New Zealand Holiday - week 8 - Queenstown and Alexandra - 18th March to 25th March
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Taking flight from Nelson.
Flying down to Queenstown.
Queenstown - the Adventure capital of NZ
We threw ourselves into this place. Well, I fed the ducks and TW patted a dog, oh and we caught a bus. The other tourist were jumping off bridges with only an elastic band to save them from a watery end. They were riding a Shark, a motorised monster that speeds around the Lake in leaps and bounds. Some were taking jet boats along the river followed by a death defying luge trip on Bob's Peak. For us, the new Gondola was a very sedate ride and more our style. It climbs up to the Skyline where on TW's birthday, we had a lovely Buffet Dinner. Probably the riskiest activity we undertook. I absolutely smashed the Buffet, piling up Giant Prawns, Sushi, Smoked Salmon, Steak, Venison, Salad and more. I was more selective on the desert, just an Apple Crumble. The after Dinner Activity was star-gazing. we were so lucky to have a clear night as our guide took us on a tour of the Heavens. From the Southern Cross to the Milky Way and back. It wasn't too cold either. Mind you we had thermals on and they supplied a thick jacket suitable for Antarctica. We did not hire a car for our first few days in Queenstown. We survived the local buses but they are terribly slow. at least we had no parking problems.
Looking down on Queeenstown
Starring Tonight
Dining at the Skyline
Arrowtown
Arrowtown, a charming and well-preserved village, is one of Queenstown's nearby neighbors. Its wooden buildings and riverside setting make it a delightful destination. In autumn, the trees burst into a spectacle of color. While it may be a bit touristy, we enjoyed a leisurely walk by the river and had a tasty lunch at the Fork and Tap. TW bought a woolen shawl. Its a nice cycle ride from Queenstown.
Arrowtown
Baaah
Arrowtown
Queenstown to Arrowtown on a bike
TSS Earnslaw
The TSS Earnslaw was commissioned by New Zealand Railways to cater to the communities surrounding Lake Wakatipu. It's construction started in 1911, and after dismantling, the ship's hull plates were shipped from Dunedin to Kingston across the South Island. The Earnslaw was reconstructed and launched on February 24, 1912, and it embarked on its inaugural journey to Queenstown on August 18, 1912. Incredibly that's the the same year as the Titanic!
Brilliant to see that the Earnslaw is still steaming through the blue waters of Lake Wakatipu. Still going strong. It steams to Walter Peak Farm, on the far end of the Lake' every morning. Most passengers disembark and have Lunch and return on a later sailing. We chose to sail straight back to Queenstown and were a bit envious of the diners as they disembarked. However, we really loved the return journey without the hordes of tourists. The Captain allowed me to climb up on the Bridge after we docked and he took a couple of snaps of yours truly in command.
The Steamship Earnslaw
TSS Earnslaw Cruising on Lake Wakatipu
Taking the wheel
On the bridge
This lounge would have been packed on the outward voyage
Shadowy figures at the Skyline
A walk in the Park
Woofer - wouldn't fit in TW's suitcase.
The beach in Queenstown from the Park
Kelvin Heights
A pleasant ride around the Peninsula that is home to the Golf Course was on our agenda. We rented bikes at the Hilton for half a day. It was quite a peaceful area away form the bustle of Queenstown and it was an enjoyable ride. We dropped into the Golf Course for a drink in the Club House and chatted with some friendly locals.
Kelvin Heights - around the Peninsula on our bikes
The monstrous mechanical Shark leaps out of the water
Heading West on a Staycation Broadhaven South Beach TW found a last minute cancellation to this 2000 Acre National Trust property. Our cottage usually takes six so it is not a cheap deal for just two people. In normal times, of course, we would have headed east for Austria but these are not normal times. The need for an expensive Covid test before we entered Austria made it inconvenient and impractical. Private Covid tests cost between £150 and £200 and there is no guarantee on how quickly you get results. To enter Austria you need the test to be carried out within the last 4 days. So the staycation made a lot of sense. Spending our money in the UK to help protect jobs was also a strong persuader. So with the car laden with our bikes and provisions we headed west on the 240 mile journey to Stackpole. Crossing the Border on the Severn Bridge No Covid test was required but the Welsh did make us go through a sheep dip ...
French Leave - 14th September 2013 Good Morning ride down the Old Rhine Canal Into the Forest - and out of the wind Crossing the border - walking bridge at Huningue over the Rhine Another good breakfast, another shower of rain and a return to the Old Rhine Canal. Got a bit adventurous after a while and turned off to take a look at some local villages. Am afraid I went a bit around the houses in the flat farming country. Found my way back on track near Volgelsheim. The place names around here do not exactly trip off the tongue. A fierce headwind from the south made cycling very difficult so had to get my head down. I needed my Patisserie stop! A diversion through a massive forest added distance but gave respite from the wind for a while. My downloaded Eurovelo 5 course headed for Mulhouse but I did not need to go there. I headed off to Basel. I think I was paying the penalty for not researching this area sufficiently. I could see the big Rhine Canal through the tree...
An Italian Escape With Covid in abeyance and another health issue resolved it was time to head South for a week in Italy. Bologna 17th May 2022 We chose the noble City of Bologna as our starting point and BA from LHR our carrier of choice. We had a shedload of BA credits from all our cancelled flights over the Winter so we even took checked luggage! Really great to be landing in Italy and even better that they did not make us line-up in the 'Other Passport' queue, we were straight through the e-gates onto the Marconi shuttle into the City. Bologna Station is a bit of a maze and we struggled to find our way out. Eventually we found a long overpass that took us to the front of the building and a Taxi to our digs for the first two nights. Coincidentally this was in Via Marconi. I thought the comms pioneer was an adopted Englishman but clearly he is very well remembered over here. Our La Dolla Apartment was really nice and modern, a bit of a contrast to the lobby and stairs but th...
A water theme for the day - 16th September 2013 At Bodensee - the shore of Lake Constance on a wet day Romanshorn to Rothenbach (timer reset after Lindau) I sat at the wrong table at Breakfast at the Anker Hotel in Romanshorn. My table was apparently set for a couple of elderly ladies. The waitress/boss ignored me after that. No offer of extra coffee, or whatever. Took the 9:36 Ferry to Friedrichshafen, home of the Zeppelin. It takes about 45 minutes to cross Lake Constance/Bodensee at this point. It is a car/lorry ferry but with only two cars on this particular crossing plus, of course, one bicycle. It was raining when I set foot on German soil and started to cycle to Lindau, about 28km to the South. Quite a nice route along the Lakeside but a bit busy in the towns. Lots of tourists wandering about with their umbrellas up looking lost. Cycling around Lake Constance is a popular holiday pursuit and I suffered the ignominy of being passed by a large group on e-bikes. Oh well,...
A Day in Winter - 13th December 2012 All quiet at the Advent Market - Daytime in Bad Hofgastein Winter in Bad Hofgastein Bad Hofgastein Kur Park with the Stubnerkogel in the background Bad Hofgastein Kur Park - across the frozen lake Ducks to water The current High Pressure system has brought low temperatures and clear blue skies. TW had the day off and took a few pictures as she walked into town through the Kur Park. In the evening the Advent Market is full of people enjoying a Gluwein or Hot Chestnuts and horse driven sleighs criss-cross the Park. During the day, all is quiet with just a few shoppers and some very hardy Mallard Ducks in the Kur Park. Open Loop - 14th December 2012 On the tracks We can see the Langlauf Loipe (cross-country loops) from our window and we noticed that they had put in some classic tracks. Had to give them a go. Slide and Glide, Slide and Glide. Looking North in Gasteinertal Looking South No downhill today ...
Pancake Day - Pouring in Punakaiki - 18th October Punakaiki Rocks take a battering Piled up Pancakes Hokitika - the clock tower Blown away on Hokitika Beach The wild weather continued. To be fair to the West Coast, if you drive down when a Severe Weather Warning is in place you can expect a little inconvenience. Even more so if the warning is for strong South Westerlies. Our little Yaris was buffeted by these blasts from the southern ocean as we wound down on Highway 6 towards the Pancake Rocks. We pulled up in a Car Park in Punakaiki that was filled with Camper Vans. Not sure how stable they are in the wind. One Aussie said he had seen one earlier that slid four feet sideways on the road ahead of him. They are very popular here though and range from basic people carriers to more sophisticated North American sized vehicles. We are relatively slow drivers and some have no difficulty passing us. Campers are certainly a reasonable option for a holiday here, th...
25th September Day 4 Feugarolles to Castelsarrasin 84km Hunting for snails Crossing the massive viaduct over the Garonne Really enjoying the cycling along the canal. The prevailing wind is from the NorthWest and our heading was South East. Couple that with a smooth surface and only a slight incline and you have a cycling idyll. There are also plenty of towns and villages en route so, really, it would be possible to do the trip several times and get variety by stopping at different places. So anyway, down for Breakfast on another cool day. Six cyclists now, the lead peleton had been joined by les Frères Eccossais, the Scottish brothers. After a jolly meal we headed off. I joined up with the Scots as the pursuivants, the Three Musketeers, in Tour de France terms. The yellow jersey had already left and we did not catch him. This wasn’t grape country. The fields alongside the canal were planted with a myriad of different crops including tobacco, kiwi fruits (what a...
Heading Northwards towards Picton. From Geraldine we skirted around Christchurch heading for Amberley a small town to the North and our staging post on the way to Kaikoura. The Teviot View Motel was very comfortable and the hosts were friendly. We had a wander on the beach at the end of the road. It was not a paddling day on Amberley Beach. The weather was still a bit wild after the recent storm. I ventured for a hair cut in the Barbers next to the Supermarket. I had to wait a short time but the other customers were friendly and one recommended we go to Ohau Point near Kaikoura to see the seals. Turned out to be an excellent tip. Amberley has a very fine Pie Shop which, of course, we visited and picked up lunch. Kaikoura Kaikoura is a well-known tourist spot. Despite a significant earthquake a few years back, the damage isn't readily apparent. The seabed rose during the quake, it seems. We spoke with a local woman who endured the terrifying event. Whales are the main draw here, w...
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