Introduction: What the hell is that idiot doing?

One says to me, "I wonder that you do not lay up money; you love to travel; you might take the cars and go to Fitchburg today and see the country." But I am wiser than that. I have learned that the swiftest traveller is he that goes afoot. I say to my friend, Suppose we try who will get there first. The distance is thirty miles; the fare ninety cents. That is almost a day's wages. I remember when wages were sixty cents a day for laborers on this very road. Well, I start now on foot, and get there before night; I have travelled at that rate by the week together. You will in the meanwhile have earned your fare, and arrive there some time tomorrow, or possibly this evening, if you are lucky enough to get a job in season. Instead of going to Fitchburg, you will be working here the greater part of the day. And so, if the railroad reached round the world, I think that I should keep ahead of you; and as for seeing the country and getting experience of that kind, I should have to cut your acquaintance altogether. --Henry David Thoreau, Walden




I'm taking a cycle trip around New Zealand's north island in April. If you're here, you probably already knew that. Here's the route:



I might go up the coromandel or check out Northland a bit as well if I have the time. Otherwise, Nigel and I will mostl likely be dirt biking those areas when we meet up in Auckland May 2 or so. As you can see, the route's not actually "around" anymore. Plans originally called to cycle back to Wellington and fly out of there. Instead, I've sold or given away practically all my shit, and I'll be flying out of Auckland May 10 to kick around in Hawaii for a few days before heading back to the mainland.