Tour Journal
The days before the tour Dec 28 - Dec 31
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This would be my second trip off the American Continent. My passport from my ski sojourn to Switzerland had recently expired, and I was able to renew and secure a new one by the first of December. Maury Fishel met me at Arabica one night to show me some books that helped him on his solo tour and explained some of the terrain and weather conditions I might expect. Rain Forests - yes that would mean rain! Hmmmmm. |
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After making a hasty retreat from my family's Christmas celebration I return to Cleveland on the evening of the 26th, allowing one day to pack! Why would I need more? Not to worry, all my bicycling gear fit nicely in the bike box, and if I had too little sleep, well there would be 36 hours before I landed in Christchurch City. That was if I was on schedule! With the winter weather, de-icing was needed to take-off. My flights were not what I intended having had a misunderstanding with the travel agency, I now had a slim layover in Chicago's O'Hare before a nasty 10 hour layover in LA. I had picked a later flight with better connections going a southern route through Dallas. You betcha, the connection in Chicago was tight, I just made my flight to Chicago before the doors of the plane closed. Frankly, it probably would have been better to wait one hour for the next flight. The weather channel had warned of extreme winds in the Rockies, and although flying was clear, we could sure feel them. The seat belt sign was on for most of the journey and the stewards would be upset when someone had to use the restroom. The most rockiest flight of my life. Not to mention I had work to do on the plane to send back to work before I left the states. Budgets were due! I finished them in the sports bar at the Marriott watching a few football games, and finally mailed them off as well as a Rose Bowl Michigan pin to a Michigan fan back home. The hotel was full of Washington State and Michigan Rose Bowl paraphernalia. But I could not exactly stock up on souvenirs yet! Finally at 8pm LA time the flight to Auckland begins.
The flight was long and dry, like most plane rides. I tried to sleep, and my vegetarian meals were a life safer. Not that I am vegetarian, but with flying like to eat lightly, and the special meals WERE delivered first. I actually finished my meal once 45 minutes before my neighbors were served. Because I was trying to sleep, I had my glasses off, intermittently the video display would show our location and estimated time to Auckland. I saw what I thought was the DUKE line. So stupid - it was the DATE line, I thought, oh those New Zealanders they have a different word for everything. I had just discovered that baby diapers are nappies. This day was for the most part lost, as soon as we crossed that Duke line it was Tuesday the 30th.
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So it was early morning, yet a sunny one when we landed in Auckland. The ground was damp as if some rain had fallen overnight, or the ocean's dampness had caused a bit of a dew. I knew with my bike, they wanted it clean, and they were really going to look at it. That is if I could find my bike. After everyone in the plane had claimed their luggage I stood there with my little carry on and a book to read. I could not believe it, - my luggage was lost ! Due to the lack of quality sleep I was a little unsheaveled, and beginning to display some flu like symptoms. The New Zealanders I met could not have been |
nicer. Not only the attendants on the plane but those in the airport were so customer oriented I was pleased to have selected to come visit their wonderful country. If my luggage was going to be lost, let it be lost in New Zealand. My luggage had bar codes on it, and it had been over 30 hours since I had left Cleveland. The luggage department still had no trace on my luggage. I told the Maori man that I felt the connection in Chicago was too tight. He looked through the list of flights and surmised that my luggage was re-routed. It was sent on the next plane out of O'Hare and then the NEXT plane out of LA. The problem was the NEXT plane out of LA to Auckland went to San Francisco first and would not arrive for at least one more hour. His guess was that my luggage would be on that plane. They would forward my luggage to Christchurch City, OR I could wait and see if the luggage was on that plane. Am I ever glad I waited. Not only was my luggage on that plane, but Earlene another member of our tour lost her luggage too, it was not located for several days, and did not catch up to us until we arrived in Haast. I could have had fun shopping, but I really wanted my own bike. Earlene's luggage arrive in Haast in a Milk Truck. Sometimes things arrive on a bus, like the pillow Julia left at one hotel, and then other times they arrive on the Milk Truck. Yes the west coast of New Zealand was like stepping back in time.
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Next I flew to Christchurch City through Wellington. My flu like symptoms worsening with each plane ride. Arriving in Christchurch City, I located my luggage and called for a taxi. Would you believe I had a difficult time understanding the person at the taxi place on the phone? They did speak English, but sure was not the English I am accustomed to hearing. The taxi ride to the hotel was fine, but weird. My first experience sitting on the other side of the front seat. Note it is the OTHER side and not the WRONG side. The right hand turns really got me. Driving straight was no problem. My taxi driver was very n ice and planning his own trip to the states. Seemed like taxi driving was |
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one of his many professions. He refused a tip and said Kiwi's would be embarrassed to be tipped, so don't. The hotel was nice, and they offered van service to town. I showered and decided I should at least see the city. I was ready to drop, so I decided I would just take the van ride, without getting off the van and see the sights to plan for tomorrow's activities. In the van, Deanne was going into town, she had arrived a bit earlier and was much more lively and relaxed then I. She asked the driver Alex about tipping. His story was a bit different than my taxi driver. Seemed like he would appreciate tips. Not sure if this was a culture thing, as my taxi driver was a Maori or a generation thing, as Alex was several decades younger than the taxi driver. Returning to the hotel, I went horizontal and was out of it for several hours.
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A beautiful day, perhaps the temperatures were in the 70's. Taking the van into town it was time to explore and hopefully see the famous Christchurch Wizard that Jim & Ann had told me all about. I started the morning at the Botanical Gardens. There were some lovely fountains, a rose garden and a sample Rain Forest. Native New Zealand plants are not all that colorful, there is the red flowers, but most others are just green. Not that green is bad, having just left hazy LA, green was real good. Found some real interesting stuff, one could rent surrey's - you know like that song from Oklahoma - Surrey's with fringe on top |
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.They could seat 4 comfortably. It was summertime, and the grand opening of summer fest was to start in front of the cathedral on New Years Eve and run through March. The bandstand was in the process of being constructed. Some older chapels and schools were most charming. I visited the cathedral itself. While the alter and insides were very ornate, I was surprised to find folding chairs with kneelers instead of wooden pews. The view from the bell tower was neat. The square outside is where the pigeons feasted. There were several food kiosks with anything one desire. The Avon River was a real crocked river winding through town. In the center of town gondola rides or punting was available, just like Venice. It was a popular tourist attraction. Returning to the hotel. I decided to explore a bit in the opposite direction prior to our gathering at 3:00. I found my way through Christchurch, around turn abouts- and became real confused on who had the right of way, surely was not me. Returned in time for bicycle inspection and a little get together.
Everyone with the exception of myself and Rouel were renting bicycles. Many had their own helmets, or like Deanne seats. Cindy brought her own pedals, so mix and match to make a bicycle. While this was going on we were all introducing ourselves and trying to remember each others names. A large contingent was on the tour from Vermont, some more from many parts of California, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Jacksonville, so a diverse crowd, not only in our hometowns but our bicycling abilities. It sounded like a few just rode while on vacation, you know if you exercise, you can eat ! and on these tours there are lots of good eats. After dinner we scatter to celebrate New Years. . The restaurants were all busy and many people decked out for the occasion. The summer fest in town started up, and according to the paper the next morning was a SEA of VOMIT. We really did not think it was bad, but apparently there were a number of arrests. The hotel did have some "Morning After" concoction, which made us wonder. However, this was the only hotel that carried that amenity on our tour. As we were 18 hours ahead of EST no need to call home, or look for football scores yet.
Return to Itinerary - New Years Day 1998 - The Tour Begins -
