moving on

Last day of apple thinning was today. Didn't work a full day due to a massive rain shower. It's been raining off and on most of this week. My shoes have been wet for three days straight now, possibly longer as the days have started to run together. My mantra, as always, is "it's not snow".

We get paid by the tree and the price is set according to how much work is involved. Some of the trees are larger or smaller and they vary in the number of apples that have to be taken off. Got paid for last week's work. I won't depress you with the amount. Let's just say that slow and steady may win the race, but it doesn't make minimum wage (which in NZ is $10/hr).

I'm leaving Hastings tomorrow morning and going by bus to Kerikeri, which is in the north part of the north island. That's where I'll spend Christmas and New Year's and probably the next six weeks. It's another HelpX placement at a luxury lodge. 4-6 hours a day in exchange for room and board. I will be helping with breakfast and making up the rooms (there are only 3 of them so it won't be that bad). Any extra hours I do will be paid in cash and the owner is going to try to arrange waitressing work at the nearby restaurant. I've had a good time in Hastings. Living in the hostel isn't too bad and I've met some interesting people. I'm just really bad at apple thinning so it is time to cut my losses and move on to something else. The Bay of Islands area is supposed to be beautiful. There's some great scuba diving and places where you can swim with dolphins. It should also be warmer.