Florida

Tryin to do this from my moms phone, got some downtime.  Was in Florida for 5 days visiting my grandparents.  I enjoyed it, went to a park with manifest and crocs (not the type you put your feet in) and eagles and a rhino etc.   my grandad said I was as good as a dog to have around cos I ate a lot of people's leftovers at mealtime in the retirement center.  My mom flew in after I'd been there a couple days and I somehow convinced her to go skydiving spontaneously.  If you've ever seen Harold and kumar 2 I can tell you it was very much like ice fishing!!  If two percent of readers he that reference I will be pleased.  Anyways, I have half a mind to bail on South America and just go get certified as a skydiver solo status. But alas I'm committed to this trip, whatever he itinerary might end up being.  In Costa Rica now but will write on that later. Oh here's a pic of my mom, she loved it!! Maybe more than me even

Pre Te Araroa

Hello all,
Nick here, and I'm writing to let you know I'll be hiking the Te Araroa trail, which covers the length of New Zealand, over the next four to five months.  It 'officially' opened last December and it is roughly 1800 miles long (I think it might actually be longer based on a couple of different hikers' accounts I've read on the interwebs).
I'm potentially not as prepared at this very moment as I might like to be, but it'll all work out and I'm excited to get going.  I leave Sunday morning from Boston.

Other things I want to mention in this post:
1. I'm making my own homemade 'soda-can stove' which will burn denatured alcohol.  I made my first attempt this evening and it leaked.  Also, I'm using Narragansett cans from the six-pack I bought this afternoon.  Narragansett is the unofficial sponsor for the hike and I'll potentially do a bit of pro-bono advertising for them.  Assuming I succeed with the stove and bring it, it'll weight less than 1oz!  Check out how to make these if interested.  http://www.thesodacanstove.com/alcohol-stove/how-to-build.html

2. I'm in the process of kicking my physical caffeine addiction.

3. I'll post again soon with more exciting details like my hair/beard plans, ha!

Nick

Packing

So I left Cragged on the 9th and spent 24 hours at home then was down in CT on the 10th.  Today is my last day with cousins and grandparent on Mom's side before heading to grandparents on dad's side in Florida.  And less than a week til Costa Rica and 25 days til the unknown.

 The big event in CT was my cousin's wedding which was in Fairfield CT at this country club type place.  It was on the ocean and the waiters came around serving apps on a platter.  Crab fritters for days! 

I also went to Madison where I moved to after living in Colorado.  Reminded me of how as a kid I really hated that move because I really loved living in Colorado.  Besides that just alot of planning for CR and hanging with Poppy/ cousins. Oh yeah completely clean shaven for the first time since Oct 2011.  Thinking of making it a habit.


Me and my mom.  Same lady whos coming to Costa Rica for the first week with me!





Saying goodbye to the dogs, which is always the hardest part of leaving home because their species hasn't yet learned how to communicate via telephone nor skype.





Everything thats going into my pack.  6 shirts, 2 drifit shirts, 1 jeans, 1 cargo shorts, 1 gym shorts, lots of socks and boxers, 1 bathing suit, 1 button down, 1 polo, 1 dress pants, 1 pair of deceptively good looking shoes, 1 pair running shoes, 1 pair hiking boots, 1 sleeping bag, 1 fleece, 1 rainpants, toiletries.  looking to eliminate a few items before i head out for realsies.  Even with that I have room for probably about 50 more Clif bars.  Not bringing a phone nor a computer nor a camera nor any electronics.  Only thing worth something is the sleeping bag and pack itself.  If i get robbed I hope they like my old clothes!



Political Perspective

2012

Hey so Nick and I, though voyaging on seperate travels, might return to operating this blog again!  this is a test.