New Zealand - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly.

[patches]

That old harbour bridge right?!

 

blah-blah-blah

 

The good... it gave me a reason to just off the motorbike. Commute in this morning, 30min. Only 10min longer than a usual motorcycle commute.

 

Aaaaand that was where the good ended.

 

My 15km commute home took me about 1hr15. Yes, even on the bike.

 

I got caught in the Curran Street debacle 

 

Well done AT (Auckland Transport), for defending the title of most reviled government agency! 

[patches]

Oh nearly forgot...

Kudos to the motorcycle police officer I encountered yesterday at the Fanshawe Street onramp.

 

I saw him pointing at me then to the side. I thought he was pulling me over for lane-splitting (although technically it is legal in NZ).

However, he was actually instructing me to use the Bus Only lane to bypass the queue of cars backed up at the onramp signals. 

[davetapson]

Oh nearly forgot...

 

Kudos to the motorcycle police officer I encountered yesterday at the Fanshawe Street onramp.

 

I saw him pointing at me then to the side. I thought he was pulling me over for lane-splitting (although technically it is legal in NZ).

 

However, he was actually instructing me to use the Bus Only lane to bypass the queue of cars backed up at the onramp signals. 

 

We're so conditioned to obstructive officials we get all confused when they're not.

 

(Alternatively, we're all so used to breaking traffic laws we drive about with guilty consciences...    ) 

[arabsandals]

Oh nearly forgot...

 

Kudos to the motorcycle police officer I encountered yesterday at the Fanshawe Street onramp.

 

I saw him pointing at me then to the side. I thought he was pulling me over for lane-splitting (although technically it is legal in NZ).

 

However, he was actually instructing me to use the Bus Only lane to bypass the queue of cars backed up at the onramp signals. 

Surely you mean Featherstonhaugh?

[patches]

Surely you mean Featherstonhaugh?

 

haha I have no idea what that is. Is that a street in Sydney?

[arabsandals]

haha I have no idea what that is. Is that a street in Sydney?

https://hellenisteukontos.opoudjis.net/2016-12-09-how-did-the-surname-featherstonhaugh-get-its-completely-unintuitive-pronunciation/#:~:text=It's%20just%20a%20hint%20in,a%20small%20wood%20or%20grove'.

[patches]

 

haha I have no idea what that is. Is that a street in Sydney?

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Crazy the evolution of that.

 

At first glance the only similarities are that they start with an "F" and end with an "awww" sound.

 

Is it a name that appears in your family tree? or did you just happen upon the connection?

[arabsandals]

Crazy the evolution of that.

 

At first glance the only similarities are that they start with an "F" and end with an "awww" sound.

 

Is it a name that appears in your family tree? or did you just happen upon the connection?

Came across it in relation to these guys: https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-14475985

[Wayne Potgieter]

So our trip down to the South Island is underway and I think Wanaka might be on the list for a place to buy a house.

 

Relatively good pricing. New developments. Good schools and pretty as all hell.

[Wayne Potgieter]

[Wayne Potgieter]

Some more pics.

[patches]

 

McKenzie District, one of my favourite areas in the country!

 

Did you have decent weather on the Hooker valley track?

 

I remember the first time I did it. Sunshine and unicorns and stuff for the first little bit. Then we turned a corner and suddenly BAM! gale force winds with horizontal rain. Nearly got blown off the track a few times. Still awesome though.

 

The adjacent valley (Tasman valley) has an offroad bike track. I've always wanted to ride it, but last time I was there I had a dodgy front wheel which was losing air and I needed to get back to Tekapo.

 

But yeah, glad you guys are having an amazing trip. Maybe hold off on so many awesome pictures, or I'll end up quitting my job and moving south

[patches]

So our trip down to the South Island is underway and I think Wanaka might be on the list for a place to buy a house.

 

Relatively good pricing. New developments. Good schools and pretty as all hell.

 

Are those the developments out towards where the new New World are? (nicest New World in the country).

 

It would be interesting to see how the property prices have tracked over this year. Last I looked, Wanaka was only slightly more affordable than Queenstown (which in turn was about on par with Auckland). Covid may have remedied that.

 

The future Tarras airport will make Wanaka even more popular as international tourists can fly straight in.

 

Damn I need to move! hahaha

[davetapson]

I'm getting FOMO, but reality for us is Auckland, or more specifically, Torbay.  Not quite the same glamour...

[MTBeer]

jeez that's stunning Wayne. I really regret not getting that far south on my little 3 week jaunt around NZ 2 years ago

[patches]

That darn bridge again

 

So glad I was lazy this morning and hadn't got out of bed when I saw the news about NZTA closing the bridge.

 

I feel for all the people heading north and above Fanshawe (aka Featherstonhough) or heading south and below Onewa. They're pretty stucked!