NOT OVER TIL IT'S OVER......

We leave New Plymouth for Auckland on Friday afternoon and head to Leon's parents place (Mark and Bianca) for visit and overnight.  They have a beautiful older place about half an hour out of Auckland.  We had visited their other place just after Emily moved to NZ.  This one is close to their old place in the country, but has a view of the entire city of Auckland.  Unbelievable!  It's an older home (Bianca says it's a "rickety old house") but rickety or not, Brian and I are wowed by the welcome and the view.  Bianca takes us on a very windy (as in gusty) walk to a beach nearby, and tour of the house, decks, and fish pond.  Leon's two brothers - Rory and Jye have been looking for a new car for Leon (the other one was rear ended remember way back in post number 1 ?) They have found a new Corolla for him, so Leon has also headed to Auckland by bus from New Plymouth after work on friday (a 5 hour bus ride) and we meet up at his parents!  We also meet Rory's new bride, Harriett.  They were married in September.  We have a lovely dinner together.

Saturday is a lazy hot day, so I decide to do nothing except hang around and VIEW, while Brian takes a walk with Leon's dad, Mark. 

Mark and Bianca drive us to the airport for our flight to Vancouver about 5 PM and the flight is at 8. 

Flight was estimated at 13 hours/15min. but because of extremely high tail winds (which I can tell you I FELT because I was sitting in seat number 63 something, and the tail end of the plane was wagging like a dog.....) we arrive an extra hour earlier, making the flight a mere 12 hours!  I am less crippled than on the way out.   Note to self and those who make the reservations - PLEASE please, pay whatever it costs to reserve your seat. 

And another note to travellers, if you ever fly Air New Zealand.  They are absolutely wonderful.  These people take pride in their jobs, from the pilots, to those who pack the baggage on to the planes. Our luggage would come out the chutes within minutes of arriving at destination. The flight attendants were angels.  They had wings.
 
Okay, I just have to vent here, bear with me.  When we arrive in Vancouver, everyone heads to baggage chute number 23.  There is a ton of luggage on this chute already and everyone is aghast.  My goodness, the luggage is here already?  No no. We hear a message on the intercom.  "For those arriving on flight number NZ84 please note, your baggage is on chute 25, not 23"  So EVERYONE (all thousands of us) head to chute number 23.  We wait and wait and after half an hour I am completely hypnotized by the empty baggage thing going around and around and around and.......then, another intercom message "For those flying on flight NZ84, please note, that first class baggage will be on chute 23 and those flying by night, your baggage will be on chute 25".  So (all thousands of us cattle) head to chute number 25.  Once again I become hypnotized and after 1 and 1 half hours, some baggage begins to appear.  I am crabby. You know, Canada is a wonderful country.  I love living here and I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, but I ask you.  Can Air Canada get their act together?  I'll go to the website and wax there, to save you all of this, which I haven't really, but if you think this is complaining, go to complaints on the website. Seriously, things started to deteriorate once we got out of New Zealand airports.

it is now 5:30 a.m. but really it's noon in Vancouver.  This is weird.  Probably why I feel a bit off.  Because it's noon, Brian and I head to 'Rice Tails' at Vancouver airport.  Note again to those travelling.  Don't go there.  Whatever time of day it is. 

You are probably starting to think that I am feeling 'the holiday's over' yes? yeah.  It really is.  Why does this happen?  Why can't a person just keep on feeling great until they get home?  Well, maybe it's the weather.  Let's blame it all on the weather.  Why not?  I mean, the fact that when we finally do get on our final eighth flight.  Yes, we have had 8 flights - Calgary/Vancouver, Vancouver/Auckland, Auckland/New Plymouth, New Plymouth/Wellington, Wellington/New Plymouth, New Plymouth/Auckland, Auckland/Vancouver, Vancouver/Calgary.  Phew.  Also, 2 ferry rides, 5 different cars - 1 was a rental mind you,  the computer unfortunately does not have a song note thingie, but remember the song, 'trains, and boats and planes.......'  Well, we never took any trains. Anyways, I was talking about the weather and planes. 

When we get on our final flight to Calgary, they start talking about that nasty 'turbulence' word.  ugh.  So this really helps a person (me) to feel calm.
"We are expecting turbulence on this flight, so please keep your seat belts fastened at all times".  Don't even think about going to the bathroom, and there will be no in flight service, no drinks to help you calm your nerves, just sit there and endure!

Back to the weather finally.  There were two - yes two - weather systems that we flew through on this 1 hour flight.  One was just out of Vancouver, a pacific storm of some sort, and the other was a storm system just about to hit Calgary bringing a foot or more of snow.  Well, maybe it was all one in the same system, but the plane didn't know that, so it turbulated two times.

When we get to Calgary, our luggage miraculously arrives within a half hour.  This IS truly a miracle.  The fact that it was on the correct flight at the correct time is truly a wonder.  Maybe I won't complain after all.  Maybe I will just go home and get some sleeeeeeep................

But then we wake up to this!  The weather system we flew through.  ah, it's wonderful to be home........

wahhhhhh!

 

View from Mark and Bianca's deck

 

Fish Pond

 

 

View of Auckland

 

Giant Moth

 

"Rickety Old House"?

 

Front door

 

 

"Jock"

 

Leon's new Corolla

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LAST SUPPER

Lasagna and Caesar Salad

 

We want to take Emily and Leon out to dinner before we leave, because their wedding anniversary is March 17th - year 6 can you believe? (old married couple now!)  but Emily insists that she wants to make dinner for us instead.  Here is the picture of the beautiful dinner she made for us.  It was a thousand times better than going out.  Her famous homemade Lasagna and Caesar salad.    Thank you Emily and Leon for everything!  Brian and I know that you will be very sad to see us go.....(insert chuckle) !   (and a few tears....)  

SOME MISC PICS

Emily tranquil at 'Chaos'

 

'Chaos' Air

 

Chaos Clown

 

 

 

 

 

OUR FINAL WEEK

It's our final week with Emily and Leon in New Plymouth.  We have had the most incredible weather.  Not one day of rain and even when it looks a bit ominous, the clouds disappear and it turns hot again, not a cloud in the sky.

One of the fun things to do here at Emily's is to wash all our clothes and then hang them out on her clothesline to dry!  It doesn't take long because the wind dries them in a few hours and the clothes smell so nice.

I have walked the secret trail every day, but today, Thursday for the last time. 

On Tuesday we went shopping in town, to a beautiful gift gallery called "Kina" which means "Sea Urchin"  If you have ever had one on Sushi you will know that the actual urchin tastes like a tide pool, so don't bother, but the shells that they live in are beautiful.  The turqoise one below is a ceramic, not real.  We saw it at the N.P. airport, but it wasn't in the shop, so I asked if they had one in the store. They didn't, so the girl said she would go to the airport and get it for me and have it by thursday. (today) but when we went to get it at the store here  and it wasn't there.  They went out and got it for me and brought it to Emily's house.  It just arrived.  Pretty nice of them. For some reason you cannot buy their stuff at the airport, which is where we will be tomorrow.

Brian went fishing on the ocean with some friends of Emily and Leon's and they caught Albacore Tuna.  He got to drive the boat and everything.  He had great fun and almost caught one, but it got away.  The group did catch 2 but he never brought any home as we had cooked some up a few days before that someone had given Leon.  Brian had marinated and then barbequed it and it was absolutely delicious.  He wasn't crazy about bringing in a fish of that size from the ocean.

Last night we went to Jason and Monique's for dinner.  They live along the ocean road in an area called Oakura, not far from here.  We had a beautiful evening with them.  They have come to stay with us in Calgary twice and love to ski in Banff and Whistler.  Adventurous, and lovely couple from South Africa.  Jason had made his own little fireplace out of stainless steel as a project.  It had a super long skinny pipe for a chimney, and as it got dark the pipe got so hot it was blazing red and the flames were spewing out the top.  The picture shows the little firebox and also Monique with her tongue out after tasting Ouzo. 
Emily made a beautiful Pavlova - picture of her in the car.  It was fabulous.

Today we went to Pukeiti (Pook-e-yee-tee) a beautiful garden with tons of rhododendron, which weren't in bloom at this time of year, but many other beautiful and rare plants, trees and flowers that grow on this amazing island. 
I was thinking about how Dad almost ended up here and how it is very much like Ireland in many ways.  I can understand why he wanted to come here.

So right now, Emily is preparing our final meal of Lasagna and Ceasar salad. 
Tonite we will have to pack.  A shuttle will pick us up and we will spend a night in Auckland area with Leon's parents, then home to the land of ice and snow.

It will be hard to say goodbye, but we have had a magnificent holiday!

Kina - "Sea Urchin"

 

Emily with Pavolva

 

Jason's famous firebox, Monique says ewww to Ouzo!

 

Sundown in Oakura, (just couldn't get the pic fast enough!)

 

Leon with "Nixon"-looks like Chuck's brother

 

Crocus at Pukeiti

 

Black Hydrangea

 

Why is it called "Ireland Walk"?

Because......

 

 

...there's shamrock's!

 

"Weta"s are the famous NZ spider, will there be one when we open the box?

 

Not a 'Weta', just a BIG spider that thinks he's a Weta

 

 

 

A PICTURE FOR DESI

This is a stick bug, Desi! 

He's right there sitting on the book, can you see him?

The long end is the head and the legs are on the other end.

Can you tell which end is front and which is back?  I couldnt at first but then I touched it and it lifted one of its legs and moved forward a bit.

It's a real live bug!  The birds can't tell it's a bug, so they won't eat it.

Pretty cool huh?  Here he is!

A stick bug for Des

 

 

NELSON TO PICTON/FERRY BACK TO WELLINGTON/PLANE TO N.P.

I thought I had already posted this information, but I don't see it on the blog archive, so apologies if I am repeating this info.

We decided to head to Picton for one night because that is where we have to catch the ferry to Wellington, then plane home - to New Plymouth.  This was Brian's idea and a good one because if we had had to get to the ferry by 10:30 a.m. from Nelson, we would have had to get up before the crack of dawn.  So he has booked us another backpackers - the sister to Tasman Bay B/Packers called "Sequoia"  (they also serve pudding and ice cream......)

We are able to enjoy the drive to Picton X10 because we have the whole day ahead of us and there is so much to see.  Once again, the forests are lush and the vineyards are magnificent.  (I need a thesaurus) because I just can't conjure up enough adjectives for this experience.  I guess that's where pictures are helpful.  We stop every 15 minutes to take pictures, have a pee, have lunch at a little mall type place just off the road, with wool shop, wine tasting, deli, fudge tasting (fudge and wine tasting together?....mmmmmmm) We have lunch from the deli and take it out onto the picnic table - a scenic spot complete with "Canadian" mallards.  I decide on the Chowder and baguette slices, however, once again (this will be the third time now) 'people' (that I travel with, the same) are taking my bread and feeding it to the ducks!   I believe they are trying to set up another seagull/pigeon experience and then take pictures of it at my expense.  The Chowder was ex-large and the bread would have been nice with it........     The winery is "Bouldevines" and some of the nicest I have ever tasted.  Doubt if there is any in Canada, can't even find it in NZ anywhere. 

We arrive at Backpackers.  The weather has turned cool and windy (awwww....) Emily and Leon head for the hot tub and Brian joins them.  I am the photographer.  Not getting into a bathing suit because I will have to get out of the tub and be cold and the tub is not hot enough for me.
Speaking of hot, we decide on the local curry restaurant for dinner and Brian gets the 'Vindaloo' - not mild or medium - HOT.  I get Rogan Josh, Emily and Leon get Vegetarian.  They forgot to put in the Naan bread (yay, no bread for the local birds)  We do get Samosas though and I burn the inside of my mouth because they're so hot. (it literally flies out of my mouth, and there are no birds to catch it.  How embarassing.)  
Sequoia B/packers is in a beautiful spot with the actual tree right across the way in the park.  None of us are sure if this is an actual Sequoia, or a NZ type, but it's huge. 

Brian and I have an actual 'ensuite' room here with bathroom.  Luxury. 
I have been having the most amazing sleeps here in NZ.  I think it's because there is no B.O.B.  (Boxer on bed)

Following day is once again warm and sunny.  Ferry ride to Wellington is glorious.  We have stocked up on snacks at Picton and don't have to pay ferry prices, so the snacking is first rate and cheap(er). 

From ferry we shuttle straight to the airport even though we have over 3 hours to kill, because we have all our luggage.  The airport is clean and beautiful, so we shop (and eat)  Been doing a lot of that, eating.  There is NO SECURITY before we board the plane.  If I would have only known that........
Flight is 35 minutes complete with a glass of water and a candy. The flights were called 'grab-a-seat' so are fairly reasonable with $10 or $20 extra for our two pieces of luggage. 

Ahhhh, it's good to get home, and the kitties (Chuck and Meisha) are happy to see Mum and Dad (Emily and Leon).  There is a patch of kitty fur on their bed, where the two of them have kept each other company in their absence. Poor little babies. 

Cloudy Bay

 

So Innocent

 

Picnic spot

 

Cheers!

 

Sequoia?

 

Ferry

 

Ferry through 'Marlborough Sound'

 

Marlborough Sounds

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

MORE NELSON ADVENTURES AND MISC. PICS

Our last day in Nelson was spent just hanging out, going for walks, enjoying the scenery and actually touring the McCashin's brewery. Our tour guide at McCashin's was very interesting.  He was kind of a 'stand in' - his name was Dan - he's the artist there and does all kinds of wall art around the place, and likely the art for bottles, t-shirts and the like.  A rather dishevelled fellow, but very personable.  The regular tour guide must be on holidays, because every time we ask Dan a question, he says 'you know, that's a good question, I'm not quite sure'.......He seems anxious to get the tour over with and on to the tasting part and he pours us samples of everything before we are even finished what we have.  We get feeling kind of woozy after all the quick tastes and then Dan says goodbye and we see him sitting at the bar reading the paper - must have been close to his coffee break.  The place also has a nice coffee bar and pizza ovens outside and a lot of people seem to be just lazing about, drinking beer or coffee and there are games and puzzles to do if you happen to get bored.  Pretty laid back place.  The tour itself is quite short but we go way up into the old part of the building where there are sacks and sacks of imported barley malts and the floorboards are well-worn.  It's hot up there but then we go into the cooler and it's freezing. Dan whisks us through the whole thing and then we see the product coming through the machines, bottles being poured, capped and guys checking them to be sure they are fit for export and stuffing them into boxes.  Very cool.  I told Dan that my grandfather worked for Guinness in Ireland and we wonder whether they always had 'cans' with that little widget inside of them.  I say I will ask my dad.  I'm sure that Dan is waiting with bated breath to know.  Brian buys a t-shirt with rainbow beer stokes on it and then the next day wonders if people think he is 'gay'.  I didn't know that about rainbows.

Emily and I go shopping for an hour and she finds a cool pair of red shoes and I find a great pair of hang out pants at 'Mariposa' - a nicer store we did not find in Wellington - the capital of shopping. 

The guys go shopping and buy 3 large pizzas.  We get to backpackers and everyone is boiling things on the stove in 80 degree weather.  So we add to the heat by turning the ovens on to 400 and cook our pizzas, then sit out on the deck and eat them.  Leon has bought a 'seconds' pack of cider from McCashins for half price so we enjoy that along with our food and then torture ourselves with another few games of card monopoly.

We have decided to go back to Picton tomorrow where we catch the ferry back to Wellington because the drive is over an hour and the ferry leaves at 10:30.  We will have to catch our plane back to New Plymouth once the ferry arrives, and being near the dock will give us a good nights rest instead of getting up at the crack of dawn and driving like the wind to catch the ferry.  Our last night in beautiful Nelson.  We could spend another week here. It's glorious.

Here are some misc. pics that correspond to some of the other posts. 

 

Kayak adventure

 

 

Resting place somewhere

 

 

Tasman Bay Backpackers Lodge (they serve free pudding and ice cream every night at 8PM)

 

 

Tasman Bay Backpackers Lodge

 

 

Leon in 'a happy place' at Tasman Bay Backpackers

 

 

Abel Tasman, Dutch Explorer and Navigator (with friend)

 

 

Hoglund Art Glass Center

 

 

Lamp, Hoglund Art Glass Center

 

 

Split Apple Rock, Tasman Bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KAYAKING ADVENTURE/TASMAN BAY

Remember when I said 'I think I want to go Kayaking'????  I can now say that I don't ever need to do this again.  First of all, I don't swim.  I can't swim.  I don't even like being in water all that much.  There was a picture in my Eyewitness travel book of New Zealand that showed some people kayaking on Tasman Bay and it looked glorious.  Sometimes I get a picture in my mind of what I think will be a wonderful experience, but the reality is totally different.  This was one of those.  I shouldn't say it was all bad or anything but it had it's moments.
The first was when I actually realized I was heading into the water in the kayak and I got this sudden panic that I really didn't think I wanted to do it.  But that would have left Brian without a partner and I just had to buck up. So I did.
Our guide gave us brief instructions and some of the things that were mentioned were 'if you capsize', and other words like 'jellyfish', and 'how to get back in the boat'.  How to get back into the boat was a bit tricky because you have to wear this skirt over your whole body which attaches to where you are sitting and keeps the water off you, but they sort of glue you to the boat as well. I just couldn't see how I could get OUT of the boat if it went over.  I would be doing some kind of crazy roll around thing.  However, once we got going it wasn't too bad and I started to feel somewhat relaxed in between the sessions of panic.  We rowed for about an hour and a half (seemed like longer) and then pulled up on a beach and had lunch with the 'bees'.  I didn't know how I was going to make it back because I could hardly walk and my back felt like someone punched me in the kidneys. You also have to put your feet in these stirrup things and your thighs are gripping the sides of the boat, so it gets a bit uncomfortable after awhile.  (JUST A BIT)  The pictures are pretty good so you can see I look like I am having a fairly good time.   I have to admit there were exhilarating moments. 

Just to catch up, we had to drive to Tasman Bay for this adventure which took about an hour from where we were staying at Backpackers in Nelson.  We then boarded a jet boat and went about an hour up the coast where everyone split into groups for whatever it was they were doing.  We had a lovely guide by the name of 'Sophie' - a tiny but all muscle little girl who managed to keep (us) all calm and give great guidance.  On our way back, she pulled all of our kayaks together and we used a tent tarp tied to the boats in front and pulled over the oars on each boat on the ends at the back and we 'sailed' home.  I really liked that part.  It was very comforting to all be together as a group and gave us all a rest from rowing, because the winds were fairly strong.  So now you know what you can do if you have a tent tarp and a kayak.  There was talk of 'baby seals' on one of the little islands in the water but I think that was a ploy to get us out there.  I never saw any baby seals, that apparently come right up to your boat and are really cute.

Some of the group went on an hour walk after this adventure, but I decided to take the early boat back to the park and have a beer at the pizza place.  It was super hot and sunny and windy.  The beer helped my pain tremendously.

Please view this never to be repeated adventure.



Granny and Grandpa go Kayaking in Tasman Bay

 

 

 



 

Some of us were having fun...

 

 

I'd rather be sailing.......

 

 

We made it!

 

 

Where all the cute baby seals were supposed to be

 

 

Coast line Tasman Bay