When I wake up in the morning it’s still early, but it’s getting light and there is a blue sky. Everything looks a lot better than last night. I actually see how beautiful the area is where I am now and feel a lot better than yesterday. It’s nice how things can look so different in a bright morning than in a dark rainy night.

I enjoy a nice shower and make myself breakfast. Out of curiosity I google if there is a Starbucks somewhere and it happens that there is one in the next town, about 1,5 hours driving. I put on some music from my favourite movie (Elizabethtown) and drive slower than I usually do. I enjoy the scenery and am happy to be on the road again. The mountains are higher here and are covered by pine trees. It makes me think of Colorado and gives me a home feeling. Then I realize that that’s the main difference between my journeys in the United Stated and here in New Zealand. In America I feel like home and this is all uncommon ground and therefore a different adventure.

During the beautiful drive I see mountains covered with snow in the far distance for the first time and think about how beautiful this part of the trip will be. After about 1,5 hours I arrive in a small city called Nelson. The streets look very beautiful and cozy and there are many stores. Then I see what I came for: the local Starbucks. I walk inside and they’re playing nice old jazz music, Frank Sinatra and so and I’m happy to have coffee and wifi. I’ll stay here for a while to catch up with e-mail and some work.

I end up working for a couple of hours and then go shopping for a warm vest, because I expect it to get colder in the mountains. I find a nice outdoor store with awesome clothes for the cold. A friend back home had recommended me to get a shirt of Marino Wool and I try one here. They’re super comfortable and really warm.

I’m happy with some warm clothes and drive to a free camping place not far from Nelson. I pick up a pizza on my way there, dinner for five bucks is always nice. Again I sleep somewhere in the middle of nature, lovely.