Day 15 - Napier to Wellington 23-02-16

Today was basically another drive day ready for our ferry trip over to the South Island. We had about 4 hours total on the road ahead of us and all day to do it in so there was not any rush !! Again it was a case of load up the van, but now we have it down to a fine art, as we know exactly which bags go where, in which order, which way round and how far back to push the chairs.. All passengers safely belted in and we are off on the next leg !! Almost immediately from the back seat navigator came the advice that we had a choice of which way to go… Either follow the "5" all the way down (motorway) of branch off and take the "2" which was more like a country lane and had lots of bends. Paul & Trev, in the front, looked at each other to make a decision, which took about a nanosecond to decide.. No question really, No "2" it was !! After about ½ an hour we branched off the motorway and were treated to some wonderful scenery and some great clear roads… Much better.. Without much traffic we progressed really well and before long were deciding where to stop for a nature break and drinks break.. As we had plenty of food to make sandwiches, crisps, biscuits, cakes, soft drink & water we could stop a little further on and have a picnic as such !! It was a lovely day, if a little windy, but well worth looking for a spot if we could find one !! As we were now approaching about half way, as far as time went, we found a little village and parked up. The plan was to do a little of shopping for essentials and find a café for tea/coffee, then find a nice little picnic area. It did not take long to find a café called "Yummy Mummy's", and it had tables and chairs outside.. Brilliant, erm actually no, it was so windy that it would have been too cold to sit outside !! So in we all went and almost crowded the place out. There were a few tables and chairs dotted around inside and a few bar stools around the outer window, but all were taken at this point. Dee, acting as mother again, enquired as to what everyone would like to drink ?? Tea, Latte's, milk shake etc were all shouted out, but Paul, Trev & John suddenly went quiet… They had spotted some more "homemade pies" by the counter and were struggling and haggling to decide who was going to have which as there were only 2 beef pies between three of them.. However, in a very political manner for them it was decided that Trev would have the Chicken, bacon and cream sauce pie.. Sorted… Just as we were paying and trying to look for a place to sit all 6 of us Trev and John spotted a table where 2 ladies were just finishing… They swooped in like birds of prey…. " Have you finished ladies ?" was the question asked, but without any hesitation cups, plates, cutlery and rubbish were being taken off the table and handed over the counter to the staff.. The poor ladies did not have a chance to sit and savour their meal as they were almost being physically evicted from the premises !! No worries, we all had a seat at least. Just as we were getting settled the old gentleman at the table opposite decided it was perhaps better for him to leave at this point also, and so we now had 2 tables next to each other, Bonus !!!!

The waitresses came round with the drinks and pies and were immediately confused as to why they had pies and drinks for us "Boys" but the table number was on a different table !! A quick explanation later and all was well !! The pies were, once again fabulous, and Paul mentioned that if he ever moved to New Zealand he would have to live in a village that sold these pies !! John said that when he moved to Australia, many years ago, the pies they had then were awful, and had all types of fat and gristle in them… Latterly, as more "homemade" pies from smaller vendors became available the competition had got so fierce that the pies there were now excellent !! Ok, convinced, could also move to Australia….

Teas, coffees, pies and nature breaks done, it was time to set off again towards Wellington, the next plan was to go for about an hour and try to find a "picnic" place.. The road was again almost empty so quick progress was again achieved. Up to now it had been long straight roads with the odd curve or bend, here and there, but generally very flat.. This was suddenly about to change.. Almost without warning we were climbing very steep hills which were winding around the mountain side as if it were not a road anymore but was now a mountain goat track.. Paul, now driving, and Trev, navigating, were in their element with twisty road. But the others were not so enthused with the idea !! Had there been snow we could have been skimming around the mountain passes of the Swiss alps !! Great fun. All too soon we were at the top and now skimming down the other side. Still extremely twisty and undulating the front seats were ecstatic .. The middle and rear seats, however, not so !! Nearing the bottom we spotted a sign that said there was a nature reserve with camping and picnic facilities nearby.. so we turned off the road and followed a track and signs to Kaitoke Regional Park national reserve.. This was where they filmed some of the "Lord of the Rings" movies. We found a very nice little stopping place got everything out for eating and drinking and settled down for a late lunch !! The surrounding area was very peaceful and still and had a small brook trickling through the edge of the forest. It would probably normally be a large river but as it had not rained in New Zealand for some time the water flow had diminished to next to nothing !! Right next to us was a bush and a tree that seemed to have a million cicadas in it, judging by the noise, but we could hardly spot any !! However, with vigilance we saw a 'husk' of one recently hatched and then saw one or two small ones clinging to the branches !!! Photos done, it was time to take a walk and see if there were any more photos of the surrounding beauty to be had !! A few of the stream, a few picturesque trees and a small bridge, no wonder the film crew picked this area for the movie !!! All the picnic now packed up, time to move on !! We headed back towards the main road to Wellington when we came upon a sign that told "Cattle to Stop" - Didn't know they could read !! We went across the bridge anyway !!

Back on the road towards Wellington now, where we only really had an evening stopover, before catching the Inter-Islander Ferry across to Picton, on the South Island of New Zealand. As we approached Wellington the traffic numbers started to build, it was nearing 5 o'clock so progress was slow but this allowed us to find out where we had to turn and get in the appropriate lane early enough that we didn't upset the locals. Although, we had discovered, their driving leaves a lot to be desired. As if by magic we found ourselves right outside the Motel and parked up to check in !!! Dee and Trev scampered off to do the necessary and after a short while came back saying we needed to drive up onto level 4 of the carpark which was behind us, use a special key fob to open a security fence and then park in the reserved parking bays for motel guests !! So reverse around in a tiny off loading square, find the entrance to the multi storey car park, again shunt forward and back a few times to get the van round, and then up the ramps to level 4 !! Up the first ramp to level 1 great, up the ramp at the other end of the car park to level 2 , ooppss !! The towing eye at the back of the van hits the floor with a resounding bang and followed by a horrible grinding noise as we drag it along the concrete floor !! Of course this would happen as we had the van fully loaded with bags and people and it was near to the bottom of its travel for the suspension.. Perhaps a good idea to get everyone out, no that won't work as it is then getting too high !! No worries, keep going it's only a towing eye, nothing to worry about !! We bang, scrape and grind our way up to the 4th level and find the car park reserved is behind the security gate !! Key fob opens this easily and through we go ! At first sight it looks as though the van will not get over the ramp and under the hotel overhang but on further inspection it just will, so over the ramp and into our reserved parking space which has a large ventilation outlet right in the middle. This causes the back of our van to be sticking out by about a meter further than the other cars.. Don't care !! Dee, Pat and John went off with the first lot of bags as it was necessary to go down a level in the lift and we would not all fit in together with the luggage !! They went down while Paul, Trev & Lis unloaded the rest of the bags and locked the van. They then went to the lift, pressed the button to go down and it said it needed a key fob to allow us to drop 1 level. They tried the car fob, but no joy !! Something happened as they shot up to the eighth floor, having to tell a very perplexed gentleman that there was not enough room to go back down, and shot back down to level 2… That's not right, so they tried level "4" again, just in case Dee had come back up with the key !! Nope !! Let's try the other lift they said ?? So they got into the second lift but that also required the key fob..

What is going on ?? All they want to do is get to level "3" !! Off went the lift again, this time to level 6 where a member of staff got in and looked at the mystified occupants of the lift !! It was explained that they were trying to get to level "3" and he said you need a key fob ! They produced the car park fob and he smiled, "no not that one, the room fob" b***** was the reply, as Dee had that one as she had gone to the room with the first lot of luggage !! Again he smiled graciously and used his key fob then selected level "3"….. Success, down to level "3" they went. As the door opened who was stood there ? Dee asking what had happened ? You can imagine the replies she got to that one !!! As they were all now together off to the room they went… Odd but these rooms don't have windows, two double beds in one room and the bathroom was more like a hospital room, but it was functional as an overnight stop !! What to now ??

We had to go out to fill up the van as fuel was low and we were not sure how far it was to a fuel station on the Picton (South Island) side of the ferry and then look for somewhere to eat ! We all went together this time, Paul put all of the key fobs and car keys together as one bunch and off we all went to the lift !! Stay together this time was the message !! Lift to floor "4" sorted, into the car, car park key fob not needed to get out so off we went. Down to level "3" no problem, Down to level "2", bang, scrape, grind went the towing eye !! ??? How did that happen when we had taken all of the luggage out ?? Out of the car park and into late rush hour traffic !! Poor Lis trying to navigate us around in her iphone was having great difficulty keeping up to speed with our progress and was heard often to say "take the right into ****** street" Too late, just passing that one !!! Eventually though we make our way to a garage and fill up, not much parking was available on the main roads so we decided to take the van back to the reserved car park and then walk around looking at something for an evening meal !! Off we went, again relying on Lis with the map, but we were looking for a "Starbucks" for the aforementioned mug !! Found "Starbucks" so where to eat ? Follow me says Lis, intently looking at the phone !!! We went for miles, at one point we stopped to get into a lift to go to an upper floor, but the lift was shut at this time of night ! So, we walked on and on and on !! We found another lift that would take us up to a higher level and different road .. Went up and found ourselves looking at the south face of the Eiger this time !! Poor John does not do slopes very well with his knees but he manfully struggled up ! By the time he got to the top Dee & Lis had decided that the "Bistro" that they had found was not the place to eat !! Back down the hill then is it ?? It does not need explaining the pained look and the verbal expressions that John had about him now !! Down, down, down we went, finding some stairs (better for John) that led back to where we had tried the first lift !! Guess what, next to it was a bar that did food…. No need to look further, (we could have gone here in the first place).. Although quite dark inside we still got ourselves seated, ordered drinks, then ordered food, then ordered more candles, as we had been told the light above our table did not work… Not much good for 6 people with glasses (Blind b*****s) who had difficulty seeing the menu print in dim light !! Anyway, drinks arrived, water was poured for everyone, and we waited for the meal… As fast as we sipped our water the faster the waiter appeared with a bottle to refill our glasses.. Sip a bit more and he was there… filling again…

Meals arrived and looked good, 4 were fine but Dee had a problem with hers and part of Trevor's was not good at all, which was a shame as the majority of his meal was very tasty !! After mentioning the problems to the waiter he toddled off to "speak to someone" and came back with all the apologies he could get into 4 sentences.. saying the meal was correct but possibly had been spoiled by the apprentice chef putting too much lemon into the mix !! Blame the apprentice !! It was also agreed that we would get Dee's meal deducted from the bill !! Sorted, everyone happy pay the bill and get to the motel for sleep. We have an early start in the morning for the ferry !! Dee says 5:45 for the alarm, get ready and packed, leave at 7:00 for ferry as we have to check in around 8, and we don't know the way !!

Great plan, but some of us decide to have a shower before we go to bed to leave less hassle in the morning !!

Ferry from Wellington to Picton tomorrow then drive to Nelson……..