Wandering boots that wander tour Day 3: The big easy in Hamilton

Steps: 9819

Kms: 6.77

I decided that I would make today an easy day after running around and not really resting in the last couple of days. Usually I am on the go constantly, but since I had been to Hamilton a few times, I knew this might be one of the few places that I can sleep in before going anywhere else. I wanted to make sure I was rested and the day turned out to be warmer than I had expected. I spoke to the manager about the lack of a sheet as I had a divet and a fitted sheet, but nothing else. Turns out they provide them only if you ask and I was not worried about that at all.

Once I sorted myself out, I decided that I will spend my time at the museum as I wanted to visit the smaller museum again. Luckily it was the best price around and that is free. Wandering down to the Waikato museum I could feel the heat of the sun and knew it was like last summer and getting pretty hot. I was happy to give the girl my bag and take a wander for several hours. There were several exhibitions that were interesting like the WW1 about the Waikato and that the government tried getting Waikato tribes to enlist through conscription, but none actually went. Many people did go to the war from the area and all had different experiences including the miners who had links to the strikes around the time period. Something else I did not know about was the Maori New Year known as Matariki, which has something to do with the stars and the moon around June. It has something to do with planting season. It was something that was becoming commercialised even though nothing like the normal New Year celebrations. Another pretty interesting exhibit was about forgery and paintings. There had been a few that had been stolen and some people could not believe they had forgeries in their home. Some pictures were being held by a third party and were sold off without the owners knowledge and one art gallery never noticed their paintings to be missing until someone tried selling it back to the museum. There is actually an interesting book about all this.

Once I was done at the museum I wandered around the shops while eating lunch. I had the thought about seeing a movie, but there was nothing interesting on at this moment in time. I headed back to the hostel and on my way visited Pack ‘n Pay where they had fish for sale that we could take a whole big one if we wanted it. Not talking about small stuff as these were big. I found myself dinner as I was wanting to try to save some cash. Besides the supermarket roast dinner looked really good including some of the other meals that are available. It was easy to make my mind up though. I was going to spend the afternoon in the hostel and relax with a book. I kind got stuck with the US elections too and was chatting to several Canadians at the hostel about it.

Tomorrow is another day and I will be heading to Gisborne a location that I had not been to before. I don’t leave until midday, but I will be heading out that way via Rotorua and several other towns that I have forgotten about. I think Rotorua is my lunch break. I don’t arrive in Gisborne until early evening.

Wandering boots that wander tour - Day 2 To Hamilton

Steps: 28633

Kms: 16.48

I forgot to add in my last blog that I had a slight problem with my phone after landing. Seems I needed to turn the data off or else I would have ran up a big phone bill while away. Usually this turns off when I leave Oz, but this time it did not. I will leave the internet for when I have wifi connection, but it is good that I was aware. I had wondered this before I left, but forgot to look it up.

I had what could have been said to be a restless sleep, but woke up refreshed. I think the biggest problem was the time difference, but I was ready to move after i got up. I knew I could not leave my card in my pants while visiting the loo like I did with the key. Once I left the hostel for a wander where I would have breakfast before catching the bus to Hamilton. I wanted to have enough time to get there. I was wanting to wander through Symonds Street Cemetery and I got to do that after I found K road, which is a popular street in Auckland for history and these days for edgy entertainment. I went from the Jewish section to across the road where Captain William Hobson was buried near the Grafton bridge. Hobson is well known for his part in the New Zealand story as the author of the Waitangi treaty and governor of NZ. I explored the new cemetery walks though I did not end up too far from the hostel and decided to visit a cafe for breaky. I needed coffee and something to eat. The funny thing about the cafe was I met the shuttle bus people who lost their luggage. I had forgotten they flew from Atlanta to LA to Honolulu, Sydney and then Auckland. Their luggage didn’t make the final jump. I had thought they were first time travellers outside of America, but listening to their conversation I found they had been to quite a few places.

I had to return to the hostel for my belongings that were still there before making my way to the bus even though I was there 40 mins early. I made sure I was there with plenty of time as I did not want to be late. The drivers manifest was all on his phone. All he had to do was swipe the name to say he had them. Way better than the paper version. I wanted to keep an eye on the road as we went along as I wanted to see if there was any points of interest near the Great Southern Road, which was the route soldiers took during the Waikato wars, which included Pokeno and Mercer I think. There was something near the start of the motorway outside of the shopping centre in Manakau, but I couldn’t read it other that poles. They did have a drive through bank. We actually did stop in Mercer. It was a blink and you would miss it town. A very small town, although I think it was part of the New Zealand Wars with a depot or something that got blown up.

I was dropped off in Hamilton on time and I made my way to the hostel. I had stayed there before and hoped the manager that I met last time was not there as she couldn’t understand what I was after when I wanted a towel. A new manager was there or so he had said and that the other manager was away. I was listening to conversation later on that the hostel was for sale and the sale had fallen through as the people who were buying it didn’t have any idea how to run the hostel. There was something about February, but I was only half listening to the conversation. The new manager was afraid for his job when the hostel sold to someone. My plan once I checked in was lunch and then to look for the second hand bookshop called Browsers. I did find Browsers and asked about books on Gum digging although not the ones by AH Reed even though I found his autobiography and it mentioned um digging. The lady couldn’t help me unless it was for a specific author and I did not know the names. What I did do was look at books on specific areas like a sheep farm in Northland. Luckily many books come with indexes and found references to gum. One even had two pictures that I know of. Once I bought them, I found a post office to send them off home or else I would have 2 kilos extra in my bag.

The information centre was the next plan, but they did not have anything that I was after. I needed data for the history tour of Hamilton. I did wander over to Seddon stadium and wondered what i was doing as there wasn’t anything at a sports stadium that I wanted to see. I stopped at the transport station as I knew it had reliable wifi that I could use to research a map. I found I could visit Hamilton park lake or whatever they call the lake. The walking path took me right through the centre of the girls grammar school. No way was I doing that so planned to walk around the school not inside. Part of the path outside the school was called the Hamilton Path being part of Te Araroa. I think that is the national track that takes you all the way to Bluff to the very tip of the North Island. I did at first find the remains of a small rail line, but that did not fit the steam train at the park entrance. I was getting annoyed by the strong wind that was whipping up waves on the lake. The cafe even had the city of Hamilton wifi, which I thought was funny as I thought about King Arthur being told off that a sword claiming he was king was not a form of government. A monty Python thing.

By this time I was ready to head back to the hostel after a busy afternoon and wondering if I should do a boat tour or take it easy and do the museum. I think some extra sleep would not go astray and then I can look up some stuff. The boat tour means I have to head to Hamilton Gardens and I don’t really want to go there. I know of a cemetery with family members on the Gabolinscy line within, but its 9kms one way and again I am not trying that walk. I cant really get out that was without some support, but it doesn’t worry me. I will take a rest day to visit the museum, but tomorrow is another day.

Day 1.Wandering boots that wander tour to Auckland

Day 1

By the numbers

Bag 11.8kg

Steps: 9915

Km: 6.83km

Entertainment value: High

1 packed lunch

1 dead fitbit battery - replaced

The day started with a sleepless night with broken sleep after the thoughts of what I am going to do with the battery replacement for my fitbit that died the night before. It went really well for a year surprisingly enough. It has been a year since I bought it and I have only really used it for my trips away so has been sitting idle on my desk until it decided to die. Once I was up for the day I had a dog to be walked and the little bits to be packed before leaving. A battery was found and wasn’t easy to get out of its pack, but now we know they are packaged well. Mum would soon be along to pick me up.

Once I was picked up I was happy to wait in a short bag drop line for Air Asia to Auckland. Yup I booked a trip that leaves in the morning so we shall see. I didn’t want to arrive in the early hours of the morning as I would get to the hostel very late. The security line was long and moving fast enough that it didn’t take long to get through although one silly lady had scissors in her bag and I left with my gear when she was being searched. She was not allowed to touch her bag at all and she was warned at checkin. I don’t think she understood the risks as to why as thats what it sounded when she made excuses. I grabbed a coffee to fill in my paper work and then went through to the international part of the Gold Coast airport where the scanner let me through without a customs person taking my card. I found it had to be dropped off in a customs card drop off box. While on the other side I had entertainment from Scoot air where some slow customers were taking their time and they were not happy at being told they were holding up a plane. I think they were Singaporians who were arguing with the ladies that they were slow moving even though they were told to hurry up. I feel sorry for the staff who were getting stressed and the people were not really giving a crap at all.

I soon found that we were boarding for Auckland, but with a confusing difference that proved I had not been listening. People from Kuala Lumpur were transiting onto the current flight so they were taking a 2 hour flight to Auckland after flying from their destination. One line was for transits and the others for the Gold Coast check in. Now that was confusing, but I soon found myself in the right lane anyway. The flight had been delayed a touch for some reason, but we were on our way soon enough. I had the aisle seat, which suited me and I was happy to read my book in what could be a bucket type seat. I had my lunch and a bottle of water so I kept myself occupied. The flight itself was not that bad and we landed in a timely manner. Through immigration was easy as usual just how I love the easy to use electronics by doing all the work yourself without the staff sorting it for you. There was a border control line up after collecting my bag as I think several others landed too, but wasn’t that long of a wait.

Once I was through I headed for the shuttle bus that I had not booked ahead of time like I usually do. I could have caught the airport bus, but that never goes to your door. The funny part was the afternoon traffic and the stories by the other passenger beside me. The American had lost his baggage somewhere between Philadelphia and Sydney, which included a stop in LA. Another couple went from Canada and several other stops. I was laughing though I would not like that to happen. The ride I was enjoying as I got to see places like Mt Eden village. It was already around 6pm and I was hoping that I could get some exploring done before it got dark as there was several places that I wanted to walk.

It didn’t take that long and the hostel was the first stop, so I was happy to be at the same place again. It was then I noticed the changes at reception. The desk was higher and there was no key to open the fire door. Turns out they upgraded and went away from keys that were sticky to keycards. A brilliant idea and the rooms got updated too like the TV room / lounge became more roomy and my room now has USB ports to charge devices. Once I left I was hoping for heaps of light as I made my way to Albert street down at the university. What was down that way had my attention as there was a wall that was once part of the Albert Barracks built around the late 1840s. Said to be the oldest surviving structure built by Europeans in New Zealand. I wandered around the wall and went off to Albert Park after taking pictures of the university clocktower. The afternoon or evening breeze was crisp until it started raining. I wanted to have a look at the historic Symonds Street Cemetery as they had completed some walks around certain parts along with sign posts, but the continuing rain sent me in search for food before I ran out of light. I a wanting to look again before heading to the bus stop in the morning where I will head to Hamilton.

Fly, fly away – another trip away

My annual trip away has come around pretty fast, although this year I have squeezed in two big trips away and that I am happy for. Another trip to New Zealand with the accidental addition of a fourth week means I will be away longer than I had expected, but is well worth going. I havnt actually given the trip a name at all this time so we shall see what happens when I go over there.

So far I have sorted out my travel itinerary, my Ipod and have fresh batteries in my main camera. Every chargable that needs charging will be charged before I go away. I have updated my family tree info in case family need some of that while I am on the road. The books and magazines that I want to take with me have been selected. The last of the trips have been booked especially since I am planning to visit White Island an active volcanic Island. The research points I am wanting to look up have been found so will see what happens when I visit the archives.

Usually I have sorted out my packing by now, but this time I have not. I will do that Saturday night just in time for the Monday flight so everything will be busy from then until the morning when I fly out. At least I will hopefully miss the storms unlike last time that delayed up at the airport.

Many of the locations I have booked to stay, I have not been to before like Gisborne and Huntly. I am hoping to make a trip out to South Auckland if I do have the time to do so. I am still running on the theme of the New Zealand Wars, but will keep an eye on anything not listed by DOCs. The reason for Huntly is that I have used Auckland as a stop many times and wanted to stay somewhere else. A rough looking place that used to have coal mines and has a museum that I heard is worthy to visit.

The next best thing: Another big trip away

University has finished for me for another year so that means I am going away on my usual big trip that will always for some time be in New Zealand. Not only just to see family, but to see more of the country that I have not seen before especially new towns that I have either gone through or not been to that are interesting. By now I seem to have stopped within nearly all bigger towns in the North Island. Lets say there is still plenty to explore and I can only go so far by bus before sorting something else out like a tour.

The last time I did two bigish tours or trips to another country in the one year was back in 2010 when I visited England twice for the reason other than to visit a girl and I will try not to follow my heart like that again as its annoying. I did need the rest at the time too after failing one unit at university, but that was due to being over worked and coming back to work the day after landing. I just never got over the jetlag. This time I am trying to line my trips away back to where they usually are as last year I never did that due to a concert that got in the way, but was happy I seen ACDC. I found since I work in retail it makes life tougher if you go on holidays when school is out with fellow workers who are parents who also want to spend time with their kids. I am happy to work with them for a compromise and I got it with Waitangi Day.

This time around I am going to a few new places and some old ones. I quickly planned and then put in for holidays. By accident I placed an extra week without realising what I had done. This worked out pretty well as I could stay longer with family and add several extra locations to the trip. I was going to fly to Auckland and hop onto the earliest bus after I landed to Hamilton, but remembered last time I flew we were delayed by a big storm on the Gold Coast. We were over an hour late landing and I don’t want to lose like that again. Luckily I never had anything other than the city to stay in.

This trip I am heading to, Hamilton, Huntly, Whakatane, Gisborne, Whangarei, Waiheke Island and Kaitaia. I am wanting to visit places like White Island an active volcano and Waiheke, I didn’t know about until mum came home from two weeks away in New Zealand. I managed to find a reasonably priced cottage there and will learn some lessons about staying on an island. Since I will be in Auckland for around 5 days I have plans to visit the national archives and other areas like Manakau for the Botanic gardens. Elsewhere I will plan closer to the time especially when I know there are some heritage trails. Huntly I made a stop at on a whim as I have never been there other than on the bus and learnt it has a coal field museum. Sounds like an interesting place to visit, rough, but nice.

Planning some transport around Auckland seems to have become easier with the At Hop card, which I think is universal in the city. I remember last time I needed two cards depending on where I wanted to travel on the bus like to Motat and Bastion Point. As I do, I look at the routes the airport bus takes and since I will be going to Waiheke Island I wanted to get the bus from Britomart to upper Queen street around Grafton Bridge. The journey planner on the website is funny as it told me to walk to my finishing location. 24 mins walk it told me up hill as I had done that once before after doing the train from Wellington to Auckland. Hot hard walk with a heavy bag and then a very steep street. I have learnt to keep going up Queen street and then go around the back way due to the flat ground.

After seeing an article about riding motorcycles around the world including how you can do a tour to Base camp of Everest, I thought that next year I can hire a Spyder and tour the South Island. It will have to take in some thought and research, but I think it will be a good idea. I don’t want to go with other people as its something I want to do on my own. There are many places to visit like Haast, Gore, Bluff and even see the Dusky Sounds. I have been to some of the locations like Dunedin and Christchurch. I will keep that in mind and see what happens next year.