Wednesday

Wednesday

Long drive to Wellington.  I can't drive so it's all on Larry.  Arrived at our hotel  and Larry took the car back to the airport.  We went into shock when we saw the size of the room we paid $165 for.  Pictures  are very misleading.  The bed was a so-called double, but looked like  3/4 to me.  We could hardly get our luggage in with us.  At least it was clean.  No fridge, so we had to throw out the perishables.  What they did have was a small lap pool in the other building which I took advantage of.  Everywhere we have been in Australia or N.Z. The pools have been salt water which makes sense.

Wellington is hopping.  A huge young city with a lot going on.  Very tourist friendly as it seems to be everywhere in N.Z.  Talked Larry into going for Indian food which is less expensive than anything else.  It was delicious and Larry enjoyed it as well.

We are on the ferry right now rounding the tip of North Island.  The trip tales 3 hours.  The ferry is gi-normous and very comfortable.  I will let Larry give you  factual accounting of the ship.   Larry here, fairly big ship, with a deck for rail cars and two vehicle decks.  They used a remote control Diesel engine for,shunting cars on and off the ship.  It'll hold 60 rail cars although they are narrow gauge and there'd roe shorter than we're used to.  There are several double trailers full of cows, I don't think anyone told them where they're going.  At the port of Wellington lots of logs being delivered to be load onto ships.  They deliver by rail and road, every port we've seen lots of logs are leaving the country.  It's a three hour ferry ride with at least the last hour through very narrow and beautiful fjords.   We're staying in Blehheim tonight and Beth is going swimming with the fishes tomorrow. I'm not going because I'm too cheap.  A little cloudy this morning but it's clearing up.  It actually rained for a while yesterday, what a nerve..