The light at the end of the tunnel pt1 a 6 week adventure story

That shot you took from the hotel window and cropped, took my breath away, Todd. Wonderful series of pictures.
Al
 
Todd,

Your picture of the Spitfire engine reminded me of going to tractor pulls where they would have Packard engines from PT boats and Allison engines from the P-38's.

Tom
 
Well, after 9 hrs of driving in 30 kt wind with heavy mist all day, Me and Anya were tired out.


The weather has been really lousy and we have decided to go back to Thailand after review of the forecasts.


We will be visiting the River Kwai and hope to pay our respects there. and we will also explore northern Thailand as well




After working for a year in a dark basement, we came to NZ in the hopes of getting our summertime back.... it ain't happening. Was worth a try though.
 
bout 10 hrs I reckon.


It was just bad timing I guess... everyone here said it has been hot and dry for the last month, and tonight in wellington it was downright cold and blowing 20-30 kts steady.




I did see some good flights of ducks too. I kept thinking, This is not summertime, this is when I should be in a duck blind....
 
Me and Anya left Auckland early.


It had rained and blew hard all night.



DSC_4513 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




We had a taxi take us the 1500meters to the rental car place, because my gear was really heavy.
$10!


Was different to drive on the wrong side of the road.


Like you guys said,
Each time I'd hit the turn signal, my wipers would go on. And If I wanted to wipe the shield, then the
turn signals would light up.


We stopped in a minute market for gas and a cup of coffee.
all of a sudden, there were no Asians.
apparently, Auckland is a 2nd hong kong




Met Andre and Alice while I was filling the tank.





DSC_4514 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




Talked with the guy that owned them, he said, "hey, you are a Canadian"
I said, "close, but a little further south.


Nice fellow.




Gas was not the same price here.







P1030909 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr





P1030910 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




I doubled up on my calcium channel blockers just before we pumped the gas...
good thing.
 
A lot of very steep hills with thick vegetation.


This damned Pampas grass will cut you up good.



DSC_4541 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






Me and anya stopped in Taupo for a bite to eat and a Ginger ale.




We got the breads and spreads. (about 2 pieces of wheat, 2 of white, and a couple of buttered baguette)
Set us back $18!



DSC_4544 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




We were wondering what the minimum wage was in this town, so I asked a few people.


@ $14 NZ is what they said.






Saw this sign which intrigued me some.





DSC_4542 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




Dave Ward must be a Guinness shareholder by defacto at this point.








DSC_4543 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
We asked some folks about where they'd go in Rotorua if they just had a few hours....
They said, Hit the Rotorua walkway and see Government Gardens.




So we decided to do so.



DSC_4554 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




It is a thermal area, so there is a lot of steam and sulphur smell.







DSC_4553 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




There were some hot springs and a bunch of these ducks.







DSC_4571 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






These are not blueberries,
although they are blue
and they are berries.







DSC_4569 (1) by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
These purple rail like birds are all over the place.


They are decent sized too.




I am nearly certain that they are huntable down here.



DSC_4557 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




I know these ducks are huntable.

DSC_4576 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


The Government Gardens were nicely maintained.



DSC_4578 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr





DSC_4581 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




I did a double take when I saw this one with her chick....
then I remembered that it was in the middle of summertime.





DSC_4584 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
There were lots of streams that looked fishable,
We stopped for a spell to have a ginger ale and take a whiz.




I crept along the river and found some mallards and some mute swans.




Of course, mallards are huntable, but so are the mute swans (in most of NZ)


The mute swan is a very large bird, and would probably taste like a goose.



DSC_4595 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






I had to kind of dream a little when I looked down and saw this at the river's edge.







DSC_4596 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






continued along towards a Huka Falls and saw one of these.



DSC_4599 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr








Huka falls was Substantial









DSC_4600 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






The rainfall was with us most of the time.





DSC_4602 (1) by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr










Anya was a good sport about it.







DSC_4622 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




These Yahoos came ripping upriver...




We could hear them screaming and really putting up a joyous racket.







DSC_4604 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr













DSC_4607 (1) by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
What a wonderful set of shots, Todd. Thanks so much. I found myself staring at all of the "lushness" of the countryside. No lack of water there.
I'll bet your mind wandered when you saw that shell casing!
Al
 
we tooled around in town and checked out the menus at the restaurants.


Since we run a restaurant, it is something we are always interested in.



DSC_4654 (1) by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4656 (1) by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr





DSC_4658 (1) by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




After a thoughtful review of the pricing, the Jolly Roger flag flying above the Restaurant district made more sense.





DSC_4662 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr


We went to the local grocery store and bought some things instead.


Me and Anya had a heart to heart about time and money and enjoyment.


We both agreed that we'd be happier back in Thailand, so we decided to Split.


We drove on down to Wellington and decided to fly back to the land of Smiles.






We did see a few things that were noteworthy along the way.
 

DSC_4740 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




These Peacocks are non native.





DSC_4742 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




A couple of roosters and a Hen with a brood met us up at the top of a gigantic hill that was covered with
wind powered generators.




This cock bird would have looked a lot better at the end of an arrow,



DSC_4746 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4752 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr






There were sheep all over the hillside. It was blowing nearly 40 kts steady.





DSC_4756 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr




I jumped some rabbits on the hillside and they tried to run away,
the wind just pushed them back.



DSC_4760 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr



DSC_4762 by Duncan Tennyson, on Flickr
 
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