Country Mouse and Shadow's Travels: Mind Games & Meat Raffles

May 2nd&3rd-
It's amazing how lost you can feel in your own head. Shadow and I debated leaving the trail for good today. What we would do for the next 6 weeks? Well, we hadn't gotten that far. The hiking the last few days have been nice...quiet...challenging... A guy in Queenstown told us that the farther North you get the more things try and grab you in the bush. He was right. I'm not sure of the name, but this bamboo vine drapes across the trail. When the vine lies low, it trips you. When it hangs high from the trees it decapitates you.
The same thing happened on the Appalachian Trail. You get to a point where the hiking is not as difficult as the mind games your brain plays. It's a mental challenge.
All we wanted was to make it to the next town of Clevedon. To our surprise it was one of the cutest towns we had been to. A couple cafes, nice NZ made shop, a dairy (conveinent store), and a pub. We were directed to the pub for a room for the night. Clothes in the wash, showered, but not shaved we sat in front of 2 large pizzas and a bar tab. By 6pm the pub was packed. Little did we know it was the Clevedon Pub-Fishing Club Meeting. A bucket was being passed around and filled with money. Minutes later names were being called from a drawing a raw meat were the prize. With a confused like on our faces we put 5 bucks in the mix. Our name was not drawn. I'm not sure what we would have done with 5lbs of meat anyway. The televisions were a constant stream of races to bet on horses races with buggies, horse races without buggies, dog races.
A group beside us began asking questions about us. Being that this is the only pub in town, everyone knew we were outsiders. The next thing we know, it was 11:30pm the pub was closing for the night, and our newest 4 friends we singing Irish songs like it was karaoke night. Debbie, her brother James, his wife Shannon, and the neighbor farmer took turns singing songs and while we all tried to remember the words as we went along. If not, who cares, just hum along. The neighbor farmer was particularly good with his Johnny Cash impressions.
I'm not sure if fate was involved or if it was a serendipitous moment. Either way it was the kick start that we needed.
Around 7:30am the next morning my phone buzzed from a text that Debbie had sent. She had offered last night to fix us breakfast. A short walk to her house and smell of streaky bacon coming from the kitchen made me weak in the knees. Buttered croissants stuffed with a poached egg and a layer of bacon was the best way to start the cure of a hangover. Shadow and I had discussed a map that was hanging from the pub wall of the local area. He had pointed out an alternate route to Auckland without the sketchy areas in between. Not too far from Clevedon was a Buddhist temple. Our wonderful new Irish/Kiwi friend offer to take us to the temple, but not before a driving tour of the peninsula. We said our goodbyes and hope to met again before we head back home.
A tour through the temple along with some lotus tea Shadow and I made our way to the local harbor to board a ferry to Auckland. We walked the docks while eating passion fruit gelato and talking to some boat owners about their travels at sea.
The bustling city of Auckland is a far cry from Clevedon. The ferry dock was a mile walk from the hostel which gave us a chance to scope out the area. A small hole in the wall Korean restaurant made a great dinner. To top the day off I received our last care package from home filled with 2 pairs of new shoes, new gaiters, 1 bottle of Advil, 2 hand knitted hats, and candy. What more could 2 hikers ask for. Thanks mom and dad!