Oct 21 - Wellington, NZ

 Oct 21 - Wellington, NZ

A beautiful day for a coastal drive!  High was 18° and sunny - windy where we went.

Our tour went along the Stormy Coast to a sheep station.  Leaving the industrial port of Wellington we saw pile after pile of logs.  Our bus driver told us they leave Wellington as logs going to places like China, Korea and Japan and come back as chopsticks and toothpicks!   

We headed into the Hutt Valley passing through Petone where the first settlers landed.  Streets were named after the ships that landed there. Many of the trees we saw as we passed by villages were American Pine that thrive here because of the high rainfall and excellent soil.  

Houses are build up the side of the mountains and many residents have installed private cable cars!  Apparently there are over 400 private cable cars in New Zealand, 90 of them in the Wellington area!

                                                  You can see the white cable going up the hill

One of the settlements we passed was Eastbourne - very isolated because of the weather. 170 days of annual rain and winds in excess of 70 kph.  Dwellings started out as holiday homes and gradually became permanent residences.  There are no sharks in the cool water ( 13°-15° ) We passed huge area covering the hillsides with gorse. From time to time we spotted some goats high up on the cliffs among the gorse.  

We passed the oldest lighthouse in New Zealand.  There are twin lighthouses  - one high on the cliff, and the other by the water.  

Soon we arrived at Pencarrow Station Lodge, a privately owned sheep station surrounded by thousands of acres of regional parks with panoramic views of the Storm Coast.   We stepped into the lodge where they served coffee and a selection of finger foods, and then were invited to wander on the property and take in the fabulous scene over Cook Strait.

The owner then demonstrated how the farm dogs work with the commands being conveyed by whistles.  Two dogs work together - one barks; the other does not as they round up the sheep and put them into a pen.  The owner then demonstrated the shearing of one of the ewes.

We piled back into the motor coaches for the return to the ship.  The passing scene called for one photo after another.  

And then our ship came into view….

After a delicious dinner ( Chateaubriand for Mary, MahiMahi for Dorothy) we headed for the theatre to see Mikey Votano.

Tomorrow is our last port of call or this cruise!  Where have the days gone?  We have had wonderful weather, great tours, fabulous meals,  excellent service …. I could go on and on!!

Stay tuned for our update from Picton tomorrow.

M & D