Chapter 2 - New Zealand plans

We've shrugged off the jet lag from our flight from Vancouver..(that was a bit of an odd experience).
The laundry is sorted and the plans for the New Zealand adventure is almost finalised.
We're flying out on 7th November (9.00pm) and heading for Hong Kong (arrive 5.00pm Monday 8th). Think we might be sleeping through til Tuesday morning.
2 nights in Hong Kong, then flight out to Auckland on Wed 10th and arrive Thursday 11th @ 11am... here's a brief overview of the trip in NZ.

Thur 11th - drive to Paihai (north) - 3 nights
Sun 14th - drive to Clevedon - meet with Jane & Bob E.
Mon 15th - to Hahei - 2 nights
Wed 17th - stay at Rotorua - 2 nights
Fri 19th - Turangi - 1 night
Sat 20th - drive to Stratford - 2 nights
Mon 22nd - Waipukurau - 2 nights
Wed 24th - drive to Wellington -1 night
Thur 25th - ferry to South Island (Picton) drive to Motueka
Fri 26th - drive to Te Miko (north west coast) - 2 nights
Sun 28th - drive south to Franz Joseph motel - 2 nights (helicopter trip booked)
Tues 30th - Kingston Tranquility Lodge! (sounds nice) - 2 nights
Thur 2 Dec - Te Anau - Kingsgate Hotel - 2 nights
Sat 4th Dec - Precipice Creek, Glenorchy - 2 nights
Mon 6th - drive to Queenstown airport - fly to Auckland - 2 nights
Wed 8th - fly to San Francisco - 3 nights
Sat 11th Dec - 17.50 flight back to Heathrow, arrive back Sunday lunchtime 12.30pm

phewwwww...
stay tuned for further reports!!

HOME!

So that was Canada....
We flew out of Vancouver on time yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. Landed in London Gatwick at 6.00am this (Monday) morning. Waiting for the effects of catching up 8 hours.
Its time to reflect on an amazing trip, which was made all the more enjoyable by the relatives across Canada and who were also able to meet up in Seattle (you know who you are!). It was fantastic to see everyone, and as I now load up the photos onto the computer here, there are hundreds of memories flashing before my eyes. Memories that will struggle to ever be erased.
There's some laundry to do now, but its just a short time before we are off on our next adventure to New Zealand and hope that those who have followed us for this trip enjoy the next chapter..

Vancouver - the final day

We were having one of those days that we were avoiding thinking about. It was our final day of the trip, and the final day in Vancouver. This day had to be different than any of the others. At best, because we wanted to be distracted from thinking about our return home. But we had one final couple to meet and make it special.
Reliably connected with friends of Caroline's cousin in Oshawa, we had made plans to meet up with a couple who lived in central Vancouver.
We waited in the lobby with positive anticipation, (as we had throughout the journey) to be collected.
Well.... the day took off in grand style as once taken to their townhouse, we were invited to take in the views from their roof-top garden area across the skyline of Vancouver. The blue skies continued whilst the views both with the naked eye as well as through binoculars were intoxicating and addictive. Landmarks were pointed out to us, and conversation ran freely between the four of us.
We were to be taken on a test run tour, which our host wanted to provide. Strapped into the car we set off for a tour which was to take in views from all angles designed for the hardened tourists as well as areas of extreme wealth and urban deprivation, (and I don't mean the ghost area of the Olympic Village)
We weaved across the city and caught numerous panoramas.
A couple of hours later, we were heading back to enjoy a marvelous meal and more exchanges of conversation. The finale awaited as we went to the roof garden to catch the night view of the skyline which was to be our lasting memory of Vancouver.

Vancouver=Sky Planes & Joggers

It was the first full day in Vancouver and we equipped ourselves with a $9 day pass to ride the skytrain into the centre. With no clear plan as we headed off, we arrived at the Waterfront, thinking the seawall walk would be a good introduction to the Vancouver skyline.
We headed east along the walkway, having found an HSCB Bank to exchange a few travellers cheques. It was the first time we had to break into the reserves.
The walk exposed the vast north coast line of Vancouver and watched as a flurry of Sky planes came into land across the waterfront. Both landing and taking off, the attracted our attention. So much so, we did look at the possibility of catching a flight... but were advised to book in advance due to its popularity. We passed over the idea and carried on walking.
The walkway was divided into 2 main lanes... one for cyclists and one for walkers... however there were a continous rush of joggers heading in both direction. Some were very fit looking and dressed accordingly, whilst others seem to be fighting off their next coronary attack. Perhaps to also explain that the temperature was nearing 25 deg, with no cloud cover. The sun kept beating down and only an occasional break for shade, gave relief from the strong rays.
They kept running past. Was this what Vancouver people did on their lunch break?
We sat on a bench and watched the midday activity.
after a 15 minute stop, we planned to return along the same path and consider a bite to eat.
We arrived back to the Waterfront station and headed via the Skytrain a few stops to the Olympic Village area. We then caught a bus and found our way into Granville Island, where art, crafts and lots and lots of fresh produce were displayed in the Market area. Entertainers were also in good voice on several corners.
we'd noticed there was a bus stop at which we could get back to the Waterfront station and then head back to Richmond with the Friday afternoon rush hour looming.
We got back to the hotel around 5pm....

This is it.... Vancouver

the final chapter of the pages of this tour of Canada (and some USA) are now being flicked open and there is a sense of satisfaction that so much has been achieved.
We drove out of Anacortes after Caroline experienced a sweedish massage before we checked out.
The drive back into Canada along the I-5 was relatively pain free and with the sun beating down we made the half hour drive into the suburb of Richmond and checked into our final hotel.
The Tom Tom sat nav had completed its task admirably and we took it off the windscreen for the final time.
Now on the 5th floor we looked out on the view... aeroplanes were coming into land at the airport nearby, as a backdrop against Burger Kings, Subways, and a selection of other drive thru's.
We went out for a walk along the nearby river. A tangle of roads (which were a bit tricky to cross) left us a bit disorientated, but we found our way eventually. A selection of bizarre sculptures and other interesting features decorated the walk, as we observed sea planes coming in to land on the river a little further along the estuary.
We returned to the Hotel and after a rest, phoned a friend of Caroline's cousin (in Oshawa), who has kindly offered to collect us on Saturday and provide a tour of all the highlghts in Vancouver. I'm still keen to explore the skytrain tomorrow, which was installed in preparation for the Winter Olympics last year.