staying left

Writing from Greymouth on my way up the west coast of the south island. And yes, I have taken my turn at the wheel! I can now claim minor competency at driving on the left, as I've managed to live through the last 3 days of oregon coast-like cliff drives and mountain passes! (I must say I'm rather enjoying it.) One-lane bridges are my specialty, including those shared with trains!

Visited both Fox and Franz Josef glaciers yesterday. In 1997 (on tour with the St.Olaf Choir) we saw the west coast from Punakaiki (pancake rocks, below) to Franz Josef, so that glacier was a return trip (and 13 years of retreat was obvious). Liew and I also did a night visit to a congregation of glow worms near the hostel -- had we gone one hour later, the glow surely would've been magnified by the fact that the entire town of Franz Josef lost power for the most of the night.

My news of the day is that I will be wwoofing for the last two weeks of April on a farm in the far reaches of Marlborough Sounds (a nautical sheep farm, they like to say). If you're not familiar with wwoofing, it stands for willing workers on organic farms. Like it sounds, you help out and in exchange receive free room & board. This place is a personal recommendation from Lizzy (a Kiwi kayak partner), who says the family is a hoot and the location spectacular. Check out their website. Since my Wellington housesitting gig doesn't start until the first week of May, I thought rather than canceling out my paycheck with rent, why not go rentless and paycheckless for a great experience?
Recently updated photo albums: Doubtful Sound (now complete) and Southern Scenic Route