BluesBro's World Downunder

I have almost posted 3,000 images on Buzznet! How's that for a milestone. I love this place. Made lots of friends and getting to see places from all over the world. It's almost a home away from home.

Went for another bushwalk last night, had my shades on and was starting to wonder if I'd get back before dark. It was only 4km but seemed a lot further because it was all up and down, some parts steep. I can't believe that this place is so close to home and I never knew about it. I think I'll be getting to know the trails real well. Much nicer than walking on the side of the road.

I'm thinking of walking the 10km race at the Auckland Marathon, so this is training. I can't run because I herniated and tore a lumbar disk landyachting. I'd like to walk a marathon, but last year when I was training, I changed my stride to increase my speed and got plantar faciitis on both feet. After that I was reading a book on competitive walking which said, don't change your stride, you've been using it since you learned to walk, which made sense. A little too late. Like the time I was skiing in 2 foot virgin snow on the national downhill (the slope not the race) and tore a medial ligament, A helpful instructor above me on the chairlift after the event yelled down that I shouldn't do sharp turns in the thick powder or I would break my leg. I proved him wrong didm't I:-) Ever ridden a banana boat? Strapped in bouncing and skidding behind a ski patrol waller isn't the greatest way to travel, anyway I digress.

So I had a great bush walk and will post photos from it soon.

Just watched the most amazing game of rugby in the Trinations series. Back and forth for 80 minutes. Probably the toughest and closest game for years. The Springboks have never won at the house of pain in Carisbrook Dunedin, but they got very close tonight.

Now we have to beat the Aussies again next weekend.

I had the strangest experieince last night. I was driving home from Real Groovy Records at around 6 p.m. which was about twilight. The sun was coming in at my eyes on an angle.

About 150 metres ahead I saw a woman in a winter coat holding hands with a child on each side of her crossing the road. They crossed the other side OK and then they looked as though they were going to cross straight in front of my car. I said "what the .........something or other" and slammed on the anchors stopping the car on the side of the road. As suddenly as they appeared, they were gone, but there was nowhere for them to go. I was straight, mentally in a good space.

Now I'm not prone to seeing things and wasn't under the effect of anything that could cause me to see things that weren't there. I'm not using any medicines or anything else that could cause ahllucinations. The bush walk I did on Saturday was next to a cemetary and I was told later that the bush is full of ghosts. I didn't see anything and found the place to be very peaceful.

I can't find a rational explanation for this experieince. If I was artistic, I could draw the people for you as I saw them. Now I'm wondering if it could have been an extra sensory experience. Must find out if anyone was ever killed on that spot in an accident.

I love science fiction but I am also a major sceptic. I just can't explain this one away. Were they ghosts? Was I looking through the dying suns rays into another dimension?

What do you reckon?

Had a good weekend. Decided to get some exercise seeing as it wasn't raining and went for a walk. About 1km from home I saw a clearing with bush behind it and decided to check it out. Found a huge area of native bush that I never knew was there, so I went for a bush walk.

Awesome track, even had some bridges and steps so I didn't have to get muddy. Explored half of it, but will have to go and check out the rest soon.

Yesterday went and checked out Chelsea Park. I am doing a shoot of a wedding there in November and was looking for strategic spots with nice scenery. Loads of them with excellent views. Bush, birdges, lakes and a secluded beach. There's also a private tennis court so I thought I'd get permission to use it and have them do a cameo on the court in their wedding clothes.

I don't mean to be flippant, but it could be safer to be in London. They're falling like flies.

I was on a flight from LA to Frankfurt once. It was in the middle of the night and I couldn't sleep. Just as well cause the view going over Alaska on a sumers night is unbelievable. Anyway, I'd taken a sleeping pill and all it did was make me groogy. I was reading a Stephen King book, can't remember what it was called, but I was at the part where a plane disappeared out of the sky when

We dropped about a thousand feet in an air pocket. A couple of flight crew girls hurt themselves hitting the roof and people were screaming as the oxygen masks popped down. Obviously I'm hear to tell the tale and alls well. Gave me a little insight though into how some of those people felt. Looking at the anguish on the faces of mothers and fathers waiting at the airport to pick up their children. Tragic.

So today's Tuesday. Rushed out of bed and drove into town for a 7 a.m. breakfast presentation by Eric Rush, ex All Black which turned out to have been cancelled because he decided he was not available to speak. I had a lot of time for him until this morning. The good news is that I got a bit of time to catch up on emails and more importantly Buzznet.

Lots happening at the moment in the world. Israeli's are leaving their homes on the Gaza strip. I wonder if it will ever end. That block of land has changed hands and been fought over for millenia. Living in a more peaceful part of the world it is so hard to comprehend a way of life that is full of violence and anger.

David Lange passed away on the weekend. He was a gutsy statesman who declared New Zealand a nuclear free zone and suggested that the French conduct their tests off the coast of France if they were so safe. He made me proud to be a Kiwi.

Btw, what happened to the French politicians who swam in the water off Mururoa Attoll and even swallowed a few mouthfulls to show that nuclear testing was safe and harmless? Are they still around? My money says that they have probably died of cancer by now.

Well I'm back home again after a 1600km drive and running about 15 training sessions on navigation systems. Great to be home. Took lots of pics while I was away, but the best connection I could get from the motels I stayed in was 26kbps so I couldn't be bothered even checking my emails. I'll be in catch up mode for a while now. Did you miss me? Anyone:-(

Next trip will be the South Island which is going to be bloody cold. The only redeeming factor of these travels is that I live in such a beautifuly scenic country.

Well I'm halfway through my travels around the North Island, training new car salesman how to sell integrated sat nav systems with their cars. It's tiring touring the country (wish I was doing it with my guitar instead of SmartNAV), but the scenery is awesome.

I don't get to drive it very often any more, but one of the great things about this country is the huge variety of scenery. Next will be the South Island, aka The Mainland which is even more spectacular.

Meanwhile, the AB's play the Springboks for the first test in the Tri-Nations rugby tonight. Kick off is 1 A.M. NZ time, so its going to be a long night. I'm there when my country needs me:-)