Feb 6-7
Hi All,
Yes, we have named the woman on Goggle Maps…..GG….sounds like Gigi….you pick, either Goggle Girl or Gigi from the movie starring Leslie Caron….it was our good friends Adam and Cindi on sv Bravo that gave us the thought!!!! So, by using GG we have successfully made it from Napier to Wellington and the marine scenic drive with no wrong turns. GG is now our best friend and Kathy is her Master:))))
A little tense on the way: Hmmmm……driving in NZ is a bit different….first, the highways are more like country roads at times…..very narrow, shoulders….hmmmm, what shoulders, some one lane bridges and the other cars like to play chicken…..joy, and we found out quickly, there are no “petrol” stations for 150km (90 miles) from out of Napier….it’s like you go from city to rural in 2 blocks and that’s it. We luckily found a station at a general store in OngaOnga….love the name…..the lady just knowingly smiled as we said we were on fumes….yep, you are the 2nd group already today….lucky her:)))) All in all the scenery was beautiful….Mt Doom way off on our starboard side (west) and The Shire close by on our port….we have since found out we could take a 4 hour tour of many movie sets in Wellington (Peter Jackson lives here) but we declined!!!
So, we pull into our hotel, proud as can be for not getting lost and the receptionist asks….are you here for the Sevens…..hmmm, say again…you know the SEVENS…..ok, I give…..this dumb Yank asks, what is a “seven”….the lad says you only booked the busiest 2 nights all year in Wellington….all rooms are booked all over the City….you can sell your room for double the price if you want….ok, I did, I admit it…..I snuck a peek at the Princess….NOT going to happen buster was the icy look back….so, I asked again….what is “seven”….now the 2nd receptionist has come over as we must be “those” amusing Yanks and they both blurt out it’s a Rugby tournament….world famous…..this place is going party mad…turn around it is on every TV we have…..oh, and it’s Waitangi Day…ok, we knew that at least…so all the nice restaurants are going to be closed or charge a 15-20% surcharge for the Holiday…..hmm, maybe will just go party with the SEVENS!!!!!
A “side bar”: brief history lesson from Wikipedia:
The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840, in a marquee in the grounds of James Busby’s house (now known as the Treaty house) at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. The Treaty made New Zealand a part of the British Empire, guaranteed Māori (the natives) rights to their land and gave Māori the rights of British subjects. There are differences between the English version and the Māori translation of the Treaty, and since 1840 this has led to debate over exactly what was agreed to at Waitangi.
But, our luck is still with us as the kind receptionist to whom we have now talked with for 15 minutes and knows all about our cruising/roadtrip plans…..has upgraded us to an ocean view….hmmm, can I sell this one:)))))
As we settle in and start to read the gazillion brochures on what to do in Wellington, our fist task is to find a place for dinner with Adam and Cindi (sv Bravo). They have just started their own roadtrip and just phoned us they will be in Wellington so let’s do dinner. Well, we indeed do find some restaurants closed but then there is Mac’s Brewbar…right on the waterfront and they are open….SCOOOORE!!!! We have a great dinner as we talk about our roadtrip plans…..we will meet up again with these two as we go to Stewart Island together the beginning of March…..as well as commiserate over the SeaHawk loss last w/e….they are from Seattle and avid Hawk fans……arghhhh!!!
Wellington: We first went to the TePapa museum. This is the national museum for NZ and it’s pretty big….5 stories and took us 3+ hours and just excellent….lot’s of history – natural history, wildlife, marine life and geology…yikes, our heads were exploding:)) Next we hiked up Mt Victoria…..about a mile each way from the hotel and climbs 800′ in the last half mile….joy….but a good warm up for upcoming hikes on the Queen Charlotte, Abel Tasman and Heaphy Tracks. The views were spectacular…well worth the little hike and the exercise felt good…although we must have walked 2 miles in the museum!! Next we took the car and went on a ~40 mile marine scenic drive…..went out by the entrance to the Cook’s Strait which is famous for rough seas/high winds….yep, taking the ferry tomorrow….25-35 kt winds, yep, can’t wait…not my boat:))))
So, here we are in the hotel room….doing emails, the blog, ordering room service, yes we be living large tonight….AND…..drum roll…..preparing for our IRS audit….yep, got that right, just found out….Brent, our accountant called it a love letter and a pretty low level examination….but still, really, after 40+ years of filing taxes and they find us on a roadtrip in NZ….yep, TG for online banking and free hotel internet!!!!
Stats:
Traveled: 190 miles, 550 miles in total
Wrong Turns/Lost: holding at 4, GG is our best friend now!
Hotel: Copthorne Hotel, right on the waterfront and close to the museum and ferry terminal…..worst pillows ever, back/neck are killing me:((((
Food: nothing special but a pretty good lamb burger last night!!
OK…gotta go….dinner is served and Kathy just turned on the TV…think we will watch rugby????:)))))
Hope all is well!!
John
Wellington
Maori War Canoe
Ork Chief Azog
Blow up of Waitangi Treaty
Fountain in Harbor, viewed on our hike
Wellington from Mt Victoria
Wellington Harbor from Mt. Victoria
Ferry coming into Wellington Harbor from Cook’s Strait
You have named the voice in your Google Maps system, GG. We called ours DD or Deedee, for Directional Dollie. Have a great time in NZ.
Ours was “Rosie”, named for all the wild roses growing along the highways on the South Island. Thanks for the memory and enjoy your drive and hikes! BTW, one of the one-way bridges on the South Island en route to the glacier parks also has a train track down the middle – no chicken on that one!