Day 25: Rest Day in Auckland

November 4th, 2019

Kilometer: 580.6-580.6

Auckland CBD Hostel

Alex and I were both up super early this morning. Our bodies are on our hiking clock so sleeping in beyond seven wasn’t much of an option. Luckily, it’s Sunday back in the US, which means it’s football day. We were both able to stream NFL Redzone on our phones and spent the first part of our morning doing so. 

Around 9, we went to the Federal Delicatessen, a breakfast spot we went to when we arrived in Auckland over three weeks ago. We sat at the same table and ordered almost exactly the same things. The food was just as good as it was the first time and we left happy.

From there, we went and got our bounce box from the Post Office. Unfortunately for Alex, the toe socks, which his mom had tried to send him, hadn’t arrived. For some reason, there is a disconnect between the US Postal Service and the New Zealand Postal Service and it takes packages a really long time to arrive if they do at all. 

After getting our box, we got some snacks and headed back to the hostel. We proceeded to unpack and watch the NFL games until they were over.

At around 3, I decided to go to the movies and see Joker, which I have been dying to see since it came out. Alex went and got a haircut and ran a few other errands. 

When I got home, Charlie had whipped up a new cocktail which had cranberry juice, mashed raspberries, lemon juice, basil, and vodka. It was really delicious and we had a few of them before deciding to go to dinner. 

Alex and I went to the BBQ Duck Cafe for some good Chinese food and had some pomegranate soju with our meal. Afterwards, we went back and had another drink with our bunk mates before going out for a night on the town. 

We were struggling to find any fun bars on a Monday night but eventually, Charlie struck up a conversation with a police officer and they told us of an Irish pub that we should go to. 

When we walked in, the band was playing “Sweet Home Alabama” and we knew we had found a good spot. We had a few drinks and I decided around 12:30 that I was ready to go home. The others arrived back at the hostel a little after 3am.

Today was a much needed day off. My feet definitely feel better than they did yesterday and I am hoping they feel even better after another day off tomorrow. 

-Ethan