The Trip Down (pt 1)
(If you are getting this by email and don't see any pictures then you'll need to go to http://cantabriain.blogspot.com)Thankfully, the trip from Auckland down to Christchurch went without a hitch.
The sun managed to follow me down the whole length of my journey, providing me with wonderful warm weather without a slippery road in sight.
My Dad managed to pack my poor little Subaru Justy with all the stuff that I wanted to take with me - you might not be able to tell from the photo but the car is ABSOLUTELY packed full, including the passengers seat up front, all the floor space, and with a wooden plank behind the front seats to stop it coming forward into the driving compartment!
It took me so long to arrange all my stuff that I didn't get away until about 3pm that day. With a long road ahead of me I set off, heading for Taupo...
The way to Taupo was fairly uneventful, although I enjoyed the trip. I prefer the Far North rather than the drive south of Auckland, but the drive was fairly good.
I managed to entertain myself - the raving extrovert that I am - with plenty of music to karaoke along to from my Creative Zen 
MP3 Player (so good!).
MP3 Player (so good!).Eventually Taupo spread out before me and I had to locate the place where I was staying...
...known by the campsite as 'The Last Resort'. I *think* the manager lady thought I was a bit odd to ask for it by name, but she rented it to me anyway.
After my stop at Taupo to watch Heroes (what, me addicted?) I left the next day with my sights set on a five hour journey to my friend Malcolm's place in Wellington.
I passed through the desert road, which my Mum loves. My friend Annabe says that the desert road looks a lot like the land in South Africa. See for yourself:
The drive was beginning to take its toll on me (I didn't realise how much it would until the time I got to Christchurch the next day!), but it always enjoy the drive heading in towards Wellington.
Following the tracks of my EU friends on the route to where TSCF always held the Student Leaders Conference was fun, but it felt weird not having a car-load of mates with me.
I made sure to wave hello at Paraparaumu and the SLC campsite on the way past, until the fantastic views of the harbour around Wellington just begged me to take some more pictures.So here's a panorama shot of Wellington I took from some mountain! (click it to see it in more detail)
Wow, this is a mammoth post. I think i'll break it up here just in case things go funny when I try to upload it. I shall continue this another time.Stay tuned for next time: when we see Ferry Rides (including people who miss the boat), the Sounds (and crazy holiday homes there), The South Island, and arrival at Christchurch.
Labels: Desert Road, Justy, North Island, Road Trip
posted by Iain @ 12:58 pm
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