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Published: August 26th 2006
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Good day to you all. The last update had us waiting to go and watch the All Blacks v Australia rugby test. It turned out to be a typically great Ken and Linda day!
The day started with us having to go to a travel agent to pick up our tickets for our Fiji holiday. Having picked them up we decided to look for somewhere to have brunch. Well, you damn me, there just happenned to be an Irish pub almost next door to the travel agent which was advertising all day breakfasts, the contents of which looked 'the business.' On entering the place there were two Kiwis obviously in need of both sustenance and a hair of the dog. Being the only people in the bar this early (11am) we got talking and they joined our table for breakfast. Two really nice guys who were also going to the match later on. We had a few other chores to do but they invited us to join them at a pub near the ground later in the day. An offer we couldn't refuse. Not only because they were nice guys but they introduced us to more of there mates such that
EDEN PARK
A very high throw in.
no matter how we tried (honest it's true) we were not allowed to buy a drink either before or after the match. Perhaps Linda wearing her Welsh rugby strip had something to do with it. Red, in a sea of Black and Yellow.
There was a great atmosphere in the stadium and Linda was beside herself at being able to see The Haka live. The game itself started of a bit slow the only action of note being Dan Carter missing two consecutive penalty kicks. The second half was a lot more exciting with the All Blacks coming out worthy winners - the Aussie being very lucky to end the game with a full team after some particularly nasty tackles. We ended our day where it had began happily having a few drinks in the Irish bar - what a day. Almost as good as a day in Cardiff when Scotland are playing Wales!! Need we say more.
Thank you Pauline and Mark for a lovely Sunday and that roast beef was delicious. Linda had met up with a long lost cousin for the first time on Friday and we spent the day with them Sunday and will
EDEN PARK
From a distance
be looking forward to meeting everyone next Sunday.
Monday saw us leaving Auckland via a hired a car and heading further North (cost $240 for the week) to view the east coast and Cape Reinga. Our first night was spent in a motel at a place called Whangerai after taking the coastal roads up hill and down bays to get there. Roads were a bit winding but worth the effort. Tuesday we took some more off the beaten track detours and saw some stunning scenery settling for our lunch stop at Russell* (one of the first European settlements) then catching the car ferry to Oapu and heading for Paihia in the Bay of Islands - we'll let the photos do the talking. We were only going to stay 2 nights and stayed 3 once we had found a lovely apartment reasonably priced overlooking the bay. Joy of joys a decent little kitchen!!
*Russell is very small. First time I can ever remember saying that Mr Killigrew!
The following day we took a trip out to the hole in the rock and cathederal cave but not in any old boat, just a 16,000 horse power jet
EDEN PARK
Whose that in that shirt? What a day.
speed boat. Fortunately the sea was like a mill pond and even though we were travelling at 45 knots it didn't seem like it. Mind you, us in our waterproof gear was a sight to behold! Tele tubbies eat your heart out!! Because the weather was so good we were able to go through the hole and well into Cathederal cave. The music the skipper played during our trip was brilliant too from Queen, Van Morrison, The Stones, Corrs all suitably titled including Louis Armstrongs Wonderful World as we cruised between some of the beautiful little bays and islands. Anyone who knows Linda can guess her response to the latter.
Thursday saw us on a bus trip up to Cape Reinga, the most northerly point in New Zealand. It was a long day but very rewarding. A very early start took us firstly through a Forest where the Kauri trees grow some thousands of years old, lunch stop had some lovely views over a bay and then we hit Cape Reinga. The journey was well worth the spectacular views and the history/myths behind the area. But was Linda glad that we were on the bus and she not the
AUCKLAND
My, what a pair!!
driver as the roads left a lot to be desired? Once we'd paid our dues to Kodak we were on our way to 90 mile beach with a stop off for the brave and daring, snow boarding down the sand dunes. We declined the offer!! Then a 50 odd miles drive along the beach; quite awsome to take in the enormity of it all. Soon we were homeward bound after a very interesting and worthwhile day, yet another chalk up on our wonderful experience board.
Yesterday saw us driving down to Hamilton, the largest inland town in New Zealand. Unfortunately it seems quite dull, even duller than it's Scotttish namesake! None of the pubs we ventured into last night had very much atmosphere so we had an early night. We might venture out again tonight but we have to drive back to Auckland tomorrow so we will probably take it easy.
Our next broadcast will probably be from Fiji as we leave New Zealand on Wednesday. It has been a truly wonderful and wondrous two months; the scenery startling and the people marvellous.
That will make it almost 3 months until we return. Speaking of which, this
FAR NORTH EAST COAST
On the road to Whangerai.
is an early warning that we will be having a homecoming party on Saturday 4 November in the Six Bells in Bicester. This advance warning should allow those from far off places like Burry Port, Dunfermline, Poole, Brighton, Llannelli, Amsterdam etc to get your travel plans together!
Bye for now. Look forward to hearing from you all on our comments board.
Love,
Linda & Ken
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Meg and Clyde
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Still having a Ball!!
Hi Guys, Great to see you are still having a ball......we are too. Have a friend from Melbourne up here again....she was here for Clyde's birthday. Spent a fabuluous day - breakfast at Mooloolaba, swim at Maroochydore and then lunch and snooker at a truly Queensland Pub at Boreen Point, 20 ks north of Noosa. Clyde was driving the BMW so you could imagine how many wrong turns we did - finally got there and had a great day. Take care of each other......Love Meg