The Oz folks were up and out early, waking me up. I slept in, but happened to get up in time for a guided canoe trip down the river. It seemed like a good idea, to get to see the countryside, but was quite expensive at AU$35. It was OK, but there wasn't much to see, even though it lasted two hours. The most interesting sight was the bull. I don't know if it was a "special" bull, but the guide described it as the five-legged bull.

That night another Oz bus came. This time I talked to an English bloke in my room, and we went to the pub for some beers before dinner. I ended up talking to a couple of local Ausies who work in the sawmill, which proved interesting. Then for dinner I sat at the table with the Oz people, and met a Canadian couple and a woman who I thought was French but was actually French Canadian. I also met Triffen, named after a character from a sci-fi novel, an American woman from Oregon (apparently pronounced Ore-gun) studying in Auckland, but working here for awhile. We all played Asshole (not Shithead, which is more complicated), normally a drinking game but I didn't have any beer, and I was President for eight consecutive games. That's the luckiest I've ever been at cards. Then Triffen and I went to the pub until it closed at 12 (what's up with that?), then talked at the hostel until people trying to sleep kept telling us to be quiet.

I don't think I've mentioned bedbugs, but they've been an ongoing problem for me. First Melbourne, then Cairns, then the sailboat, from which I have scars. Last night something ate me alive, and I have huge, swollen red bites everywhere: between my fingers, on my arms, face, neck, sides, legs. My back is especially bad; half of it is covered with bites. I look like I have some kind of skin disease. Worst of all is my whole body itches. I applied DEET cream before bed, but I fear the damage is done.