Our Mission and Addiction

While we were doing the bat thing in Tokoroa, Matt checked out a book from the library called Wrecked on a Reef. It was a true account of a shipwrecked crew on New Zealand’s tiny subantarctic Auckland Islands (S 50°48'30.04", E 166° 5'25.11") in 1865. The book was originally printed in 1866 and was reprinted in 2000. Matt decided right away that this book would be a perfect gift for someone he knows (sorry, we can’t tell you who in case you’re reading the blog). Ever since then we’ve been trying to find a copy of this book that we can afford. We’ve asked in every used bookstore we’ve visited in the past two months. It’s online, but unfortunately the only copies there are out of our price range. So, we’re on a mission to search every used bookstore, op-shop, Sallies (Salvation Army), antique store, and junk shop we pass.

Now Matt and I both like to read, and we like to have books. As a result of searching row after row of books, we find others we’d like to read. I find nerdy natural history books (most of which are too expensive) and Matt finds lots of fiction. Our small library of books no longer fits in its designated box. I think Matt has enough books to last him until the end of our trip. I was really hoping that Matt would part with some of his books after reading them, but he seems only to be acquiring books that he intends to bring back to the U.S. and keep forever. Books are our addiction.

By the way, we’re back online after a week tramping and canoeing in the bush. In the past week we've slid down waterfalls, canoed a river, hiked across volcanoes, and eaten lots of granola bars. Expect more tales and pictures of our adventures to follow shortly!

Carrie