Sunshine Bay

Sunshine Bay is the final destination of the trail that I was attempting to run the other day when my ankle decided chewing on rocks was a much better idea. My curiosity finally got better of me yesterday and we ventured down the leisurely 2 km trail to sunshine bay, which was just lovely. Peter and I enjoyed a nostalgic afternoon skipping rocks into the lake and telling tales of old. We have yet to hit one of the eight great walks in the country, I think we are going to try and make it out to Milford Sound or the Franz Joseph - two glacier hikes - in the next couple of weeks. Both of them take a few dias but are suppose to change your life. We shall see...

Quote of the day: "Be on the alert to recognize your prime at whatever time of your life it may occur." -Muriel Spark

Stevo and I at Sunshine Bay 

One of the streets in the middle of Queenstown opening up into the lake 

It lies just beyond that ridge and if you look hard enough you might just catch a peek... 

Midway through boarding atop Mnt Whakapapa at the beginning of our trip 

Ah the only flawed McCarthy gene, ligaments that love to pop 

Rugby night

The All Blacks (NZ's national rugby team) play South Africa tonight in the deciding game of the Tri-nations tourney. Should be a hot night out of the town. A few, fifteen, drinks should treat me well after three dias on the slopes. Finally got the balls to hit a few descent jumps today, the ground was a bit softer than it has been as we got a little dump of snow last night. Got my first day of work tomorrow working in Pinckard's industry, I will probably still be drunk when I drag myself in there at eight o'clock.

Pete and I at Lake Tekapo (I think that is the name of the lake), I just ate an entire wheel of cheese so I was a little farty and bloated! 

I have gotten into the habit of taking pics of myselft almost everytime I break out my camera and I don't know why... 

Crazy Clouds: Boarding through those bad boys was something else 

Kiwis

Kiwi has three different meanings here in New Zealand. The Kiwi bird is a flightless, endangered bird that is also the National mascot of sorts as its native land is here in New Zealand. The Kiwi fruit, which I believe you are all familiar with, is a delicious furry, green fruit that is grown here in New Zealand. Then the people here are also called Kiwis, just as we are called Americans - or yankees as people from all over the world seem to think all Americans are yankees. Kiwis is just a common nickname for New Zealanders.
I have some pretty sweet pics of the mountains covered in clouds that I will post as soon as possible. While I was boarding yesterday it would be perfectly sunny, then the clouds would come in and I would not be able to see three feet in front of me. Literally skiing in the clouds! Nice to hear from everyone back home, missing Georgia football is killing me - but we did catch a braves game out here the other day to give us a little taste of home sweet home.
Quote about how I feel right now: "Not a shred of evidence exists in favor of the idea that life is serious" -Brendan Gill

Morning Coffee never tasted so good!

I think the days are going to all start out pretty good here in Queenstown as my back yard blows my mind everytime I look out the window. We moved in with 5 other flatmates, two couples and one other guy. The house we are staying in is probably worth inbetween 1 and 2 million. It is two doors down from a house owned by JT (John Travolta). All 7 flatmates went out on the town last night, which was a hell of a time. Apparently tonight is suppose to be the big night out on the town-I am almost a little scared and that says a lot coming from me. These Kiwis are crazy as hell, but it is nice to be able to go out with some locals and the inside scoop on the town. Right now me and Pete are sharing a room, but we each get our own in a couple of weeks. I think we are going to get a job as painters for the next month or so. The plan is to stay in Queenstown through mid October and then find a beach town to settle into. Everything is working out almost too good! Queenstown is a damn spectacle. The vibe this town gives off is almost indescribable and we haven't even hit the slopes yet!

Ferry ride between the North and South islands 

This is a look of sheer and utter amazement... 

View from my new couch, a rather nice place to veg out on a Sunday afternoon! 

Me, Peter and Erin (who we are now rid of) after a day of boarding Mnt. Whakapapa 

Welcome to my back yard! 

A Brief Affair atop Mt. Eden...

Although it only lasted a few brief moments, our souls became intertwined and I now view the world with such optimistic happiness that I am forever thankful. Louise or Betsy - her name is not important- and myself engaged in a wildly erotic endeavor that has left me feeling like a new man. The details are not important, but I know after that day neither one of us will ever be the same. Peter captured a photograph right at the peak of our illustrious affair that will do my words no justice(refer to Stephen's blog). The time came for us to part and that wonderful creature bellowed out a noise that I will never forget. A simple, but sorrowful and heartfelt moooooo!!

I think Lee win the creativity prize for naming the car with McCarthy's rotten ass holster, and after that suggestion I think the car might have a rotating name. We stopped off in Christchurch last night and are headed the rest of the way to Queenstown tonight where the job search begins...

A picture from the top of Mnt. Eden, overlooking Auckland and the Skytower, which is the tallest building in the southern hemisphere... 

The slopes are alive!

Had to make a pit stop on the way south to hit up the slopes. The mountains out here are a bit different than the ones I am accustom to, instead of green trees everywhere the mountains are full of red volcanic rock. Somewhat intimadating, but still loads of fun. Everyone had a good time on the mountain except Lanolin (the cars new name, complements of Towner as no one else gave any suggestions) she decided the hills where just not her thing and decided to take a break right before we reached our parking spot. We have her some rest and she springed back to life like a champ. I am growing quite fond of the ole girl. We plan to take the ferry across to the south island at some point today, the views from the boat are suppose to be breath taking. Kiwis are some of the coolest people I have ever come across, everyone is just out to have a good time. There seems to be no stress in this country, so far it is just exetreme sports and partying...I may have a different view once I start working, but until then let the party continue! Good to hear from everyone, a lot of the posts are quite amusing!

Charlie's scene

the bar we ended up at last night had Charlie Colson written all over it. The place reminded me of an oversized loft in Athens, but with a full bar and a crazy hip hop scene. The dj was accompanied by a guy rapping who was amongst the crowd as he was spitting out lines and half the bars here just don't close, so we were there until atleast 4-can't really remember. Good times all around, especially for our last night in Auckland. We should be in Wellington by tonight, which is suppose to blow Auckland out of the water. Sounds like everything is going to plan in the ATL, I do miss home but we are doing our part the leave a mark on NZ! Apparently NZ and the south are two types of crazy that mix well!

$900

The honda Civic Shuttle cost us $900 NZ dollars, which comes out to about $650-700 American dollars. Pretty sweet deal! Driving on the other side of the road is pretty intense, but I think I will get the hang of it before too long. The mechanic told us to treat it like our grandmother and it will run forever! We are staying in Auckland tonight for the All Blacks rugby game. The All Blacks are NZ's national team, and they are playing Austrailia tonight. The town apparently goes ape shit! Then tomorrow we start our journey south. We have picked up one extra passenger, a girl named Erin Fredericks from Sonoma, CA. She seems cool enough to split gas with us. The open road is calling my name! Also my number out here is 021 782 597. I believe the country code is 64. Cell phone are expensive as hell out here, but all incoming calls are free. So if any one wants their spirits lifted by the sweet sound of Andy's voice, drop me a line. Just remember that we are 16 hours ahead of you guys on the east coast. Keep up the posts, it is nice to hear from everyone at home!

Leaving the LAX in route to New Zealand... 

Isn't she a beaut! And she is all ours. The 1986 Honda Shuttle was aquired today and she is everything you might think she would be and more! We are currently looking for an appropriate name...who ever comes up with the winner gets a big sloppy kiss from me next August! Any and all suggestions are appreciated... 

Train wreck!

Felt like it was our duty to introduce the kiwis to the phenomenon that is the Jager Bomb, unfortunately or I guess fortunately depending on which way you look at it, the delicious beverage already exists over here. But the kiwis have adopted a much more fitting name, one that I believe my Georgia crew should embrace and spread - Train Wrecks! Well train wrecks were definitely drank last night and they lead to eventual demise of my partner in crime who ended the evening by breaking a glass in our go to bar of the night and passing out in the bathroom in his skibees! It was a good first day in New Zealand...

NZ is upon us!

I achieved 2 life goals today, almost simultaneously. Crossed over the internation date line and the equator. Kind of crazy...We arrived in Auckland this morning at about 7am local time and have been setting ourselves up for Kiwi life ever since(bank accounts, cell phones, ect.). Should I feel different now that I am officially living in another country? B/c I pretty much feel exactly the same. In the words of the great Nicholas Chonko, "Everything is surreal." Nothing too nutty to report yet, although we are about to go enjoy our first New Zealand cocktail, so the stories should start getting ridiculous soon...

Man and beast as one...

Location: 3621 Westwood Av.
Los Angeles, CA.
Some where in between 2 and 3 am...
The hilarity that surrounds this picture is indescribable with words!

Been in LA since Thursday and it has been a hell of a time so far. I haven't thought about New Zealand at all. The whole trip still seems surreal. We have bypassed the line and the cover charge with a hand shake at every party or club we have been to. Beth Meyer has been hooking it up with the 'in' crowd! The post X-games party on Friday has probably been the highlight so far. I can't ever complain about a open liquor bar and a plush high class party environment! The beach has been our haven during the day. We rocked Manhatten/Hermosa yesterday for my LA crew from last year-those areas never seem to let me down. My next post will probably be in the land of the kiwis!