By the numbers
13.16 kms
19,097 steps
2 libraries
The day started off at some early hour in the night as I
never bothered to check the time as someone had a very late arrival into the
hostel. I shouldn’t complain as I had done the same too several trips ago after
my plane refused to leave during a storm. I thought I had set my alarm, but I
was up at 7am anyway as I had something I needed to do and that was some
research at the library, although reading books and making copies of the pages
I wanted could be classed as ‘study’ and maybe cheaper too as I do not need to
buy the books. The day turned into another really nice one once I got outside
heading to Maccas for breakfast. Its the one place that has something to eat
with a coffee that doesn’t cost the earth unless you are buying books with
that. Their toilets were out of order for some reason that I never questioned
as I didn’t need them yet.
The library never opened until around 9am and I still had
around an hour or maybe 40 mins at the max, which meant I wanted to go
wandering. I took a walk along the harbour wanting to first visit the Rainbow
Warrior memorial and head off to the Tepid baths in the other direction on the
other side of the ferry terminals in the Viaduct area. I came across a very
important rock that was behind the fenct that had the historic places marker on
it. It was the Te Toka Maumahara otherwise known as the point where the white
settlers had planted the flag when the Maori chief Te Kawau gifted land for the
settlement of Auckland. I am unsure if I had seen this before or if I had it
was in my pre blogging days. I found the ports people are wanting to bring the
rock out from not being known so it can be touched by the people of Auckland
with its own commemorative thing made for it. Further up was the memorial for
the Rainbow Warrior sinking when the French sank it to stop the protests
against nuclear testing. I thought it best by now to turn around and I wanted
to see the baths before it got late.
Wandering past the ferry terminal I had to visit the loo
with a need that made me really need to say hello. I found they were doing
final boarding for Waiheke Island. I was at that gate with a thought I could
end up there just to procrastinate, but meant I would have to return. I got
stuck next to an American talking with his wife when I was trying to cross the
road at the maritime museum. I wanted the Viaduct area as thats where the baths
were. I think it was part of the recovery of the WW1 soldiers and had hot water
running into them from the trams. The
pipes had gotten rusty so had to be removed, but they made a display that had
gone rusty to remember them by. I had seen some artworks across the road so I
followed them and then went up to the upper level of the highway so that I
could get a close look on one of them and I went back to the same level as the
baths. I could have just crossed the road, but I wanted to see what was further
on. I had come this way last year when I was making my way to the ferry and had
wanted to go back for a look. Thinking it was best to head back up to Hobson
Street, I took some more stairs and noticed a gathering of men underneath it as
I walked up. There were some homeless hanging out there, but they seemed to be
happy where they were. I turned off up the street as I had seen on the map a
church. It turned out to be the third building of St Patricks on the site as
there had been two before it in the 1840 and 1848. This one had been started in
1884, but was finished in 1908. Reverend Pompallier seemed to have his hand in
every church that I had a look at. I went inside for a look and took some
photos especially of the organ. On my way out I donated some loose change to
the restoration of one of the buildings across the street and to be funny, I
put 10 cents in the lost souls tin. I think that one was kind of empty from the
sounds of the coin hitting wood. I knew now was the time that I had better head
to the library or else I could be stuck in a big way. Down to Queen Street I
went and through another side street that included a bookshop that I knew I
would visit later.
I entered the library, went up a floor and went back down to
the cafe for a coffee. I really needed a coffee and then I went to the top of
the building where the research room was. It was sort of research when there
were a few people there and I was doing my thing. I had a list of books, but I didn’t
get them all. At first I had no idea where to look as the research area was
divided into Normal NZ history, Maori history and family tree history. I had my
list and went to work, although I was more copying passages with my phone that
writing anything. I found it easier to get what I was after as I wont be back.
I checked to see if what I picked out was relevant and there were a few books
that were not. The funny thing was I came across a few that I already had
especially when they were also in the post. I did stop for lunch and another
coffee as I went back up to look through more books. I think I have found what
I was looking for, but unsure if I have everything that I wanted. I ended up in
the maori section and had a quick look through the family history section to
find that it was overseas history, but I found a 2017 book from Ohio about cemetery
wandering and it was interesting. My next plan was to walk into the university
library.
My plan didn’t quite workout that way as I went for a wander
down the side streets opposite to Queen street. I came across Freyberg place
where the Chancery Square that had a bit of expensive eateries there. I had
walked into Whitcoulls on the way down and it was a shadow of its former self
as it was no longer in a three story building, but in a small back alley
building. For some reason I ended up in two second hand bookstores looking at
books and giggling at a guy who was looking at the New Zealand history books
and his girlfriend telling him he can come back tomorrow. He was out of the way
and I had gotten what I was looking for. My bag for the plane is 23 kilos. I don’t
think I have met that weight yet. I think I have enough. I was interested in
the history of the streets as O’Connell Street had information panels, but I
would be back. I walked up to the university noticing that there were a few
people who had graduated. I entered the library thinking I had gotten away with
entering and being unnoticed. I realised I had no idea where I was supposed to
be looking and no internet access to search. It was funny as I ended up with
the 1920 parliamentary debates. I thought I should wander out and go look for
some food.
I headed back down towards Fryberg place with its Pioneer
women’s memorial Hall, which had me interested, but I couldn’t see anything. An
info panel about Chancery Square said this was where Auckland’s Mechanics
Institute established in 1842 was until Auckland’s library opened up and the
books were moved to there. I ended up finding a place to sit. The guy serving
me asked if I wanted a seat inside or outside in the summer air. I said outside
and sat next to two ladies. He told me that I had made a strategic move and I
laughed and said yes. The ladies ignored me though I think they seen me reading
my book and did order a steak. I wanted
steak and I got steak. When I went to pay the machine said no credit. I could
only pay some of the meal with cash as I was $12 short. I was a little worried
that I would need to get some cash out somewhere as the machine said no credit
and I was declined on cash. The manager came around and we had a discussion
where I appoligised for not having enough cash and they still had no credit.
Magic appeared when it turns out I was allowed to do credit. I was happy and
the manager was happy too. I apoligised again before wandering off for my tour
of O’Connell street knowing I needed more cash on my person. There were older
buildings that had been there from early Auckland where it was part of a
network of secondary streets and laneways. O’Connell Street had appeared within
a newspaper in 1843 so it was an old narrow street.
I decided that at this late hour even though it was lose to
630pm that I should make my way up Queen street to where I knew a bank was and
to have a shower after a long day. On the way through I was passed by a happy
clash of sounds that were Hare Kristnas going down the street. I found a bank
and had to wait for a lady to exit as my car swipe would not work. No idea why.
It didn’t with another lot of people, but I was able to head back to the hostel
between drops of rain. I was hoping that I wouldn’t get stuck and wandered
through K’ road as I wanted an easy walk into the hostel instead of puffing up
a huge slope. It was a good walk and I was happy to be back in my room again. I
know public transport over the weekend might be a bit iffy as they are working
on the rail lines and the trains might not get past Newmarket.
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