Confessions...not of the 'Usher' persuasion

So after 35+ days on the open roads I have temporarily taken up residency in Christchurch until I figure out about the next leg of my trip. Today was an 'emotional' day of sorts, I spent the entire morning cleaning up the car and packing my things away--this was no easy feat...I finally understand how people can turn their cars into further extensions of their rooms and closets--honestly how I accumulated so much crap boggles my mind. When I first came to new zealand I had my backpack, a small backpack and a large purse...after cleaning my car I had all that plus three small duffles worth of crap. Okay a lot of that is me being way too sentimental and holding onto like every damn keepsake from this trip so that when I come home I can make the most comprehnesive scrapbook ever and well the other part is those damn rocks...heavy little buggers.
As I drove the car back to the dealership all I could think about was how much has happened on my roadtrip and the interesting characters I have met along the way. Now the official count of kilometers driven was close to 4700 or so a bit less than 3000 miles roughly speaking--not bad, eh? Leaving the car at the Apex parking lot was harder then I expected...I mean this car was not only my transportation for these weeks, but many a nights I spent sleeping in it as well. So, yeah that's the confession part...up until a couple days ago Nancy and Steve were under the illusion that gertie was a campervan...campervan...nissan pulsar same difference.

Now, I can honestly say I have perfected the whole sleeping in the car system and not getting caught--seeing as how carcamping is illegal. One of my better experiences in deceiving the police was I parked my car in between two parked cars on the side of the road that had for sale signs in their windows...so I made my own sign put it in the window and had quite the lovely slumber minus the sound of traffic whizzing by and the occasional police siren in the distance causing momentary freakouts...but would I change the nights of freezing sleeplessness in the front seat with my legs wrapped around the stickshift in a makeshift fetal position...hell frickin' no--made my experience a little more off the beaten path. The one time I almost got caught which I have to admit was pretty stupid on my part....I slept in the parking lot at the visitor center in Wanaka...but mind you there were like 4 other campervans there so I thought it would be fine...wrong. At 5 in the morning I was awakened by a flashlight being shined through the passenger side window and someone yelling 'security, security open up!' The guy supposedly was being trailed by the police and was giving us a heads up to move our cars so we wouldn't get fined...I didn't get it either...nevertheless I moved my car and all was fine. I just felt in my own little way I was living on the edge...never knowing exactly where I was going to sleep for the night and wondering how I could possibly put on any more layers of clothing so that I had a fighting chance of not spending the whole night shivering. The last couple of weeks as the weather turned even colder I decided to spend the nights at holiday parks instead so I was atleast guarenteed a hot shower and hot meal every evening and finally I am staying in hostels. It's funny the more 'civilized' I have gotten throughout the course of my trip the less I have found I have enjoyed myself...it's been a hard transition to leave the world of matted hair and muddy boots for jeans and blow dryed hair...but it was bound to happen at some point or another. Although I still hold on to a bit of my ruggedness...the only shoes I have to wear at the moment are my hiking boots seeing as how my sneakers have fallen victim to the curse of the new balance...in other words the plastic lining in the heal has made its way through and left my ankle a bloody mess..and wearing flipflops in this weather would just be asking for frostbite...so dirt covered hiking boots it is...the one bonus of it all is they do add a good inch and a half to my height.
I have never been a huge fan of cities, I just have never really been able to see the appeal of them--lots of flashy lights, neon signs, the overwhelming and at times faint smell of urine in the air, littered streets and people...lots of people. But the last couple of days I have spent here in Christchurch, I'm starting to find my whole 'city perception' being shattered...okay minus the pee part. I love waking up in the morning not knowing exactly where I'm going and just getting lost in the city. Lost in that way where each street seems new and like a mystery that needs to be unraveled and each person on the street someone with a story, a history that lets my my wander. Finding cafes to make my own or walking in the botanical gardens and stopping to feed stale bread to the thousands of ducks or watch a group of older men live out their childhood dreams through handmade sail boat competitions. Or spending an afternoon sipping coffee in the main square in town, with the infamous (and yes mom in this case it works) wizard of cathedral square who preaches about god knows what and will speak his mind on any topic...to my left a lifesize chess set and a homless man playing a fellow traveler. Ahead of me the beautiful cathedral square, under construction at the moment, seagulls littered across the pavement like the trash they consume and all around me the day slowly quieting down, with the sound of a skateboard hitting against the maze of walkways...and school children all aflutter in matching kilts and navy sweaters dillydallying around with mischief on the mind and my latest book from a local used bookstore in hand.
Now with my ipod temporarily out of commission and no more gertie to rock out to billy joel and cat stevens I made a hefty purchase and invested in a $5 handheld radio. Now while standing on the street corner waiting for the pedestrian walk signal some people flipped open their cell phones and texted away...I extended the antennae from my radio. I just had to smile at myself thinking about how ridiculous I look in this day and age with a radio in hand with an antennae a good foot and a half extended and my walmartesque fleece...I have honestly gotten more stares since toting this radio...people just seem in awe that a real life radio still exists and that someone is actually using one.
Well, I hope all is well with everyone and happy father's day especially to you dad...sorry none of us kids could be there to celebrate with you...but I'll sit and watch some tv in your honor tonight!