What do you get when you cross a sheep and a camel?

So according to the random van driver, you get a shamel when you breed a sheep and a camel (please don't try to picture it I almost lost sleep over it) and they do it to increase the neck area where the best wool grows.   Who knows whether its true or not, but I saw some and they look a lot like llamas.  Possibly the tour guide was full of it.

OK so I managed to get enough sleep to overcome the jet lag and I managed to get out of Auckland, which isn't a bad place but its really just another city.   Spent the day heading north to the Bay of Islands area whith a crazy kiwi driver and a guy from England (the country seems to be overrun with the English...)

Nothing too crazy as it was raining and we were mostly driving but still a fun day.  One thing of note, the speed limit everywhere outside of immediate towns and citys is 100km/hr.   I believe this translates to about 62 mph.  That doesn't sound too bad except that this speed limit applies to the twisty two-lane mountain roads, paved and unpaved, and to the beach (which is a state highway).  Not only that but people here still speed.   Nate, you would have loved this driver, he was pretty sure he was driving a road course, and I admit he was good.   He still almost got my lunch on his neck as we were in a minivan and it certainly wasn't made to "hug the curves."

Thanks to everyone who has added comments, I've enjoyed having a touch of home.   To answer a few of the questions.

(1) The haircut isn't great but it's hard to mess my hair up and it will be all grown out by the time most of you see me =)

(2)I made the executive decision to not bring a digital camera so I've got no pictures to add.   I know some random Italians were making fun of me for not having digital.  I may have some pictures from Haven or Megan so I'll add when I get a chance, but for the most part this is a picture-free blog

(3) I would LOVE to see the All Blacks as it is all any of the kiwis have talked about since I got here, but unfortunately they won't be playing anywhere near me.