Napier

Napier is an interesting place. Hondo suggested we check it out so we have (one of the few cities we've bothered with). It is rather unique. It was leveled by an earthquake in 1931 and rebuilt. It was decided they would build in the art deco style! Many of the rebuilt buildings were being torn down and replaced in the 80s so a movement started to stop the destruction of these historic buildings and they seem to be fairly successful. There are awards given to those who do the best restorations! It must have been amazing when it was being built in the 1930s. It was the Depression and this project was meant to show that things could come back again. We did an evening walking tour with a volunteer guide, Bea. She was quite good.

Motorcycles

Waiting to board the ferry, I noticed these guys and their bikes. Old Indian motorcycles (one was 1941) that they ride. I asked if they were taking them to refurbish and was told that no, they ride them as is. Oops. They just make their own parts are needed. They'd just finished a 100 m ride. Groups of Indian fans get together on both islands. But, as one fellow explained, most of the bikes are now owned by guys in their 80s and the bikes sit in garages.

Back to the North Is

We did leave on Tues (monday your time) on a much larger ferry. This thing was huge! The crossing did pitch and bob quite a bit out in the open sea. I did go up top a couple of times, but the wind almost blew me over. We travelled across with another young German woman. She complained that she could go for days without speaking anything but German! I did comment to Linda one day that you couldn't go two feet here without bumping into a German.

Once landed, we headed for Masterton just to get on our way. We left there in the morning and went to Mt Bruce which has a wonderful bird repopulation program. They are taking threatened species, breeding and releasing. They actually have kiwis released into the reserve. There was also a kiwi house with a breeding pair we could watch. There were also some amazing eels. They live in NZ but spawn in Tonga - thousands of km away! They are also huge. Then we stopped at the Tui brewery for a "handle". That's a pint but in a mug! Made our way then to Napier.

Leaving tomorrow

We had booked our ferry crossing back to the north island when we were in Canada. Orginally, it was for mar 12. I changed it last week to Mar 5 and today we managed to get a booking on tomorrow's ferry - Mar 4. Looking forward to some time on the north island. Spent a little time today in a pub reading the papers. What else is there to do?

Logging

Logging is still big business here. Many areas have volunteers replanting but in other areas the companies are taking more responsibility. Clear cutting is simply ugly and I cannot imagine the damage from runoff is such a wet country. Have driven around many rock slides on our journey.

Queen Charlotte Drive

Leaving Havelock this morning, we drove along Queen Charlotte Drive. It is another twisty windy road that got us to Picton. Again, it is cold and rainy. The first picture is of Pelorus Sound and then the first glimpse of QC Sound.

Linda's dinner choice

What else would Linda have in a mussel village?