Normal service resumed today as the sun shone and it was hot at 08:00. We left the camp site just before 09:00 and completed the return journey over the Remutaka pass without any concern. We had time to spare as we arrived at Petone which is close to our camp site for the next two nights. Finding a coffee shop was surprisingly difficult but eventually we located one attached to a garden centre and of course they produced excellent flat whites.
The receptionist at the camp site was less than helpful which is the first time we have experienced this and would not let us check in until 12:00. I could understand this at a hotel but at a camp site with powered sites there is literally nothing to do between one van departing and the other arriving. I think she had just recently graduated from the charm school.
She eventually agreed to let us in at 11:50 and then continued to be unhelpful by demonstrating a complete lack of knowledge of the local bus services. This is very surprising because I would guess that at least 50% of the campers will want to use the bus into Wellington; there are certainly no parking spaces for camper vans in the city.
We wanted to get into town fairly quickly because the LLW (supposedly!!) had an important meeting with a lawyer who she had worked with. We found the correct bus stop quickly and soon the number 83 arrived and we were on our way into the centre of town.
We agreed to meet in just over two hours time and Ray was sent off to walk along the seafront and to find whatever else he could to occupy two hours.
Having walked for a mile or so the Te Papa museum loomed. This is apparently NZ's premier museum and gallery and Ray spotted that there was currently an exhibition of the Terracotta Army.
This was tremendous and along with several other interesting exhibits easily occupied the time.
Struggling to tear himself away Ray hurried back to the appointed meeting point to hear Rosemary's stories about legal deliberations but what did he find - SHOES!!! The LLW had apparently spent most of the time shopping in David Jones department store. It took an hour or so to get over the shock but when Ray's heart rate returned to something close to normality, it was time for dinner.
Tonight we were dining at a restaurant named Pravda where Sadie O'Rourke, the daughter of our good friends Charlie and Belinda is the restaurant manager. The food was simply excellent; asparagus with lots of extras and interesting dressing, fish and pork belly. Really very, very good. After a couple of glasses of Dog Point sauvignon blanc, Ray had just about come back to earth.
Having checked the bus timetable we said farewell to Sadie and arrived at the bus stop just as the number 83 arrived. The incredibly helpful driver had no issue with me offering a large denomination note and offered to "give us a shout" when the bus was approaching our stop. This he did and he even pointed out the right road to walk down to get to the camp site. I made a mental note to contact the manager of the Top 10 site and suggest that he employs this driver to lead a customer relationship course for the Top 10 staff.
The receptionist at the camp site was less than helpful which is the first time we have experienced this and would not let us check in until 12:00. I could understand this at a hotel but at a camp site with powered sites there is literally nothing to do between one van departing and the other arriving. I think she had just recently graduated from the charm school.
She eventually agreed to let us in at 11:50 and then continued to be unhelpful by demonstrating a complete lack of knowledge of the local bus services. This is very surprising because I would guess that at least 50% of the campers will want to use the bus into Wellington; there are certainly no parking spaces for camper vans in the city.
We wanted to get into town fairly quickly because the LLW (supposedly!!) had an important meeting with a lawyer who she had worked with. We found the correct bus stop quickly and soon the number 83 arrived and we were on our way into the centre of town.
We agreed to meet in just over two hours time and Ray was sent off to walk along the seafront and to find whatever else he could to occupy two hours.
Having walked for a mile or so the Te Papa museum loomed. This is apparently NZ's premier museum and gallery and Ray spotted that there was currently an exhibition of the Terracotta Army.
This was tremendous and along with several other interesting exhibits easily occupied the time.
Struggling to tear himself away Ray hurried back to the appointed meeting point to hear Rosemary's stories about legal deliberations but what did he find - SHOES!!! The LLW had apparently spent most of the time shopping in David Jones department store. It took an hour or so to get over the shock but when Ray's heart rate returned to something close to normality, it was time for dinner.
Tonight we were dining at a restaurant named Pravda where Sadie O'Rourke, the daughter of our good friends Charlie and Belinda is the restaurant manager. The food was simply excellent; asparagus with lots of extras and interesting dressing, fish and pork belly. Really very, very good. After a couple of glasses of Dog Point sauvignon blanc, Ray had just about come back to earth.
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