Enjoying your blog Planning a family trip over Christmas holiday...your blog is informative, entertaining and helpful. Although you'll think us looney, my twelve year old daughter and I can't wait to bungee!...husband and son prefer to find a local golf course. Thanks for sharing your adventure.
Fairlie Engines Small world I first came across Fairlie engines on holiday last year in Porthmadog. There are several them still running on the Ffestiniog and West Highland Railway!
Railway engines still going HI David
Thanks for the comment. It is amazing that many things found in museums are still working in the world if you look hard. See you in due course.
David
Western Weka Ah so thats its proper name. We had several of those come and attack the wheels on our van in the middle of the night on multiple occasions- a bit unnerving when you're camping rough! We nick named it bush duck
South Island Wot Cheor Dave and Velda,
Seeing your photos and comments about the South Island brought back many happy memories for us. Perhaps it would make a good Probus trip!
Your blog is interesting and I am pleased you are both enjoying the experience.
As they still say in Shields
TA RA WELL
Now this looks like a great place! No wonder it\'s the highlight of your trip. Reminds me a bit of Loch Etive in Scotland which has virtualy no road access, seals & boat trips.
An excellent place Yes, parts of Scotland take some beating - perhaps we should do an expedition up there with the walking group and do a blog for Scotland! Take care.
Following your blog Hi David,
Interested in your travels. We just completed our trip around the South Is. NZ. Took 3 weeks and haven't even "scratched the surface" as they say!
You can read ours on our blog name "Maranade".
We picked up on your blog at Mt Cook. You can read our own trip there also.
As you did, we started our South Is. trip at Christchurch. We have friends there (she, incidently, is a Customs Officer who may have checked you?) and believe me mate, you have no idea what some people will try on. We ourselves, even from Oz, have no problem with declaring our boots, tents, whatever. So long as it keeps our beautifully CLEAN countries safe! Try Asia if you have any doubts!
Anyhow, enjoy the rest of your trip.
Adrian & Mary.
Perth, Australia.
Thanks for your comments Hi
Have just read this and I will certainly check out your Blog. I am now in Wellington having completed 16 days in the South Island, and would thoroughly recommend the trip to anyone.
Take care.
David
Scouts Dear David & Valda Just a quick note to say that I hope things are going well. Weather here is awful, so things can only get better. Date set to paint the HQ last week . Good turn out ,
One Beaver Dad and one Scout Dad. On Saturday 19th I am going along to paint myself I think I can get more done that way. Kitchen is finished so I'll start painting that on Saturday.
I really hope to have things looking good on your return. Take care Ken and Margaret.
Info for you. Whilst in Adelaide,get in touch with my nephew Sean Smith. He is a producer/editor at news 9 a local television company.
I have mentioned you to him.You can e-mail him at:- sean.smith@nws9.com.au
Enjoy your fortnight in Adelaide.
Frank.
Whitley Bay Scouts Nice to see some scouts in Australia and to see that you arrived in Adelaide OK .Things are going good over here But Murry is missing you. Weather here is not very good but should be OK for our Australian Camp. Sorry Viking Camp.They are all armed and ready to go so we should be sailing to Australia soon In a Viking Longboat .
Welcome to SA It looks like you are having an out of the ordinary adventure indeed. Most tourists would opt for the bigger cities when holidaying in Aust. I believe the South coast has so much to offer and truly believe that if you want to experience something a little different to holidaying in the city of your own country, SA is the place to be :) Perhaps a holiday in the Victorian coastline as well to compare the difference? Victorian towns are a little more tourist friendly and 'modern' so to speak.
Thanks for the feedback. We are really enjoying the trip and enjoyng the challenge of travelling in an environment that is alien to us, but is problably much more commonplace to Australians. We have found Australians very friendly, probably much less reserved than you would find in the UK, which is to Australia's credit. Minor niggles always exist in all countries, especially the UK (remeber I am a whinging POME!), but are a bit tongue in cheek. I would thoroughly recommend such a trip to anyone with a spark of adventure in them. Thanks again for the comment.
Fish I like the idea of fishing. I'm sure you will have some time to try fishing.
Some say " What is fishing" ?
The answer ," A worm on one end and a fool on the other" HA HA
Pleased you could find the blog OK. Hope you are all well. It is harder to write a blog than you might think, trying to have photos that are unusual and represent to trip. Sorry about any spelling errors as well, they easily creep in.
David is a former lecturer in Electronic Engineering who decided to take early retirement and escape the madness of working in a Further Education College. Valda is his wife, who also recently retired. Both of us decided to try out something a bit more adventurous than taking a package holiday, and set out to see a bit of the world "down under" before popping our clogs. Family living there say it is great, so we are off to see if anything there could replace Whitley Bay as the Centre of the Universe. (Not really possible, but we should look).... full info
Dave Manners
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