Friday, 11/12/93
We spent the evening with Trevor and Noline Reynolds in their huge place, as mentioned before. We were up at the crack of nine for breakfast. Noline made whitebait omelettes. Whitebait are little fish, about an inch long, and maybe 1/8″ thick. They are considered a spring delicacy down here, and were actually very good.
After breakfast, we talked about their upcoming trip to the US. We spent a couple hours doing this, and Bill and I both offered a place to stay if they get near our houses. They had a wonderful signed painting by Ammigoni, called Barrie that I’m going to have to get a print of. It was captivating.
We got a detailed view and explanation of their beautiful garden and fish pond, which cover about an acre. Unbelievable what they’ve been able to do.
We packed back into the car about one in the afternoon, and started our continuation in the rain and the drizzle. We went through Waiouru, which is a big military base in NZ, past more planted forests, row by row, mile by mile. We worked our way down to Palmerston North (there is no other Palmerston in New Zealand), and then east to what was supposed to be a beautiful drive through Manawatu Gorge. It was kind of neat, but nothing really special, so we turned around and continued south all the way to “Windy Wellington”. On our way into town, we missed the turnoff to our homestay, but managed to get luck just by heading in the general direction where we thought it was. We stopped at YAFNC place (Yet Another Fish-N-Chips) for a HUGE meal (I over ordered) before going up to the house.
This place belonged to Theresa and Jack Stokes, and sat high up on a bluff facing southeast over the entrance to Wellington Harbour and the Cook Strait. We had a strong (I thought) sou’easterly blowin? that I thought could push the house up the hill. The house creaked and moaned all night long. The beds we slept in this night were the worst on the trip. They were literally the pits. I didn’t sleep more than an hour the whole night. This house made our record of fantastic houses choices four for four, if you don’t count the beds. So far, they have all been spectacular.
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