Terra Firma Amusement
25 November 2014
Ho hum, what to do when the weather isn't conducive to cruising? It's virtually impossible to run out of boat projects (which keeps Tom happy), but you can only work on them so long before going a bit nutty (perhaps I'm speaking for myself here...). As you can imagine, there are countless things to see and do in New Zealand by land. This time of year you have to expect to get blown around in the wind a bit and caught in a shower or two. But you can't let the weather keep you from getting out and exploring, you just need to be prepared. Key essentials: a light backpack stuffed with a map, bus change, a rain jacket, an extra layer of clothing, and a good pair of walking shoes.
A couple of weeks ago we ventured out to experience the 'Coast To Coast Walkway'. Estimated duration: five hours. A respectable distance for a scenic day hike. Three hours into our walk we'd already meandered through downtown Auckland and numerous suburbs, tramped through urban sheep farms, and up and down inactive volcanic parklands - still with no sign of Manukau Harbour (the alternate coast) in sight. In fact we'd lost track of the little yellow trail markers and were lost. Thank God for Google maps and cell phone GPS! After criss-crossing our way through Mount Eden to get back on track it dawned on me that it would take us five hours one way. We would still have to find our way back to where we began, at the Auckland Viaduct Harbour.
I started whining at the four and a half hour mark - right about the time Tom developed a blister. But neither of us are quitters. Sure enough, within half an hour we were dipping our toes in the shores of Manukau Harbour, making the five hour estimate just about perfect. We both agreed that the diverse landscape and scenery made weathering the wind and rain showers worthwhile, and after being lucky enough to catch a bus nearby that took us straight into town - just in time to buy a few boat parts before closing time - Tom decided the blisters were worthwhile too.
Since then we attended an Art Show and a local market hosted by the Yacht Club, I joined my book club buddies on a charity garden tour, and Tom's gone racing on Max Headroom with his mates a couple of times. Oh, and the rain stopped. Hallelujah.