Well I have made it to Picton so am back on the South Island. My last blog update I was heading to Wellington and my journey was pretty uneventful except for some very strong gusts of wind, which should have been a sign of things to come. I made it in to Wellington and drove round for ages trying to find the youth hostel, which, once located was full. I than drove around some more looking for alternative, as parking anywhere in the vague proximity of the information office was proving impossible.
After an hour of getting no where fast, although I was getting a good feel of this very windy city and the lack of parking and I decided to stop at the first hotel I saw. Hang the expense. So I stayed the night at the Duxton Hotel (they had a special on but it still was well beyond my usual budget level) where they had valet parking (bless them). As it was so hideous out (I almost got taken out by a metal chair from a cafe that decided to fly at me down the pavement) I made the most of my room (well given the fact I couldn't really afford it, would have been rude not to) so I had a decadent evening with my own bathroom (man I was enjoying that bath until housekeeping starting pounding on my door about turning my sheets down, I explained that I was in the bath and could turn my own sheets down later, it really wouldn't be a problem) and my own TV (oh yes, lots of TV wonderfulness for me to watch). I even went mad and ordered some room service. Lovely. Later when I looked out my window the weather had melted down even further, with some really quite spectacular horizontal rain action going on. But just cos I was getting the ferry the next morning, I refused to be worried.
Anyway, my radio alarm in the room went off at 7am and the news was on. Turns out that after facing 10m high waves the night before, people had been injured on the interslander ferry by some flying furniture (various cracked ribs and broken arms) and a lot of the cars had been totalled (they shifted in transit so the proud owner of a Porsche discovered when they docked that a truck had landed on top of it - nice!). As you can imagine it was chaos and the outlook was not good for the ferry going that day.
I however refused to be defeated (mainly because I didn't have a clue what else to do) but checked out, picked up my car for our final journey together and headed to the ferry where I was to drop the car off (turns out I just had to park it in a certain section of the car pack and drop the keys in a box, which is worrying as I hope that they don't invent damage to the car without me there... oh well I have to have some faith in human nature, despite all my years living in London, right?).
I went in to the departures area where there were people how had turned up for the ferry the night before (last one didn't go out) and people who were due to go on the 8.30am crossing (I was booked on the 10.35am crossing). All our crossings were officially cancelled but the lovely people at Interislander had got their biggest ferry (therefore safest to go over in gale force winds and by this point more subdued 5-6m high waves) and we were all getting on it (the joy of being a foot passenger). We boared at 10am. We actually left at gone 2pm, so it has been a very long day.
It was good though, as there was a definite camaraderie on board, mainly I think because people were so relieved to be heading off at all, plus there was the impending threat of sea sickness. Following advice from one of the crew I sat in the bar area near the back of the boat. I was soon surrounded by a really nice bunch of people. A lovely couple from Palmerston North fed me ginger as that is supposed to prevent sea sickness. I had a great chat with a guy that had come down from Auckland and had been waiting to leave since the night before. A group of people from the Ulysses bikers group made me laugh through the roughest parts of the journey, while in the calm final hour in to Picton, once we were out of open seas and in the sounds I had a nice chat with a chap, recovering from sea sickness who was en route to Dunedin to see his 3 month old son. It was great and I wasn't sick once, which my mum will attest to being unusual, as I normally get travel sick looking at a boat. It was actually really good fun and great to chat to such a lovely mix of people. We were a bit concerned when we saw a bit of the ship fly off during the journey (it looked like a railing - when the crew were told about it they looked concerned and asked if anyone had been attached to it at the time, fortunately we hadn't seen anyone go in with it!). It would have been hard for anyone to get swept overboard though since the sun deck was closed as it just wasn't safe to be out there.
I picked up my new car (a Nissan pulsar that feels like a toy after my lovely peugeot and which for some reason has a child seat in it, I didn't ask why as it may come in handy if I decide to pick up any under 3 yr old hitch hikers) and can now sympathise with Andy H as my indicators are on the other side of the wheel, so now it is me putting on my windscreen wipers every time that I want to turn a corner... oopsie.
I am at a hostel that seems nice called Sequoia lodge, and will be here for a couple of nights, as there are supposed to be some really nice walks and kayaking trips around here that I want to investigate tomorrow after a good nights sleep.
Anyway I have precisely 1 1/2 minutes left before my money runs out, so I had better upload this.
Love to all
Saturday, March 04, 2006
Thursday, March 02, 2006
Beating the clock on a slow computer
Well hello to all from Wanganui (or Whanganui depending on who wins the argument about putting the 'h' back in to make it proper Maori spelling). I am in a backpackers with 11 mins left on my internet time, so apologies if there are even more typos and spelling mistakes than usual.
OK well when I left off I had just arrived in Raglan where I was spending 2 nights. I had a lovely time there although it was a tad windy and overcast a lot of the time. My first evening, after walks along the nearby beaches and a spot of window shopping I headed back to probably the best hostel I have stayed in so far (well it is definitely up there with Watson's Way in Renwick) where I was sharing a room with 4 other people. The atmosphere was relaxed and they had a cat, which most of you know will make me very happy.
I had a lovely meal with Siobhan from Northern Ireland (working as a doctor in Hamilton) and a Canadian couple who were leaving the next morning. It was really very mellow, nice conversation, good food and another early night as I just can't seem to keep my eyes open once it gets back 10pm (probably all the internalised trauma I am feeling from all those very bendy roads and aggressive Kiwi drivers).
Through the backpackers I was booked on to a horseriding trip the next day at 11am. Another girl called Niki at the hostel wanted to go too, so I was the chauffeur (strange feeling for me) and drove us out there. That over simplifies a very stressful journey involving us missing the turning, long very windy narrow gravel roads and trying to drive with fingers crossed that another car doesn't come from the other direction (which of course they did, which led to manoeuvres to the edge of drops and lot of very cheerful thumbs up). We finally made it to the horse place 40 minutes late due to our inadvertant detour and bless them they had waited for us (they had called the backpackers so knew that we were on our way and didn't want us to miss out as they say people are alwaays getting lost trying to find them). I was introduced to my horse, Jack and we headed off.
The countryside was amazing. Jack wasn't really in a hurry so I got to enjoy the views from the back of the group. We went over mountains, through forests and eventually down to the beach, where, as we all had riding experience we actually got to give the horses a good run along the sand. Turns out that Jack loves to run (although he was good and didn't belt off as fast as the others, as I haven't ridden properly ages). There was a rather unfortunate incident in which Jack tried to avoid an incoming wave, stumbled and I had a choice, hang on or swim. I went for a dip. It was quite refreshing and definitely confused Jack how stopped, turned around and looked at me reproachfully. Wayne, the guy who owns the horse place came riding over but it was clear that while I was soggy, I was fine (well I had the giggles). What can I say, I have fallen off before and will no doubt fall off again. Why I still had a stirrup was a bit of a mystery to me, but hey it added to the adventure.
After that we headed for home (FYI we were always going to, not because of my minor mishap - and anyone who reads this knows that I am the queen of minor mishaps) back through the mountains and forests. It was lovely and Jack was definitely livelier knowing that he was heading back for some food and a shower (trust me I witnessed it, that horse loves a good shower).
It was a great 3 hour round trip and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be trying to get some more horse riding trips booked in on my travels. It is good for the soul! Although my legs are black and blue after it, but that is only to be expected.
That evening I had some pasta back at the backpackers, supped on some red wine and watched some of my hostel mates playing a marathon game of surfer monopoly (don't ask!). I am reading a great book at the moment (Carter beast the devil - b'day pressie from Esteban and I love it, everyone read it) so I was a bit distracted, although I did join in with the finer rules of "Cheat" once the monopoly game was over.
The next day I headed to New Plymouth, once again having to face those nasty windy roads. It was another white knuckle ride but I made it through and headed off on the slightly less windy main road to New Plymouth. It was a nice journey down punctuated by the odd coffee break (I am addicted to flat whites).
I booked myself in to the Shoestring backpackers there which is another gem (yes they also have a cat, I can't help it I'm a sucker for felines). I had a quiet night in watching a bit of TV and listening to music. The next day I walked the Coastal pathway that runs in front of New Plymouth for 7km (of course stopping for a coffee and fritata for lunch en route). I had a good wander round New Plymouth but I wasn't up for any of the hikes in to Egmont National park as my feet still haven't fully recovered from the Tongariro Crossing, which was a shame as there are supposed to be some really good day walks there. But I have another 4 months to go and don't want to completely cripple myself too early.
That leads me up to this morning when I drove to Wanganui, another nice drive with some good coffee drunk along the way. I got in at 1pm and headed straight to Tamara's backpackers (nice place, shame about the slow computer) and found out that the only working paddle boat in New Zealand, the Waimarie, was going for an afternoon trip up the Whanganui river at 2pm. So I booked myself straight on and settled in for a very mellow afternoon of reading, taking photos of the scenery and eating a scone with raspberry jam and ginger beer (very Enid Blyton moment out here in NZ).
Tomorrow I head to Wellington for a night there before getting the ferry to South Island in the morning (after saying goodbye to my trusty Peugeot as I pick up a new car in Picton from a different rental company, but good news is that it is cheaper and I have 0 excess, so can be less paranoid about all the flying, scratchy gravel and loonie drivers).
Well that brings me up to date. I now need to check to see if my washing has finished yet, so I can transfer it to the dryer. Not sure if my riding clothes were salvageable but I live in hope.
Love to all
OK well when I left off I had just arrived in Raglan where I was spending 2 nights. I had a lovely time there although it was a tad windy and overcast a lot of the time. My first evening, after walks along the nearby beaches and a spot of window shopping I headed back to probably the best hostel I have stayed in so far (well it is definitely up there with Watson's Way in Renwick) where I was sharing a room with 4 other people. The atmosphere was relaxed and they had a cat, which most of you know will make me very happy.
I had a lovely meal with Siobhan from Northern Ireland (working as a doctor in Hamilton) and a Canadian couple who were leaving the next morning. It was really very mellow, nice conversation, good food and another early night as I just can't seem to keep my eyes open once it gets back 10pm (probably all the internalised trauma I am feeling from all those very bendy roads and aggressive Kiwi drivers).
Through the backpackers I was booked on to a horseriding trip the next day at 11am. Another girl called Niki at the hostel wanted to go too, so I was the chauffeur (strange feeling for me) and drove us out there. That over simplifies a very stressful journey involving us missing the turning, long very windy narrow gravel roads and trying to drive with fingers crossed that another car doesn't come from the other direction (which of course they did, which led to manoeuvres to the edge of drops and lot of very cheerful thumbs up). We finally made it to the horse place 40 minutes late due to our inadvertant detour and bless them they had waited for us (they had called the backpackers so knew that we were on our way and didn't want us to miss out as they say people are alwaays getting lost trying to find them). I was introduced to my horse, Jack and we headed off.
The countryside was amazing. Jack wasn't really in a hurry so I got to enjoy the views from the back of the group. We went over mountains, through forests and eventually down to the beach, where, as we all had riding experience we actually got to give the horses a good run along the sand. Turns out that Jack loves to run (although he was good and didn't belt off as fast as the others, as I haven't ridden properly ages). There was a rather unfortunate incident in which Jack tried to avoid an incoming wave, stumbled and I had a choice, hang on or swim. I went for a dip. It was quite refreshing and definitely confused Jack how stopped, turned around and looked at me reproachfully. Wayne, the guy who owns the horse place came riding over but it was clear that while I was soggy, I was fine (well I had the giggles). What can I say, I have fallen off before and will no doubt fall off again. Why I still had a stirrup was a bit of a mystery to me, but hey it added to the adventure.
After that we headed for home (FYI we were always going to, not because of my minor mishap - and anyone who reads this knows that I am the queen of minor mishaps) back through the mountains and forests. It was lovely and Jack was definitely livelier knowing that he was heading back for some food and a shower (trust me I witnessed it, that horse loves a good shower).
It was a great 3 hour round trip and I really enjoyed it. I will definitely be trying to get some more horse riding trips booked in on my travels. It is good for the soul! Although my legs are black and blue after it, but that is only to be expected.
That evening I had some pasta back at the backpackers, supped on some red wine and watched some of my hostel mates playing a marathon game of surfer monopoly (don't ask!). I am reading a great book at the moment (Carter beast the devil - b'day pressie from Esteban and I love it, everyone read it) so I was a bit distracted, although I did join in with the finer rules of "Cheat" once the monopoly game was over.
The next day I headed to New Plymouth, once again having to face those nasty windy roads. It was another white knuckle ride but I made it through and headed off on the slightly less windy main road to New Plymouth. It was a nice journey down punctuated by the odd coffee break (I am addicted to flat whites).
I booked myself in to the Shoestring backpackers there which is another gem (yes they also have a cat, I can't help it I'm a sucker for felines). I had a quiet night in watching a bit of TV and listening to music. The next day I walked the Coastal pathway that runs in front of New Plymouth for 7km (of course stopping for a coffee and fritata for lunch en route). I had a good wander round New Plymouth but I wasn't up for any of the hikes in to Egmont National park as my feet still haven't fully recovered from the Tongariro Crossing, which was a shame as there are supposed to be some really good day walks there. But I have another 4 months to go and don't want to completely cripple myself too early.
That leads me up to this morning when I drove to Wanganui, another nice drive with some good coffee drunk along the way. I got in at 1pm and headed straight to Tamara's backpackers (nice place, shame about the slow computer) and found out that the only working paddle boat in New Zealand, the Waimarie, was going for an afternoon trip up the Whanganui river at 2pm. So I booked myself straight on and settled in for a very mellow afternoon of reading, taking photos of the scenery and eating a scone with raspberry jam and ginger beer (very Enid Blyton moment out here in NZ).
Tomorrow I head to Wellington for a night there before getting the ferry to South Island in the morning (after saying goodbye to my trusty Peugeot as I pick up a new car in Picton from a different rental company, but good news is that it is cheaper and I have 0 excess, so can be less paranoid about all the flying, scratchy gravel and loonie drivers).
Well that brings me up to date. I now need to check to see if my washing has finished yet, so I can transfer it to the dryer. Not sure if my riding clothes were salvageable but I live in hope.
Love to all
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