Bill Tutty's 1955 TF

DAY TWO - Wanganui to Blenheim

Day two was a bit of B day.
· Birthday
· Bulls
· Buffeting
· Blue sky
· Bargains
· Bugger
· Bluebridge
· Blenheim
· Barbecue

Tony B had Happy Birthday sung to him in cold hotel parking lot in Whanganui. The temperature had dropped a few degrees from Auckland the day before, but the weather looked to be improving, grey cloudy skies but NO RAIN.

Off southwards, some of the team made the little detour to the Ratana Pa. A little known fact is that two of the Ratana founder's sons were named Alpha and Omega - the beginning and the end.

Bulls looked pretty much like … Bulls.

A very civilised 100kph trip along the Foxton straights, being blown sideways by the fierce wind gusts had us wondering what effect they might be having on Cook Strait. Would the ferry be buffeted?? Would we regret breakfast?

Notwithstanding the wind, the sky was blue; so from Levin south it was top down motoring - fantastic. Traffic was light and even the notorious Kapiti coast hold-ups had gone on holiday.

Otaki looked like it had bargains galore with lots of factory shops. Unfortunately (possibly fortunately) the timetable to make the ferry sailing at 1pm meant there was no time to stop.

Apparently one of the team had a moment when checking in at Bluebridge. MG man handed over his ferry ticket for one passenger. Sitting alongside him in the MG was one passenger - sweet. The ferry man said "On my ferry, you are 'two passengers'- - please pay me some more money". Bugger.

After the wind raging across the Foxton straights, the Bluebridge ferry crossing was brilliantly calm all the way. All breakfasts intact.

The accommodation in Blenheim was lovely, across the road from a park, around the corner from Countdown(wine & beer) and chocolates on the pillow.

The last B of the day was a barbecue. Fantastic shopping by a carefully chosen sub-committee secured sausages, steaks and salad stuff which was then subjected to cordon bleu cooking by the guys. A wonderfully convivial ending to a great day's touring. Roll on day 3.

Phil Le Gros

In the ferry queue

Waiting to leave Wellington

Barbecue