South of the Stour, Like Really South
So I went from nearly 34,000 steps on Wednesday to less than 10,000 on Thursday due to, of course, several hours of sitting on a train. I woke up Friday and the tracking app gave me a novel message after…
Brockway, Ogdenville and North Haverbrook
Another big travel day. We were up and out of the hotel by 7 AM; we had mapped a walking route to Addington, where the KiwiRail station is. Arrived by 7:30; busloads of tourists being dropped off. We checked-in and…
A River Runs Through It
The river Avon cuts through central Christchurch Or five. A lot of waterways and tributaries. It’s a flat expanse Christchurch is, a grid system of streets offset by a meandering Avon river which intersects at random and, well, a lot…
Legend Tripping
Next travel day: Wellington to Christchurch. First, the Interislander Ferry across the Cook Strait (about 1.5 hours) then it turns east down the fjord leading to Picton (about 1.75 hours). Keeping in mind yesterday’s blog post, with the sinking ferry…
A Whisper of Dishonour
Sunny. Again. Will it ever end? Stopped for coffee and calories at a bakery called Dough, then took the funicular up above the city. Not much flat land in the city, so in an effort to expand in the…
“I disagree with everything I used to say”
We woke to grey skies and down below could see cars with their wipers on intermittent; but it was short lived. An hour later the sun was out in full force. We were saved, however, by zero humidity and a…
2025∕Auckland∕DESTINATIONS∕Intercontinental Wellington∕KiwiRail Northern Explorer∕New Zealand∕Noble Rot Wine Bar∕Wellington
Big Wheels Keep on Turning
Alarm went off at 5 AM! Up and showered and organized and out of the room just past 6 AM. Sorry to say goodbye to our luxury digs. In a taxi and at the Strand KiwiRail station by 6:30. Checked…
OK So First: CERTS Aren’t Candy
OK, so first: Certs aren’t candy Will Shortz, NYT Crossword editor. Last week the NYT crossword ran the clue “discontinued candy” and the answer was Certs. Certs were never candy. They were a mint. If someone offered you candy, and…
“A provocative and engaging exploration of our evolving relationship with the rest of nature”
The ludicrous title of this blog is what The Guardian wrote, in a book review, on Animal, Vegetable, Mineral (an informative book with a exceptional sense of humour). When the left can finally get a joke, send me a telegram…
Hins Lay Iggs
First full day in another sort of down under. It takes some getting used to. Once you remember that “not even” is not true and “wop wops” are the boonies and “she’ll be right” is another of way of saying…