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Published: November 27th 2008
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The feeling of sadness left us quickly as we waved goodbye to the old folks at the airport. We were glad that they had decided to visit the South island as they had taken so much effort to get to NZ and it would have been a shame if they had not experienced the beauty of the other island.
While we had a couple of days to ourselves we thought that we would spend them wisely and move further north, up the east coast away from Napier and head for the city of Gisborne. Now NZ has only one dual carridgeway, so traveling on the single track roads becomes very familiar. However the route upto Gisbourne was probably the worst road for both islands, it took us over four hours. The welcome sight of some surf rolling into the wide bay lifted my spirits and Em happily waved me off, with her traditional line of "try not to drown", I think that she has her fingers crossed when she says it anyway.
We decided to try and keep the costs down while the old ones were away and free camped for the whole of the three days in a
beach side layby just north of the city. Gisbourne is slightly more backward than most towns in NZ but does have a fantastic coastline that can produce superb views. We chilled down at a the beaches and visited the town, we were lucky enough to go a fantastic cinema in the night. The old lady behind the counter welcomed us in and insisted that we sign the vistors book, it was only after the film that she mentioned that the cinema had been armed robbed the week before.
Frank had hatched a wonderful plan when travelling to the south island, he had booked a flight to Christchurch and then a return destination of Wellington. This meant that Em and I had a ten hour drive planned to go and pick them up, he pulled the card that he had driven me around when I was younger, so I had no leg to stand on. It also meant that he saved about thrity quid, go on frugel.
We chose to stop just outside Wellington and picked them up from the airport to recieve the reports of their south island adventures. With slight trepidation on the state of their hotel
we waited at the arrival gate. However it quicky dawned from their distinct positvity that they had experienced a great place and all was good. Over the days down south they had chilled out in Christchurch and taken a train across the island through a magnificient mountain range, very sedate but perfect for the arthritic.
Wellington was a city that Em and I had not really visited that much so we were more than happy to stay a couple of days scooting around the city center and topping up our depleated Latte levels. In the day we visited an Argentinian boat mooored there for tourists to visit, Jen got to practice her spanish and Frank hoisted the main sail. In the evening we were treated to a very nice meal (by the bank of Frank) at a trendy wine bar in town. Great food but a little pretentious. Unfortunately the hotel that the folks were staying in only had room for one night so the next day we organised our route north and back to Auckland via the Taranaki penisula. This was to include a fantastic Stuey hissy fit trying to organise the new accomodation, resulting in the hotel
room phone being ripped out of the socket (very rock and roll).
Our travels were hindered by the on set of terrible storm and at times we were contemplating whether to continue travelling. However after a pitstop in Wanganui for some food we were back on the road and eventually arrived in Oakura, some ten hours after we had left Wellington.
The place that we booked was fantastic, right on the beach. So with a well earnt glass of wine we were tucked up early doors and taking in some dreams of sunshine for the upcoming days. Our dreams however were to be the only hint of sun and we found out that the continual bad weather was due to last for the next week. So we ventured out, talking walks in between the rain storms and hired DVDs for the remaining stormy times. It was nice just to chill with my folks, just to catch up on what is going on and get their mad capped ideas on life in general.
As the date of J&F flight was coming closer, our smiles were getting broader (only joking). But we did have to wave goodbye to Taranaki
and move north to arrive in Auckland, back at the worlds best flat of Devonport. The problems along route this time was the continual singing that we would get from Pavorotti Frank and that the van had started to leak in the torrential rain. So with Stueys hissy fit skills recently practiced he let the leash slip on the rental company. Deep breaths, count to ten.
We arrived in Deveonport, all of us ready to get out of the van and not to set foot in it again. So with a bit of compensation, Em and I opted for a steady roof above our heads and a motel was booked. Over the next few days we chilled out by travelling into Auckland, having late breakfasts in Takapuna and generally organising the departure of the crepids.
It was a real honour to have my parents come over to stay, to share such an experience with them was just fantastic. With them staying with us it made for a great time for both Em and I. A special thank you for Em as she put up with them and did not loose her temper once, although she did say some
awful things behind their back.
Seriously thank you Mum and Dad, I will look back at the time with special glee and hope that we can do it again. It was magic to share life changing moments with people who are so close to death, sorry I mean who are special (needs).
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