A Foot in Wellington. Forgotten World Highway to Wellington.

After leaving the paddock where we had camped we headed to one of two places. New Plymouth where we had sent some host requests for or Stratford where there was a campsite. Just as we approached Stratford the heavens opened and storm winds came. It was no contest. We chose a campsite but in a dorm rather than a tent. While there 2 other travellers came in to get out of the bad weather. They had recently returned from the south island and showed us photographs of the areas we would be heading to. After seeing the photo’s and hearing the travellers talk about the parks, camps, walks, rivers, lakes and roads I’m starting to think I’m really going to be blown away by what the south has to offer.

With the storm forecast to stay around for a couple of days we booked seats on the bus to Wellington. The road from Stratford to the capital had been described to us as somewhere between dull and boring so the saving of a couple of days off a drab road seemed worth the 6 hours on a $20 bus. We arrived at our hosts house in Wellington and set up the tents in the garden then joined them for a sausage and dumpling dinner followed by chocolate cake and coffee. They were Barry, Fiona, their daughter and two foster cats waiting for permanent homes.

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One of the cats was really sociable and was viewed by a couple while we were there. I would be very surprised if he was still there by next week. We spent a full day in the city around the waterfront and in the museum where they had a Dreamworks art gallery. So strange that my former host in LA Christophe helped set the whole thing up. I made sure I tagged him in a few photographs of his own artwork.

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In total for the 3 days since we left the Forgotten World Highway and arrived in Wellington we have only done around 30 miles and it’s been really good to rest as recently I have been having some aches and pains in my knees, back and groin. Old age no doubt.

We have done some forward planning and arrangements for the next 5 days that should see us complete some cycling trails and have time in a national park hopefully spotting Kiwis.