Day 11: Paraparaumu Beach to Seddon

North Island? Been there, done it! Farewell, and see you again in two weeks!

With a hangover, I stagger away from Paraparaumu Beach back onto Highway 1. I had hoped to get on the 2pm ferry, but in fact I reach the Interislander port in Wellington at 10:20, to find that there is a ferry leaving at 10:35. Just manage to get on in time - boy have I ever been lucky with ferries, despite absolutely no planning!

The ferry takes three hours and, after a brief tour of the viewing deck and sights of disappearing North Island, I stretch out and sleep off my hangover for two hours - perfect!!

I am the very first person off the ferry and on my way. After a stiff climb out of Picton, the countryside to Seddon is rolling. So different to the green lushness of my North Island route, here the ground is yellow dry and more rolling, with faint glimpses of bigger mountains afar.

I stay in a cabin in "Stoneyacres". It pours with rain all evening, so it's another laundry evening, chatting with some of the other residents (except the Thai group, who cannot speak English). Everyone staying there is working in the vineyards. It sounds like backbreaking work, I have to say - almost as hard as cycling up these darned hills!

Distance today: 99 Km, cumulative 1294 Km

written by

John and Claud on January 28, 2007 from Seddon, New Zealand

from the travel blog: Cape Reinga to Bluff

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wow what progress JT. enjoying tracking the cumulative km's! ur making such progress. hope the south island isnt too hard on those bum sores, sounds like claud should be more accomodating!
best of luck for the next couple of days paps and look forward to next post!

written by weasel on January 29, 2007

pops! oh dear those pesky saddle sores don't sound very peachy, I can empathise with skin disorders as i myself am currently suffering from 'contact dermatitis' a little pink rash on my face. Not a great look i'm afraid! Sounds like youre making lots of friends, which is great and glad to hear your'e slumming it in the shared dorms! hope you dont walk around in your underwear in front of the young ladies......well done pops keep on trucking x x x x

ps great photos

written by miss helen emily 'rashy face' taylor on January 29, 2007

Great stuff JT, all of us in OB are proud of you. I don't know that for a fact as I haven't asked but it seems a reasonable assumption; except perhaps for any wizened old misanthrope who thinks the whole adventure the folly of a delusional mind; which is just possible. Seriously I remain rapt in admiration sitting at my desk contemplating another coronation chicken sandwich provided by the dead ringer for Waynetta Slob from the sarnie bar across the road. Did 10 minutes on the exercise bike last night and nearly died. I think I have some work to do.

Keep the wheels turning and the pictures coming.

Andy

written by Andy Gillham on January 30, 2007

Greetings from Liverpool!
Have only just found your blog, via your daughter's and glad to see you are following in her footsteps. Did wonder what fool you had managed to find to join you on your journey till I found out who Claud actually was. You sound as if you are having a good time apart, of course, from all those hills and saddle sores. You are a man after Gerry's own heart -he too likes white legs!!!

Keep up the blogging and have a safe journey.

The Finnegans

written by Gwen Finnegan on January 30, 2007

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