here. I saw a 2002 fairly stock looking Dodge Ram for $120,000.
The 'all new' Chrysler 300 STARTS at $60,000.
Weird wild stuff.

Sick as a dog.
Just got back from a 3 day trip up to the Northern tip of New Zealand, to a place called the Bay of Islands.
I did a jet boat tour, sandboarded down some huge dunes, went on a few nature walks...
The trip was great, but I'm suffering from a pretty intense head cold right now.
Australia vs. New Zealand...
It's too early to tell, but there are definitely things I prefer here, and miss from there.
I love how it cools off at night here (Cairns is 35 degrees at 3am) I love being able to swim in the ocean without fear of jelly fish, and I actually prefer the kiwi accent.
I miss exotic birds flying around city streets, warm water temperatures and goon from Aussy.
Hostels and internet seem to be more expensive here, food and alcohol are a bit cheaper.
Another dating disaster.
I met this girl from Denmark at the 'Pipi Patch' hostel in Paihia and we hit it off. We were inseperable for two full days, this girl made me laugh like no other.
One night we're on the computer together and she added me to facebook- she wanted to show me pictures of her girlfriend.

Auckland!
That concludes the Australia portion of our trip.
I'd like to thank you all for coming.
Arrived in Auckland Wednesday night and was pretty surprised.
The hostel they recommended was in the middle of the sex shop, strip club and massage parlour section of town. Not the rolling green hills I was expecting.
Thursday I spent the entire day getting lost around the city. Sydney is very grid based, Auckland is a free for all with streets zigging and zagging wherever they please.
Friday I rented a motorcycle and did an extended tour of the area. There are some really nice beaches here a couple k's from downtown.
I learned the hard way about the hole in the ozone layer right above New Zealand.
Today I jumped on the Kiwi Experience bus for a free tour of the GAA.
We climbed to the top of the harbour bridge and I BUNGIE JUMPED OFF IT!!!
It was great.
The city is nice and all, but I really don't want to sit around until Justin gets here. I booked a tour for monday to the northern tip of NZ.
Last night I entertained two Swedish girls. We might go skiing tonight.

D'oh!
I booked my flight to Sydney the day after my dive- not a good idea.
You need at least 24 hours after a dive before you fly, or some nasty things can happen to your body.
I rescheduled the flight and flew in on Monday.
The dive at the Yongala was great, once I was under water. The dive company was terrible.
I'm in Sydney now, met up with Devon and Kylee last night. Good times.
I fly to Auckland tomorrow, very excited about that.
Talked to Justin, he is doing well. He booked a flight to New Zealand on the 4th of February.
I just realised my birthday is coming up. The big 23.
I'm going to see the Opera House again today.

HUGE DAY.
Last night we got a call from a guy interested in the truck.
I had to work, but Justin met him and another group of guys to show it off.
This couple from the Netherlands gave Justin a pretty reasonable offer and he took it!
The deal goes down today, so I'm hoping all went well. Justin has my phone and isn't answering it.
I finally saw some half decent movies. 'American Gangster' was fantastic and 'I am Legend' was decent. I had a chance to watch the Australian film 'Chopper' and it was pure brilliance.
I left Cairns early this morning.
Let's just say things at work turned REALLY sour and I had to sneak out at 6am today.
Justin drove me to the bus station and I got on the first bus to Townsville.
I can't leave Australia without doing the Yongala dive, so tomorrow, it's on.
Sunday morning I am flying back to Sydney to visit some friends before my flight on Wednesday to NEW ZEALAND!!!
I said my goodbyes to the truck this morning, going to miss the old girl.
Justin is going to stay in Cairns for two weeks and finish his job off.
That leaves me in Aukland for 14 days, no food, no water, no camera crew. Left alone... to survive....

Booze!
I found out today that staff at my hostel get a $60 weekly bar tab at the Woolshed Pub in Cairns!
A bus comes and picks us up every night, but it's a 25 minute walk back...
The job itself is lame, and the people here make me miss Eurong.
Same deal as Fraser Island, if I quit, they keep my paycheque. If I get fired however, they have to pay me in full....
Justin is working out of town doing renovations on a house.
He has the truck, and I have no way to contact him. Two people now have called too see the Jackaroo. If you talk to Justin, tell him to call me.
Wait, who the hell is even reading this?
I had a beard trimming incident which ended up in me shaving my entire head, Brittney Spears style.
I made a good friend with a girl named Kim from Ireland. Hi Kim.
I finally beat 'Bounce', the game that came on my cellphone.
Ok so slowing down, staying in one place for a while and working is a great way to see an area, but doesn't make for an interesting blog.... all apologies.
Last night at the pub they had fish racing.

GREAT BARRIER REEF!
I smashed another goal in life off the list yesterday THREE times, I dove the Great Barrier Reef.
I was pretty disapointed after the first dive. I got paired with a newby and I spent the whole dive worrying about her- didn't see much.
The second dive was Rick Golden. I got paired up with this smokin Dutch chick. We saw everything! Turtles, rays, a million different kind of fish and even a reef shark!
I was too excited to notice that I was running out of air, so I had to breathe off of Evelyn's backup air to get to the surface. oops.
Third dive was pretty relaxed, saw a puffer fish the size of a german sheppard.
Last night I thought I was invincible after the dive, so we went to the casino.
I lost $100, damn. Lost another $100, ouch. Placed a $500 bet on a hand of blackjack and.............. LOST. Never gambling again.
Scored a HUGE job here in Cairns.
I basically pick people up from the airport in a van, chat them up, bring them to our hostel and help them with any tour bookings or check ins they need.
The catch is, to be able to talk about the tours available, I have to DO the tours. I work 4 days a week, and then spend 3 days doing as many day trip and over night dive trips as I can.
I wish we had more time here, this is my dream job.
We've had two people now call and come see the Jackaroo, still no offers.
I took it to a dealership here in town and the guy offered me a sack of elephant grade peanuts for it.
Justin is doing his first open water dive today.

CAIRNS!
Kinda bummed out, I had two dives scheduled on the Yongala wreck and both were cancelled.
One to weather, the other because the dive boat broke....
Picked up the Jackaroo and the repair bill was way more than I expected.
I have definitely entered the tropics, the weather here is totally different.
Sickly humid and the sun is relentless.
There are signs on all river crossings here about dangerous crocodiles. I'd love to see one.
Today Justin left for his 4 day PADI dive certification course. His first open water dive will be on the Great Barrier Reef. Spoiled.
We had a bite on the Jackaroo yesterday. Some old man called and came to take a look at it.
He said he was looking for something a little more 'original'.
We went to a bar last night that was advertising topless bartenders. Should have known, they were guys.
Every night in Cairns at about 7pm there are maybe a million large bats flying over the city. I have to take a picture of it, it's unbelievable.
We parked under a tree and our truck is covered in guano.
That's it, we've completed the Australian leg of our journey. Sydney to Cairns complete.
As soon as we sell this damn truck we are on a plane to New Zealand!

Score!
I called the mechanic today and the truck will be ready this afternoon.
Yesterday I had a teary goodbye with Jeff and Luke. I think Jeff's final words were 'later, dipshit'.
Yesterday I hopped on a ferry and cruised to Hamilton Island.
Cars and motorcycles aren't allowed on the island, you can only get around by golf-cart.
Michelle had been on the island for 3 weeks, and hadn't done any exploring so I rented us a cart.
We went to this incredible lookout for sunset cocktails. There was a jazz band playing, twas a great moment.
I should have looked at a map before I agreed to drive to Cairns by myself. It's going to take about 11 hours. weak.
I'm going to stop at the Yongala and do a dive on the way up, maybe a night in Townsville.
I made up for sale flyers for the Jackaroo, those are going up soon.
After the bar the other night I threw my Blackberry as high as I could in the air and fell over laughing as it smashed on the ground... It seemed like a good idea at the time, but now my phone is dodgier than a Neon.
Why do I spend so much time on the internet? Because internet cafes are air conditioned and I get homesick.
Keep it.

If you look up the word 'random' in the dictionary, you will see a picture of me, Vanilla Ice, and about 20 hot chicks dancing on stage at a small hostel in Airlie Beach.
That's right, Vanilla Ice.
I didn't bring my camera, I have no proof it happened, but I swear on anything Vanilla Ice, THE Vanilla Ice played a show at Magnums backpackers last night.
He ditched the blond hair, he's covered in tattoos and does shitty rap rock now.
Wasn't the worst show I've ever seen.
Justin called me yesterday, he made it to Cairns in one piece.
He has a line on a couple of jobs, I hope he picks something up.
I went and talked to the mechanic about the truck today. Nothing new, still waiting for parts.
As much as I miss ol Justy, it's kinda nice being alone for a while. I've made a couple of great friends, Luke from Perth, Jeff from Saskatchewan, and Mike from the UK. They had all heard of and love Survivorman.
We hit the bar pretty hard last night after the show.
You aren't supposed to swim in the water here, there are killer jelly fish everywhere, so the town built a huge lagoon/swimming pool right near the harbour. It's a great place to sprawl out and meet people.
Should be a big night tonight, and then I'm off to visit Michelle on the island tomorrow.

Low blow Australia, low blow...
We spent another night in Airlie Beach, waiting for our truck to get fixed.
We were supposed to be on the road today...
Called the mechanic, he tried to do the repairs and found that we had a snapped axle on top of everything else.
It's not going to be too pricey, an additional 100 bucks, but finding an axle for an '89 Jackaroo will be a challenge.
He has to wait until Monday to call a wrecker to see if he has a compatible truck.
If not, we might really be in a jam.
Justin is going to take a bus out of town tomorrow, head up to Cairns and find work.
I'm going to stick it out here, get the truck fixed, and meet him up there.
In between here and Cairns is the Yongala wreck dive. It's listed as one of the top 10 ten dive sites in the world, I'm aching to get down there.
We booked our New Zealand bus tour today through http://www.kiwiexperience.com/
Justin woke up today with the worst peeling skin I have ever seen. Yesterday he was fine, today he has the map of Russia across his chest.
I miss Eurong.

Chips ahoy!
Justin and I have returned safely from our 3 day sailing adventure aboard the Anaconda II yacht.
A typical day went like this. Sail, sail, drop anchor, snorkel, drink beer, sail, drink beer, drop anchor, drink beer, snorkel, more beer, snorkel, sail... by 9 o'clock the first night we were both passed out.
There were 18 people aboard, crew included. The chef was from Grand Bend and she spoiled me with tasty vegetarian food.
This was a true sailing boat, it used to race the Sydney to Hobart race.
Right out of the harbour we hit some super strong winds and almost tipped, Justin loved it.
For new years eve all of the sail boats parked in a calm bay and loaded onto a tiny resort island.
I've never seen 100+ people all cooperating and playing drinking games at a bar.
No fights, no drama, just good ol fashioned alcohol abuse.
At midnight there was a big fireworks display. I tried to sleep on deck of the boat but got rained on.
Trouble in paradise- the Jackaroo had to go in for service. The left rear wheel bearings collapsed and the ol' girl sounds like hell when we drive.
It's going to set us back around 600 dollarydoos and the 'warranty', of course, does not cover it.
I got a sim card for my cellphone, the number is (04) 4983 9051 if anyone wants to prank call me.
We are stuck in Airlie Beach until the truck is fixed, we might try and go see Michelle on Hamilton Island tomorrow.