Another day!! Well two probably, now three!.
We are so enjoying this trip. One of the things that is so enjoyable is that there are so few cars on the road. To see two now seems like a traffic jam! Wonderful scenery and just as I remembered as you turn each bend it’s a new scene and usually either the sea or mountains. Hotels have been wonderful and at each Ken has paid extra for a spa for me to make up for all the baths I have missed! Meals have been wonderful but so big that now I am on to an entrée only , well sometimes two!! The only moan is that I can’t find coffeemate! Well I could in PNG and coffee has for years only tasted right with coffeemate to such an extent I travel with it, but used it up now!! I digress!!
So we left Lake Taupo yesterday, which was really beautiful [and an added extra were the ducks who came to the door to visit us] with the intention of driving to somewhere near Wellington but it was so quiet on the road and so lovely that we carried on. Having fought through the traffic in Wellington to check out the ferry we decided to go on the 6:25pm crossing getting us to the South Island at 9:30pm. We had to empty the car [!!] and then sit for two hours but it was a good choice. We called a Motel advertised in a book we’d been given and booked the night in Picton. The crossing was calm [but at times funny as the TV was showing Coronation Street! But so long ago!] and on time and the Motel absolutely wonderful even down to the lady putting on an electric blanket!!! Haven’t had one since staying in Ken’s parent’s home! Lovely. Late night but now means we have an extra day to play with. This was the only hotel so far without a sea view!
Early breakfast and down to pick up another hire care [AVIS won’t allow you to cross on the ferry with their cars!]. Then off we go again. Now to see the south island!
Scenery slightly different and then I see snow!! STOP! I shout. Poor Ken he’s been so patient AND done all the driving [probably pleased after I had to do it all in PNG in the last few weeks in VSO vehicles as he wasn’t a volunteer].
Traveling on Ken decided to pull off on to a beach [we had been driving alongside the sea for a quite a while] and when I got out I saw, I think, a dead large seal. Now we don’t read guide books as we like to find out for ourselves and don’t want to be told where to look!!! Then as I walked around I realized that we were amongst LOADS of seals of ALL sizes! It was as they say here AWESOME. A bit further on I again shouted stop [only the third time this trip, most times I take pictures as we are traveling!] I was told not possible [hair pin bend!!] but further on we pulled in and then saw information about the seals. They were everywhere. Big and small, fat and not so fat! But then we saw the snow again and it was wonderful and as I turned round from taking photos of the snow and the sea was just behind. Magical!
Driving into Christchurch was fun [had intended to stay further north but they seemed none events] as the road was blocked by the Police but we got into the city and saw the Copthorne and said OK! So here we are. [Now find from the newspapers that it was a bomb scare!]
Everyday has been magical. Even saw deer today! Farmed so I can now eat venison with a clear conscience!
For a treat from me for Ken have just booked a hotel in the snow, followed by a flight in a small plane to see the glaciers etc and then to another snow resort before we start the journey towards home! So Ken’s off people gazing and I’m going into yes another hot bath. BLISS!!!! [and bubbles!]
Well it would have been if I’d checked the tap! Have half ran a cold bath……….don’t laugh!
Now here we are by Lake Tekapo with a view from the room to die for! [BUT no spa!!] Ken has just admitted that he isn’t coherent having enjoyed a pint of cider! Hopefully he can log us onto the internet though while I run a bath. Wonderful drive here after spending the morning wandering through Christchurch. Continues to be wonderful and not too cold.
Another day!! Well two probably, now three!.
We are so enjoying this trip. One of the things that is so enjoyable is that there are so few cars on the road. To see two now seems like a traffic jam! Wonderful scenery and just as I remembered as you turn each bend it’s a new scene and usually either the sea or mountains. Hotels have been wonderful and at each Ken has paid extra for a spa for me to make up for all the baths I have missed! Meals have been wonderful but so big that now I am on to an entrée only , well sometimes two!! The only moan is that I can’t find coffeemate! Well I could in PNG and coffee has for years only tasted right with coffeemate to such an extent I travel with it, but used it up now!! I digress!!
So we left Lake Taupo yesterday, which was really beautiful [and an added extra were the ducks who came to the door to visit us] with the intention of driving to somewhere near Wellington but it was so quiet on the road and so lovely that we carried on. Having fought through the traffic in Wellington to check out the ferry we decided to go on the 6:25pm crossing getting us to the South Island at 9:30pm. We had to empty the car [!!] and then sit for two hours but it was a good choice. We called a Motel advertised in a book we’d been given and booked the night in Picton. The crossing was calm [but at times funny as the TV was showing Coronation Street! But so long ago!] and on time and the Motel absolutely wonderful even down to the lady putting on an electric blanket!!! Haven’t had one since staying in Ken’s parent’s home! Lovely. Late night but now means we have an extra day to play with. This was the only hotel so far without a sea view!
Early breakfast and down to pick up another hire care [AVIS won’t allow you to cross on the ferry with their cars!]. Then off we go again. Now to see the south island!
Scenery slightly different and then I see snow!! STOP! I shout. Poor Ken he’s been so patient AND done all the driving [probably pleased after I had to do it all in PNG in the last few weeks in VSO vehicles as he wasn’t a volunteer].
Traveling on Ken decided to pull off on to a beach [we had been driving alongside the sea for a quite a while] and when I got out I saw, I think, a dead large seal. Now we don’t read guide books as we like to find out for ourselves and don’t want to be told where to look!!! Then as I walked around I realized that we were amongst LOADS of seals of ALL sizes! It was as they say here AWESOME. A bit further on I again shouted stop [only the third time this trip, most times I take pictures as we are traveling!] I was told not possible [hair pin bend!!] but further on we pulled in and then saw information about the seals. They were everywhere. Big and small, fat and not so fat! But then we saw the snow again and it was wonderful and as I turned round from taking photos of the snow and the sea was just behind. Magical!
Driving into Christchurch was fun [had intended to stay further north but they seemed none events] as the road was blocked by the Police but we got into the city and saw the Copthorne and said OK! So here we are. [Now find from the newspapers that it was a bomb scare!]
Everyday has been magical. Even saw deer today! Farmed so I can now eat venison with a clear conscience!
For a treat from me for Ken have just booked a hotel in the snow, followed by a flight in a small plane to see the glaciers etc and then to another snow resort before we start the journey towards home! So Ken’s off people gazing and I’m going into yes another hot bath. BLISS!!!! [and bubbles!]
Well it would have been if I’d checked the tap! Have half ran a cold bath……….don’t laugh!
Now here we are by Lake Tekapo with a view from the room to die for! [BUT no spa!!] Ken has just admitted that he isn’t coherent having enjoyed a pint of cider! Hopefully he can log us onto the internet though while I run a bath. Wonderful drive here after spending the morning wandering through Christchurch. Continues to be wonderful and not too cold.