The Mother of Invention

Today the mechanic spent the morning (with some help from his lovely assistant) doing what he is brought along for - so we now have two re-assembled bikes ready for action. The Logistics and Operations Manager was then left with the slightly tricky problem of getting them in the hire car, leaving room for the luggage, walking rucksacks etc and without getting dirt or oil on the cream upholstery (actually more like light beige, but you get the idea).  Finally, with the aid of 2 bargain basement large tarpaulins and 2 cheap and exceedingly nasty pillows, I think the issue is resolved. Whether they will still be intact when we get to Westport tomorrow for the start of the first trip remains to be seen.

The weather was cloudy and windy today so we took a walk round the marina and seafront, then took the bikes on a test ride up to Karaka point, where we gave a few tourists a bit of a surprise by tramping (one at a time as the other minded the bikes) down to the historic site (which appeared to be 2 holes in the ground) and the beach - would should really be reported to Trade Descriptions. The surprise was the fact that we were wearing helmets and wearing cleated shoes which, perhaps unsurprisingly is not the outfit of choice round here.

When I come to NZ, and especially to the South Island, I always feel I have stepped back in time. So far, although plenty of the local bars (The Thirsty Pig, Toot 'n Whistle etc) are playing music, the most recent thing I have heard so far is the original version of Hard Days Night!  Also the addiction to phonetic spelling appears to have been taken to extremes - I don't suppose Phoebe Archer (currently at Oxford) has her tutors spelling her name 'Feebee'.

Chris is devastated to be missing the Omaka flying day.  'Those magnificent men in their flying machines will be lined up against the fence (??) for your entertainment.  Nana's Cream Freeze will be serving up a storm of the best kind and the sausages will be sizzling'.  Who needs the Farnborough air show?

By the way I take back anything derogatory I might have said about Anglican vicars in the past. Having just finished a bottle of exquisite Sauvignon Blanc (from Marlborough of course) called Vicar's Choice (as a vicar originally picked it out as the best of a number of samples), I can now see that they are men of distinction and taste!!

Photos of the day - no red blooded Irishman would want to be labelled a 'Drinking Consultant'!!!