Planes, trains, automobiles, and ferries

[vilakins]

We're off for our first holiday away from home in three years tomorrow. Greg was given two free nights in a lake-front hotel in Queenstown along with flights and a rental car for being 10 years at his company, so we're basing our holiday around that. After that it's a night in Christchurch (staying with Greg's mother who has Alzheimer's so that'll be hard going) and an early start the next day to catch the wonderful Coastal Pacific to Picton. A ferry will then take us to Wellington because, sigh, Greg has to work there on Friday while I meander about the city, probably spending most of the day at the Te Papa national museum.

So not a particularly restful holiday, and I'm a bit nervous about driving around the Queenstown area as tourists who can't handle the roads in the area have been having or causing fatal crashes there recently. One of Greg's colleagues who was there a couple of weeks ago (on the same deal) said tourists kept stopping in the middle of the road to take photos. :-( We plan to visit the Clyde dam (probably not a tourist attraction, I hope) because I like dams and bridges and all large engineering projects and maybe Alexandra which might be dicier as it's a pretty place overseas visitors might go for. Plus there's a steamboat trip on the lake. :-D

I'm just sorry we won't be in Christchurch long enough to see the new cheetah cubs at Orana Park, but hey.

We have to put the cats in the cattery in an hour or so which always upsets me. It's the worst part of going away and the best part of coming back.

Comments

[gwendraith]

How lovely for you both. Hope you have a terrific time :)

[vilakins]

It's been great here in Queenstown. I've decided I'd like to retire to the area one day as the climate's like France and Italy; excellent fruit and wine-growing.

[kerravonsen]

tourists kept stopping in the middle of the road to take photos

Oh good heavens, that's insane.

[vilakins]

Yeah, the death rate of tourists and people they hit is really bad around here. We got to Clyde and Alexandra and back today without incident though. :-) We think in some cases they program in the fastest route on their GPSs and end up on windy narrow shingle roads.

[zoefruitcake]

I hope you have as relaxing time as possible, and accident free too

[vilakins]

So far we have! :-)

[astrogirl2.livejournal.com]

Have a great trip! Good luck on the roads.

And, man, all I got for working ten years at my organization was a pin, a gift certificate, and some chicken. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Awww. This is long overdue for Greg, esp since they expect him to work for them one of day what's supposed to be a week's holiday. [is pissed off; this isn't the first holiday they've interfered with]

We just dropped the cats off. :-(

[ideealisme.livejournal.com]

Have a nice time away!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'm finally starting to get excited.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

Enjoy yourself it sounds like a great time. What is it with tourist and driving? We have the same problem here up in the Brecon Beacons they wouldn't do the idiot things they do on their own patch so why here. Be careful and let us know when you are back safe.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's not just the driving on the wrong side of the road, but the roads in that area are difficult for people who aren't used to them. I suppose it's the same in Wales.

[linda-joyce.livejournal.com]

The idiots I'm thinking about don't even have the excuse of wrong side of the road. There was a crash yesterday in the beacons with four dead caused by young Welsh town males driving dangerously on the road trough the Beacons that has an A rating(best road that is not a motorway) but should be no more than a B or better still unrated. It is a modern road built on the foundations of an Old Roman road so it's only just wide enough for two cars to pass. And unlike most Roman roads it isn't straight, think boa constrictor with St Vitus dance, you do [u]not[/u] over take the car in front of you on that road. Five cars were driving in convoy, all young male drivers and were trying to switch lead cars by racing up to the front. One met a car coming the other way when it was doing that and head on collision. Well having depressed you enough take care, enjoy yourselves and a curse upon idiot drivers.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Pity they took someone else out of the gene pool with them. We managed to get to Clyde and Alexandra (1.5 hours each way) without mishap, so yay! Greg says some tourists get into trouble because they program in the shortest route on their GPSs and that can take them over narrow, windy shingle roads. We kept to the main ones.

[imhilien.livejournal.com]

Hope you have a nice time. :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! I'll try. :-D

[thisbluespirit]

Aw, well good luck - and have a nice time! Hopefully better than you anticipate. :-)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

It's been fun so far but tomorrow we leave for Christchurch - on a prop plane! That's for family stuff but the train trip next day will be great. I'm a bit worried about the ferry to Wellington though as I've been very sick on that in rough weather before. I shall dose up beforehand.

[jhall1.livejournal.com]

I hope you have a great time.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks! It's been good so far. :-)

[aralias.livejournal.com]

that's a cool deal :D i can't imagine either of the places i have thus far worked doing anything similar. i hope you enjoy it, cheetahs or no. and i can just imagine our cat going into a cattery... i think he would be literally regressed to a primal state by the time we got back :( fortunately for him we have seven people in our house, so he will be looked after when we go away next weekend. i hope your cats are ok!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Awww, poor little guy! Oddly enough our two rescues were OK about it all but Jasmin hid under the towel we took with her (like she does when we go to the vet) with just her little nose showing. I hope she's settled in by now.

We might get to Orana Park after all, but the cheetah cubs aren't always on display. Here's hoping I see them!

[azdak.livejournal.com]

Have a great holiday!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thank you! It's been good so far but the relaxing holidayish part is almost over except for the train ride.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Dear, I wish you a wonderful holiday without stress and problems. I hope.
As you know, I share your interests, please, don´t forget some pictures. I understand all your worries but all will be well, I promise! Take care!!!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

I've been taking photos, but I'm also aware of how many I've yet to post (the airshow, Auckland 150th birthday etc, cats...)

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

:-)
Just take your time, I know.:-)

[jaxomsride.livejournal.com]

Have a good holiday!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I am!