“I threw it away, it was meltin’ everywhere!” The father replied.

They argued some more, I guess the boys were not behaving, and it was the only thing that had kept them sitting.

The day did not start out super awesome. I headed out a bit earlier than normal, with a lot to write from the day before. It’s a routine now, to write either after I get back, or during morning hot chocolate/tea. The delayed post was highly requested..I’d barely been off the tour and there were about five messages waiting for me asking where it was.

I would soon regret putting on my flats, instead of boots. I wasn’t going to do any hardcore walking, so I wanted to let the feetsies breathe. Well, as I’m walking down the walkway from the end of the long hill to the bus stop, I totally slide on the wet gravel. My left leg curls under me while the right leg just keeps going down. ow. Part of my pants on my left knee tear a bit, and I can see the scratches on my left ankle. I dare not look at my knee. It was still bruised from when i fell a week ago at my apartment. They had washed the back alley behind my bedroom window. I never used to fall so much, I’m thinking I should blame my father. Perhaps I’m beginning to show signs of complete imbalance as I get older, and he certainly knows how that goes. In the meantime I’ll blame my shoes.

I took the bus to Petone, but I took the 83 which goes up through Queensgate first. Just after the bus picked up/dropped off people at the stop there, he stood up.

“Sorry, folks, we’re going to have to switch buses around the corner there. This bus won’t make it to Wellington. ” He said. He sat back down and drove the bus down the roundabout and pulled over behind two more buses.

“When you get off, tag off but don’t tag on when you get on the new one, or else it’ll charge you twice.”

We all proceeded to exit and walk down to the first bus as indicated by the drivers, and hopped back on. Who knows what was wrong with the one we were on, I’m still not sure. All I know is, of course I had to be on that one. I was just going to Petone and it was talking longer than I’d wanted.

Finally at Petone I found the Beanie Cafe, number 8 on the list. It was a very unique and eclectic cafe, creatively painted with murals, and the owners clearly knew everyone coming in. A hot chocolate and 2.5 hours typing up Rivendell in notepad, later, I was back out on the bus, headed for the city. I’ll forget in the evening for a second when I lose the WordPress version that I had a back up.

The plan was for Zealandia, but after waiting a half hour, at the shuttle sign I’d been picked up from the day before. I waited, and waited and the actual Zealandia shuttle came. The driver turned on the not in service sign. I asked when the next one would run, and he said it didn’t run for another hour due to maintenance.

I’m patient but not that determined to see the sanctuary today.

I thanked him, and went about my day, deciding what to do next. I passed the Victoria Cafe from the previous day, and went back up Willis St. I went about searching for cafes to sit at or at the very least, a shoe store. All the ones I’d passed so far were busy. I really just wanted a quiet one to sit at and maybe finish typing. I went up a random alley and found I’d made my way to Cuba street. After reading the sign posted in the bus stop, and Craig having mentioned it was a fun and creative street, I figured it’d be a good place to explore. As I walked up, I noticed similarities between it and some of the streets in San Francisco; small shops and restaurants, all very eclectic and artist-supprting. I went up the left side, passing a rather large waterfall sculpture. It made great splashing sounds every time one of the shaped boxes spun. It wasn’t a smooth tempo, very off beat. There were choir singers, and a guitarist a further ways up the street, the very busy street. It was a lot like that one street Amoeba was on in SF, that one that Jay and I found that time we drove up for the day and back.

I passed by a vegan place, first one I’d seen so far and I might have to go back and try it. I went up to the end, where the steret turned back to normal and went further up to a residential area. I decided to go back down the other side. It was just as busy and unsuccessful as the previous side, so I continued back down to Lambton Quay. I wandered around, searching for shoes in some of the shoe stores…apparently 60$ is a cheap shoe.. and cheaply made too. I found nothing in my style and decided it was a lost cause today.

Again, the streets led me back around Civic Center. I decided to go under the walking bridge, which was a route past some hacky-sackers. They looked much older than I, and more just a random gathering of people who happened to be passing by. I think they all just chose to stop and join. They were playing on a large blue mat that might have been put there for an exercise group of some kind.

I think giant signs saying “Toilet” everywhere are making me have to use them more often than when I’m home. It’s kind of like my brain is constantly looking for it, even I don’t need it, and of course they’re not around when you do. I looked around the center, and followed the route back up another bridge over the group on the mat. Bird man was back, and just about every bench, and grassly knoll was being used.

Must be lunchtime. I figured.

I headed over to cafe number 9, Kaffee Eis, the one I had passed by on another “waterfront day”. It was small, with dark wooden doors opened into a smaller room. The L -shaped counter started in one room with ice cream, and led to the register, which led to the food display, which led to the coffee section. I couldn’t tell where to go to order..it was pretty hap hazard. I figured standing by the ice cream part was the best bet, since that’s where a bunch of snazzy dressed women were gathered. After some maneuvering around the taller folks, I managed to order a lemonade and vegetarian sandwich with beets and carrots! Fantastic.

And again, we have comments on my card from the surf-handsome typed youthful cashier. He had that surf-type fro, and a wooden bead necklace. He bounced it in his palm.

“Is that steel, there? That’s a hefty card.” He said, showing it to his coworkers. “American, is it?”

“Yes it is, don’t now if it’s steel, but definitely a metal. ”

“That’ll last you a while, don’t imagine it breaks too easily. ” He held onto it longer than I was comfortable with. I watched to make sure he didn’t try to swap it, or swipe it on anything… maybe that’s a sign I don’t trust people, hm?

I found a shaded table outside on the dock, just next to one of the open doors. I sat and watched the people at the waterfront. All kinds of people passed by, some renting scooters, other adults renting bikes. At home we think we’re lucky, we have the beach right there, and a drive to the mountains is easy. I think these people are luckier…the water is there, and they live in the mountains. I also think the water is much cleaner, I can actually see through the blue, or blue green that waves by.

I watched a family walk up, finding a table in the middle of seating area. A father mother, grandma, and two boys get ice cream from the cafe. The mom and dad argued over the ice cream option after purchasing. A few minutes later the father quickly searched for a trash can, holding his hand under the cone. When he went back to the table, the mom asked what he did with it.

There were lots of business suit-type people walking around, I imagine this is their daily routines during lunchtime.

Sweeping Declaration: Chicago can no longer be called the Windy City – Wellington has to be. It’s windy every single day and every single day I get pushed a bit more as I try to walk. I almost don’t want to wear my hats because I feel like I have to hang on to ’em all the time.

I saw a small bridge over in the opposite direction I had gone in before when wandering the waterfront last week. Looked different at least, and maybe people were going that direction…so why not?

As I crossed the bridge I passed the museum again, and found a spot near the docks. I just sat there for awhile, and eventually discovered “FREE Wifi at the Waterfront”. Seriously, these people..wifi everywhere. I began messaging some friends, showing them photos of my view at the moment. Too bad Nolan couldn’t Astral Project himself.

“Do you have the time? ” A gentleman called up from below the dock. He was standing and paddling on through the harbor. I gave him the time and a short while late I saw a woman and daughter pass by. She started to ask me the time but the man interrupted her saying he’d already done it. Clearly his wife. They laughed and continued on.

More ducks paddling themselves around in the water, and lots of kids were riding passed me on bikes. I feel like there’s no one my age around or maybe I just not out when they are. Ieither see younger, or older.

After a while longer, I continued down and found myself back at the skate park. I remembered a grocery store being on the other side of the park, and since I was in need of batteries, I figured it was a good place to be. I crossed the park, watching a friendly cricket game in progress. seemed like it was just a bunch of random people just enjoying summer. A mother-type woman swung and spun around. The audience laughed and gave her a hard time.

Crossing the corner street, I saw the end of the road and the corner of The Embassy up ahead. This meant Courtenay Place wasn’t far and I’d be able to catch a bus home after the new grocery store adventure.

New World, what kind of a name is new world for a grocery store? Though I suppose, what kind of name is Vons or Ralphs? Seriously though, ‘Vons’…

On the way in, passed the turn styles, I discovered a nice little granola, candy, nuts, grains, section on the right. I saw yogurt covered raisins, one of my favorites, and got a bag. You know how our bags at home have those twist ties and the pens never work? So NOT the case here. They have ziplock bags with a space for the product number on them, and a pen holder that actually keeps the pen working. Take a lesson, Vons, Ralphs and Whole Foods. These people may dress like it’s the 90s and may only just gotten our fancy driving range technology (or so says a sign at a mini golf course I pass by on the bus everyday), but they’re just a bit smarter, I think. Also… the one dollar and two dollar – coins. Ya..see some people still like coins. I love coins. I’m bringing some home for Dad, he loves coins too – take that American..trying to get rid of the penny and all.

I’ve learned these people love their independent customer checkouts. There’s like 10 in each grocery store. Works for me!

I pay and head out. I’ve had to sign for everything, and people keep checking my signature on my card with the receipts, for every little thing, even tea. Geez.

I make my way down, and across the street, passing the hippo restaurant again, and found myself back on our friend Courtenay Place. I was sitting there thinking I had another 45 minutes for the bus, then suddenly only 15 minutes later it came. Either it was really early or really late – We may never know.

So, I’m on the bus, and so far I hadn’t run into anyone similar on any day. Then suddenly this one woman comes on at Queensgate. She’s totally Andrew and Lois’ friend – the one I met a few days earlier, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember her name! Terrible. I’m terrible. She hasn’t seen me yet, but I know once we get off at york bay she will. I was wearing my skull sweater like I had been when I met her. Best sweater, btw, not only looks awesome, but is super comfy- crazy comfy.

My turn comes, and I press the stop button to alert the driver. After rounding the mountain, the driver slows and stops for me. Purple lady (she’s always worn purple when I’ve seen her) gets up and taps her card, and then I’m like…

“heeeeey!” slowly, and pointing at her. She gasps in surprise.

I tap my card and thank the driver, as we both get off. This little blonde haired boy wearing a bow tie (bow ties are cool) gets off too, and walks around us to head down the street a bit. She and I start talking as we head up the hill. While talking and walking, my shoe starts to fall apart, it’s flapping as we walk. We continue barely five more feet and then suddenly FLOP!

Off comes the sole of my right shoe. Well, we saw that coming didn’t we? Here’s when I made like a hobbit, despite the very hot ground and the long hike up the hill I still had. She-who-has-no-name proceeded to tell me about several shoe stores as we reached my door. We stood there for a little while discussing what I’ve done already and where I could go next. After a bit more conversation, we parted ways and I came in to relieve my poor burned and scratched feet. I also decided I should look at my knee.

Ouch.

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Note from the author: There’s been a bit of an issue with internet at my current place, as well as wordpress being a bum. I’ll incorporate photos once all that starts working again. I hope everyone reading my entries has enjoyed them so far, and they’re not too boring or too detailed. I write a lot, I know, but I’m not going to apologize for it. Thanks all !)