Sulphur city

Hanging out by the mud pool

Rotorua

We've had a great stay in Rotorua. Nice to have two days without riding and a nice place to stay with Byrdie. Yesterday we went white water rafting and our canoe flipped on a 7m waterfall. I ended up underneath the boat. No photos obviously. This morning we walked among the giant redwoods in the forest next to the house.

All mine?

Puk's birthday dinner

Rotorua

A long ride. 87km with some big climbs. Turns out Maria and Yancy hitchhiked part of the way. And yesterday! I was so disappointed. Not just for me, but for the children. Who read the blog and look up to them.

But seriously I couldn't have wished for three nicer people to be travelling with. They are all really marvellous and always in good spirits.

Cambridge couchsurf

With Liz, our host in Cambridge. Everywhere we go becomes an Internet cafe. Planning the next few days.

Cambridge show

Played at a BBQ.

Mark

Our host in Raglan, in his studio.

Burgers

Maria made burgers for breakfast.

Raglan beach

Cooling down after a long ride.

Puk

He's a real trouper. Broke his leg in May last year and has a lot of metal in it which heats up in the sun and cooks his leg. Gives us a laugh though!

Erin and David

Our hosts in Glenn Massey. They had a wonderful place in a hippie village and really looked after us, even driving up to Raglin for the next night's show. Lovely people

Bruce brings a new bike

Chilling in the hills

Raglin

All is well on the road. Wifi is scarce in New Zealand. Just about to head off for another long day on the bike.

7 hours in the saddle

We've arrived in Glen Massey up the mountain from Hamilton. It was a
long day in the saddle today. Left at 8.30am and arrived at 5pm. 75km.
15km average. Lots of incidents. Maria got lost at the start, a wrong
turning, and it took half an hour to find her. Puk got lost at the
end, rode past the house. Two punctures inbetween. And Puk's bikes has
gear trouble. A slog! But arriving at the house for tonight has made
it all worthwhile. It's a beautiful place up in the mountains! I'd
post photos but there's no wifi. Looks like I'll play a show in the
garden. Just like you imagine the NZ countryside to be.

The team

CS meetup Auckland

I played at the weekly Couchsurfing meetup. Packed. Must have been 60 people. All super-friendly. I played 'Liberate Lybia' and had a big singalong. I must write a CSing song for such occasions.

In the bike shop

Final preparations for the off tomorrow. They've been so many heavy showers, I decided to get mudguards fitted. I left mine in England because I thought it would be dry here.

Dumpster diving

Picked up a ton of day old bread with Claire for an event tomorrow

Protest

It was very peaceful but unfortunately turned nasty at the end when the police tried to arrest the two guys on the roof, causing an unnecessary panic.

Earthquake

Terrible to hear about the earthquake in Christchurch. We didn't feel anything here in Auckland. I will be there in three weeks. It looks serious.

Introducing...

Yancy and Maria. My new companions for the road. Today we're surfing for bikes for them. Puk, the third member, arrives tomorrow.

Day two in New Zealand

Or is it Day 3? It's still a blur. It's a great place, and I haven't even seen much of it. Some things I didn't know: a lot of people go around barefooted, a funny sight to see in the supermarket. Also the timezone is ahead of the rest of the world. We're almost finished Sunday before Europe starts it. So everything's that little bit more advanced, as my friend Nick would say. I emt up with the first of the riders who's going to be accompanying me. Maria from Italy. She's nervous about getting a bike and the cycling. The other two arrive in the coming days. I'm really looking forward to the company. Apart from that it's a lot of computer time writing to hosts along the way now.

Heading down to the beach

With my friends Nick and Pilar who I stayed with only a few months ago in Seville.

Killing the children with food

Auckland

Arrived safe and sound. The bike survived the trip unscathed. Cycled from the airport to my friend's house in Auckland through miles of suburbia. It's wonderful to suddenly be in the summer. Quite surreal.

Kuala Lumpa

I'm in Asia! My first time. Right on the equator. Kuala Lumpa. An airport though, which are the same the world over. It's 50km out of town so I didn't venture in, even though I have 12 hours between planes. I was just too tired so I slept in the terminal hotel. It's 6pm local time and I'm just going for breakfast. I did poke my head outside and it was 32 degrees and there was a thunderstorm coming down. I'll just stay in the Starbucks.

Songs for a cause

Do you think a song could help your cause? If you know a charity or worthwhile organisation or an issue that needs awareness raised about it, send me a brief explaining what you'd like the song to say and I will see what I can do.

Two bags

Thankfully it's summer over there so I can get away with less, but it's still two bags which pains me.

Preparing for New Zealand

Extra underwear not pictured (I was wearing them to take the photo).

Dusty Stray and the Woodwards

I see my friends Jonathan, Jesje and Peter play in Amsterdam last night. Wonderful writers and performers, I recommend you check them out.

Shop keeper

Sitting in my shop in Amsterdam for the last two weeks. There's still some great women's clothes from Paris if that's your style. Or just drop by to say hello. Vijzelstraat 67.

Planning down under

I've had quite a few people interested in cycling with me in OZ and NZ. Two almost definites, so looks like I'll have some company which is great news. Some of the shows are quite small - and this is actually a ploy to have a guaranteed audience. I have some interesting house shows lined up for NZ, in out of the way places. One on a farm, another at a music studio by the sea.

Do you want to come on tour with me?

The next phase of the never-ending tour is New Zealand and Australia. I'm cycling and would like some companions. If you're stuck for a holiday idea and want to join for a couple of weeks, it would certainly be a memorable trip. It's summer there you know.

It's couchsurfing all the way, so there are no accommodation costs and no limit to the number of people who can come along. Just your flight if you're not already there, and your bicycle if you don't have one. Daily distances are 100km max, then a rest day, so it should be manageable if you're in moderate shape, and if you're not you soon will be.

I do a great Forest Gump impression and can keep it up continuously for days on end "touring was like a box of chocolates" (it will be hilarious), I'll even grow the beard back, and if we can get a gang going along it will be a cavalcade of fun. If you're a musician or a performer you can join in or just tag along for the ride.

New Zealand: 16th February - 16th March = Auckland to Christchurch
Australia: 17th March - 17th June = Melbourne to Brisbane

I don't have the exact dates, or venues yet. My Australian booker, the wonderful Veronica Lake is putting the finishing touches to it, so I'll send them nearer the time. We're still open for couch concerts, if you know a friend who would like a show in their living room then please suggest it.

Suits sold

That was a fast sale. The last suit has gone, which means the price was too low. I'd lost faith in them really, only to regain it when it was too late. But they went to good homes, fans of my music so I'm a happy man. It might be tempting to make them again cheaper if I see some cheap factory in Asia, but I think I've learnt my lesson and will leave business to the businessmen. I've heard the design has already been ripped off in London, so maybe they'll be in H&M one day then everyone can have one.

Closing down the shop... final suit sale!

So.... I've reopened my shop in Amsterdam to close it down. Make any sense? (It was rented out to other people while I was touring for the last 18 months, and now I'm touring for good, so I have to get rid of the last suits)

I have 28 of my zip-suits left. Just measure yourself or tell me your size. They were priced at €500 but now they're going for €50 (plus P+P). 90% off!!! I know! I'm practically giving them away. But these are the last ones I have and I want to be finished with the fashion business. A lot of people have said that they'd like one, so it's now or never folks! Read more about them at www.jackstaffordcollection.com

There is also some women's clothing from Eleene in Paris http://eleene.over.blog.com

- But you'll have to come to the shop to see them. Vijzelstraat 67, Amsterdam

Flash mob music video

Does anyone want to be in a music video on Saturday? If you're in Amsterdam bring your laptop to de Balie on Leidseplein at 11.30am. It's for a song 'Wifi?' about trying to get online. I'll sing at 12 noon and then everyone starts dancing at the end with their laptop, while people look surprised. If you haven't heard of a flash mob before, it's when people assemble in a public place at a specified time and perform a pointless act. There are lots of good examples on youtube. But it'll only work if there's lots of people.

Crash

A very upsetting day...
http://m.eadt24.co.uk/;s=Bmi_zeVNa8EiOkaMAKZiA25/content/eadt/news/story.aspx?id=1.765775
- My dad was just behind the three as they went down and just missed
them. I was in the other group that rode the shorter distance. It's
very unusual for people to get hurt that badly. A freak accident.
Paramedics were an hour on the road treating them before the air
ambulance came. Peter, the most seriously hurt, is still in a coma.

Any creative ideas?

I have over 1000 CD singles left over from my first two albums,
because back in the day radio insisted on physical copies for airplay
(many still do, the fools). What should I do with them?