It was motorcycle weekend in Queenstown when we left. We had fun looking at the shops in Arrowtown and a few of us bought some artwork here. It was great to have the van stopped to pick up our purchases. My portrait of Arrowtown is now in my family room. Because of this purchase, it was discovered that Melanie is 2 1/2 months my elder. We split up a bit this day and did not have a tidy little line after Arrowtown. While Cindy and I were riding there was a large berm. This was the only time we were treated rudely. A motorcycle passed us on the left. Remember we were riding on the left side of the street. We gathered together again in front of the large pieces of fruit in Cromwell. Onwards to Clyde, it was bare terrain, lots of rocks and we were following a blue river.

At the Clyde border there was a huge power plant. Many people stopped to look at it. The owners of Oliver's had wonderful fruit punch and bakery items waiting our arrival. This was a special place and we all ran around looking at the various rooms. Plenty of windows too. The town was quite quiet- and perhaps one of the larger towns of our tour. We cruised the streets and visited an aviary that was for sale, home and all by the owner who was retiring. A very different place. Before dinner, I watched the Sky TV weather report and learned it was maybe 85 degrees that day. Jan let me provide a weather report at dinner. That evening we gossiped on the veranda after dinner and heard some wild stories. Debby was surprised when she heard that Bob was once a mayor. She is actively involved in politics and Bob was apparently mayor before Debby moved to Vermont.

A view of Otago Bay from the lodge at Larnach Castle

It was a bit chilly and a little damp as we left Beaumont, but before too long it cleared and was time to remove those arm warmers. Within a few miles there was another town to visit, and a farm store to buy yet more shepard whistles! Just about everyone had one now. I stopped to take a photo of the giant ice cream cone, and believe it or not got twisted around and made a wrong turn. This was about my first and ONLY chance to make a wrong turn, so I guess I had to do it. But I did see another local golf course. When I hit dirt roads (2 miles) I realized I was up to no good and turned around. This was lovely country today. We stopped before traveling into Dunedin to avoid bad traffic.

Driving into Dunedin with Jan was fun. It was her hometown.

The Yellow-Eyed

This was a very special day! We started the day with porridge in the stables, just like the Scots, and then began our descent to the bay. The terrain rolled, and there were lots of sheep. At last the moment Cindy had been waiting for the whole journey - sheep wild in the road. We were fast approaching two or three sheep, unfortunately, they were petrified of us, and darted as quickly as possible back to the field. The problem was they could NOT find and opening in the fence, and kept banging their heads on the wire fence, guess they could not see the wire. Too bad, we made a hasty retreat, because we did not want them harmed any further. On to the gardens, where Susan and Peter were already relishing in the scenery. Tim had provided them a short cut! I was so enchanted with the bay, I wanted to go back and spend more time observing the scenery. It was a great ride down the bay to the penguins.

First we had an orientation. All penguins were named. It was very difficult to tell their sex. Penguins are also monogamous, and we found an Andy was an Anne. I think that was it. Really funny they named all couples after famous people. Yes there was a Hillary and Bill! What they had were paths in the ground that were camouflaged so we could see out and observe. Most adults were out to sea gathering food, but the youths were still around, and some were very funny looking as they were molting (loosing their feathers!). We did see from quite a distance one adult returning from sea. Next was lunch and then the Albatross. There was a fort at the end of the peninsula and the albatross were sitting on their eggs, due to hatch any day. Not as splendid as the penguins - but great potential. It was hard to believe they were so big (wing span) when they were sitting and not flying.

This sign depicts the fireworks of the day!

View from the Auckland Ferry

The VBT guides brought us to the Dunedin airport. They changed my plane at the last moment, so I was hustled on board - remember - no security on domestic flights in NZ. So off I was to Auckland again through Wellington. Not that I really saw another city, but did see another airport! I checked my carryon in a OUTSIDE locker in Auckland and found the bus for a ride into the city and a bit of exploring. Auckland is on both the Pacific Coast and Tasman Sea, so I took a ferry ride in whatever strait it is that connects the two, and viewed Auckland and all those big buildings. One third the population of New Zealand lives in Auckland (1.3 Million) it was indeed a large city. Downtown was like a big city, as busy as walking the magnificent mile in Chicago, but not as many skyscrapers. The one Skydome you see here is the tallest structure in the southern hemisphere. This was a strange thought. There is indeed a difference between the two hemispheres. I had about 4 hours in the city and meandered to the dock where all the happenings for the Whitbread were happening and found a internet area, so I tried all my favorite sites. At least the ones whose URL's I could remember. This was strange too. But we heard about the Whitbread on the news, and now I know a bit more about sailing. Remembering I was in Auckland PRIOR to their electric problems I will NOT forget that the bus out of the city was playing the Bee Gees song The lights went out in Massachusetts! I thought it was funny at the time, since I was born in Massachusetts, now I think it is funny because a few weeks later the lights went out in Auckland!