The Road trip continues up from Wellington and it's heavy traffic and windy and wet weather. Over the Rumutakas through a pass of 550 metres and down through a narrow and twisty road to a place called Featherston. We turned off and found ourselves in lush territory with wonderful old country houses around. Lake Ferry was right down by the wild coastline and the hotel had an expected history of Captain Cook and drownings, ferries and captains, floods and wrecks. It was a hotel without TV, Cellular coverage, no fancy trimmings but our room had a tiny bathroom that would not be classified so luxuriously as an ensuite!
Three good things;
1. The locals were friendly and even more friendly when they found out John was Burt Munro’s son! Wanted to give us a crayfish if we would wait till the next afternoon when they came ashore from that wild coast!
2.I went walking and there was nobody around except the occasional shag and the sound of battering waves against the spit.
3. Some sweet little churches away in this remote part of NZ - hence the photo - St Francis at Kahutara!
A lovely capture of this delightful little Church -- I love the way it is flanked by the trees to either side ! It sounds as interesting travel , at least you had an en-suite !!
I must check up where you are tomorrow. Just been skyping Jo so it's bed time now. I think your name goes before you & opens a good few doors! I note you are going round the round bit above Gisbourne. We drive all way round rhere with Ant & Jo before the children were born.....my word it was remote & we had to stay in a terrible hotel were the pillows stunk! Walked to the end of the longest jetty....that was lovely. There is a village in the top north west corner that has a sign saying 'beware of dust & babies'. So funny!
@happypat I hope we don't find that stinky hotel! Perhaps, not nowadays - they are all keen for the tourist dollar! I'll look out for that long jetty - know where it is but have never photographed it!
Thanks for sharing we are following you.... Enjoy every minute. Glad to see the church still standing. Here in Bloemfontein we found a few churches demolished, Heartbreaking.
@happypat Now I remember - I worked in Gisborne in the local hospital for a year in 1965. And up the coast was Tolaga Bay. Shall make a definite stop there! I think there was movie called Whale Rider that was made near there!
Thank you so much for introducing us to all these sights of NZ with all your road travels. This is a lovely church, and I guess pretty typical for the architecture of that region. And, wow, it took me awhile to make the connection, but I finally had to look up Burt Munro, and was I impressed!!! Others here might have known already, but this was news to me, and I will be following John's motorcycle adventures more closely now! You are related to a legend!! ;-)))
This is a charming and fascinating little church... you are having quite the adventure! Of course, I had to look up Burt Munro, too - quite the daredevil and very handsome! :)
Maggiemae I was wondering what was wrong as I haven't seen any photos of yours for a month! Just checked and found I had stopped "following" you! I have had a quick look and see you are on an exciting road trip - how wonderful! I also saw your new book! Wow congratulations on publishing your Mother's memoirs - what a great achievement! I am so impressed! I am off to Amazon to see if I can find it. When I get some time later today I will be going back through the last month of your shots and catching up with your adventures. So relieved everything is ok - just those wicked magic monkeys who managed to unfollow you! Grrrrrrrrr! How does this happen?
