We woke up to an overcast day with lots of wind — par for the course for the “windiest capital city in the world” — and before anyone disembarked the captain was telling us that we had to change course due to a big storm. We knew when we signed the contract that this might happen but we were still disappointed that we wouldn’t get to enjoy the Milford and Doubtful Sounds in a day or two. We are just heading straight for Australia to miss the storm.
The dock was filled with logs, as every dock here in NZ has been, as their fast-growing pine is their third largest export.
So, setting out on the day’s excursions Dale went to WETA, a special effects company which provided props for the Lord of the Rings and other movies. He enjoyed it until he didn’t. More about that later.
I took the included excursion which was a bus tour of the city with stops to view the city, go up the hill in a cable car and visit a garden; nothing very exciting as a city is just a city to me but I did enjoy the garden. Wellington is hilly and we saw several of the hundreds of private cable cars as well.
The “bat flowers” were interesting and there were many species of ferns, for which NZ is famous, but since our world is getting so small almost everything else was something we have seen many places before, but still beautiful.
Upon returning home I found that Dale had ended his excursion by falling on a steep incline and had a nasty looking arm to show for it. The guide had patched it up as best he could but it needed attention so after dinner Brenda came to the rescue. It truly was the highlight of our day! We haven’t laughed that hard in ages! (We were laughing with him, not at him!)
Brenda had just purchased some Manuka honey, and knowing that honey, and especially Manuka honey, is good for wounds she set about dressing the wound using a coffee spoon to apply honey and a makeshift sterile pad (from I-won’t-tell-you-what) and wrapping Dale’s arm with an elastic bandage she had brought from home. Brenda brings everything! and we are always in her debt!
The alcohol cleansing was the only thing that wasn’t funny!
It’s wonderful to have such good friends with us here and Brenda and Bob constantly make our adventure more fun!
So thankful Brenda is so ingenious and that Dale was taken care of! So glad you could see some “new” things! I’m also glad our Katrina could wave at your ship!
Oh my goodness that looks like a major bruise. Thank God nothing more was injured. Any word yet on the new itinerary and what your decision will be?
Oh we trust Dale is on the mend! We have used that honey as a healing agent on Freds foot wound. You make friends so easily Jenni. I love the flower photos and traveling along with you is such a blessing.
Ouch. Hope Dale’s arm is alright. I have caught up on your adventures and enjoying the photos as always. You are an awesome gatherer of friends. You should have been a diplomat and help solve some of the world’s troubles. Hugs and blessings to you both and Hello to Bob & Brenda.
Loving your trip virtually! Just read the last 4 out loud to Grant as we are driving thru Texas. It all looks lovely. Hope Dale’s arm is ok. ????