It has been so cold, I'd completely forgotten that the longest day in the southern hemiphere is already here.
It's nearly time to go home.I have been busy showing Susan and Choo around for the last 2 weeks. We have at last reached our last watering hole and I have some time to do some serious blogging.
My NZ sojourn this year began auspiciously with fine weather greeting me in Paihia as I arrived. The next day was also beautiful for walks towards Opua and to Waitangi. An informal party for timesharers completed the day.
Then it happened...it started to pour and never stopped till I left town. I valiantly went on the sailboat R Turner Thompson and stood drenched the whole day on deck. Kudos to Timberland's rain jacket for keeping me (top half only) warm and dry. The cook did wonders in preparing a tasty curry chicken salad in cramped quarters below deck. Would you believe, there were 16 bunks available, if one wanted to stay overnight! The crew were marvellous and kept up their good humor. Still, it was a good day for the sails in the strong winds.
I had signed up for a tour to Cape Reinga the next day. What a disappointment! The lighthouse was not to be seen, and neither the Pacific nor the Tasman sea! Rock (I think) music blasted away during the whole trip.
I managed to have an enjoyable outing to Kerikeri on my last day there. Definitely more shops to dip in and out of to stay our of the rain. Lunch at Nosh was delectable.
The last insult: all flights out of Kerikeri were cancelled the morning I was to leave. I felt greatly reassured by Air New Zealand staff who seemed to treat this as no big deal. Some were sent to the Whangarei airport by coach, and I was with the group being coached up to Kaitaia. We were met with warm dry weather and a cheerful commiserating staff...wonderful.I was only slightly delayed for my rendezvous with Susan and Choo in Nelson. Struck up a conversation with a young guy who had been to Auckland overnight to celebrate a friend's 21st birthday. He works in Nelson, and kindly gave me a ride down town.
After a night in a spacious, though out-moded motel room in Nelson, the three of us took a bus to Marahau with a cheerful driver who delighted in giving us misinformation. Fortunately Susan and I knew about pinches of salt.
Old Macdonald's farm...! Yes it was. But the Studio that we stayed in turned out to be a Villa with a LARGE jacuzzi bath and surrounded by glass walls. Choo had her reservations, but later was the one who revelled most in the bath. I took quick showers in the dark!
Our outing in the Abel Tasman Track began in pouring rain...again! Thank God that as soon as we started our trek, the rain stopped and we set off from Tonga Bay to Bark Bay, where we had lunch and the sandflies had their lunch on our legs and arms. 90 mins after lunch we reached Torrent Bay where we put on more repellent and basked in the sunshine..,
The highlight of our stay in Abel Tasman Park was the sighting of a pod of 4 dolphins while returning in our water taxi. Our driver stayed out on the water for an extra 30mins while the delightful creatures frolicked around us.
In Picton, we stayed at the newly-renovated Beachcomber Inn, with nice views of the marina from our balcony. Our guide to the Queens Charlotte Track was Greg. He quickly found out that our old legs were rather creaky and aborted the first leg of the track. We walked on Matarua Island among large tame birds. Then on to Ship's Cove where James Cook spent much time. Resolution Bay was the start of our walk for the day. I was so glad that Greg made the right decision. It was a very pleasant walk and the weather was cool and dry. We celebrated the day's acheivement with a cold drink at Fourneaux's Lodge. I will be back...We took the train to Christchurch...Bad idea. The train had an accident just that morning with a woman who ran over the tracks. It was 2 hours late in arriving in Christchurch. Had to sms Ambrose several times, but he insisted on waiting for me to eat "mee Sua" together with him.
Unfortunately, it was I (again) who brought the cold weather to CHC! Ambrose and Doreen reminded me about my visit last year. Well.. all I could say in defence was that it was warmer (at 14C) this year!
On to Queenstown...all of us were blown away by the view from the windows of the Ridge Resort. I hadn't been here for 3 years and I sure missed something. For the past few days we have been driving out of town to Arrowtown, Glenorchy
and Wanaka for walks. Everyday started out being freezingly cold but ended up burning hot. Then at dinner time we watched the wind howling outside our windows.Tomorrow we are going by coach to Te Anau. I'm too chicken to drive there and back alone.
Today we had a lovely walk on the Waterfall Track in Sunshine Bay.
Susan and Choo are leaving on Sunday while I look forward to Christmas Eve Service in St Stephen's Cathedral in Auckland, followed by Christmas Day on SQ 286.
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