Nikon CoolPix bounces over 4 feet

A Nikon CoolPix camera, when dropped from a moving motorcycle at only 30mph, will bounce over 4 feet on the first bounce, whereupon the battery will eject itself and fly in the opposite direction. Fact.

Which was annoying. More so because I could not capture some of the scenery I saw yesterday, which was the only redeeming highlight of a thoroughly frustrating day.

I slept badly. The dorm in the hostel was next to a noisy social area, with mostly loud Americans til about 1am. Then there was a trickle of people coming in til 3am. Noisy door handle. Then a trickle of people up from 6am. Noisy door handl. Creaky bunks. The acrobat beneath me was obviously practising for some international event. And he snored like a nail gun.

So I started the day with a fuzzy head and heavy eyelids. The night before I bought cereal and milk for breakfast over the next few days. So I prepared myself a healthy muesli breakfast with sliced banana. I sat, took one mouthful and promptly proceeded to fling it from the tabletop to the carpet. So, after my second breakfast, I departed to return my mp3 player to the store because it was only 2 days old and faulty. They replaced it, I went 20kms up the coast and stopped to take a picture. The mp3 player suddenly packed up again. After fiddling with it for a few minutes, in my annoyance, I turned the bike round to zoom back. I had forgotten the camera was balanced on the tankbag. It was out of sight below my visor view. I felt a thud on my leg as it slipped off. Bugger. I gathered the remains and headed back into town. Damn. And I also left the breakfast ingredients at the hostel.


The last picture before the bounce.

After a new mp3 player and a McDonald's coffee, I was ready to start the day, 3 hours after I started it before. Then the rain came. I set out anyway, it got wetter and the wind from the coast got more angry. I saw some amazing views through the hills of the Mohaka Forest and took some gravel roads out into the Mahia Peninsula. It was ferociously windy, but still manageable. The new tyres make a huge difference on the gravel, giving me extra grip and confidence, even though I am loaded up with boxes. It was amazing to be out in this wilderness, but I had wet feet again. I had had enough. So I headed to Gisborne and the Flying Nun Hostel. It seemed to be an ex-convent. I got a single room (no noisy handles, beds or Americans) and a gas heater to dry my leathers. Sweet. Through my window I could see over to the herb garden with a white marble statue of Mary. I'm sure she turned her head and winked at me...

The bike is in for an oil change at Gisborne Honda right now, where the manager, originally from Devon, was very accomodating and booked me straight in for immediate attention. Also, they have a part number for the blasted cog. I can order it and it will be here by 18th Oct. Interesting how the guy in Wellington said I had to buy the whole unit.

So let's hope today is better. Heading to Te Puke (teh puh-kee) to visit an uncle of Karen from Woodlands in Bristol. Maybe then I can seal my boots, buy a new camera and get a decent breakfast.