Road Trip

I left work on Friday at about 15:00 and drove to Dean's and left the car there. Then Dean and I took a taxi to the airport and we got the plane to Auckland. After a mix up at Auckland waiting for Mark who was selling the Jag to me, we met up and he took us to pick it up. Shiny, shiny.
From there we filled it up with petrol and I drove down the motorway to Cambridge, where we stopped for something to eat and to swap roles so Dean could have a go at driving. It was dark by now so he drove in the unfamiliar car on the unfamiliar roads. It also started to rain so we tested out the wiper controls which seemed a little complicated because it was difficult to see in the dark as to what setting they were on. However, they worked without incident, and we found out later that there was an auto wiper setting so it was wiping when it felt it was necessary. We arrived at Taupo without incident and got to the cabin. Dean didn't bring any toothpaste and upon opening my gear, I found out I didn't have any either, so after a water brushing we went to sleep. The next day, nice and early-ish we drove to the lake front and had a slap up breakfast before I took the controls and took us through the desert road past the volcanoes all the way to Hunterville where we filled up with fuel again. Every so often I'd take some photos but not too many really. I also jotted down some places where Jamie and Bees might like to go sometime. Dean drove then from Hunterville to Wellington, arriving at midday. A dog decided to jump out at us part of the way there. That gave Dean the chance to test out the brakes. They seemed to work fine. At Wellington we had a look around the museum, which, to be honest, I found particularly uninspiring. We checked emails using the free WiFi along the waterfront, and looked around the shops before going for a beer (stout) at an Irish pub. Why do they always play the Pogues? Do the Pogues have some kind of pub franchise or something? After that we ate at MacDonalds for a quick bite, hoping to get a curry in Picton in the evening, and then onto get some beer and snacks (and toothpaste), just in case Picton was quiet. We then drove to the Interislander and boarded the ship after waiting for it to dock and let the others off and us on.
The 3 hour sail over to the Mainland was smooth, and started off warm but got a little chilly due to the wind blowing through Cook's Straight. It was great though as one young lady, in a lose flowing dress was obviously unaware that the wind could lift her dress up in an instant.  The view over to the South Island was interesting, looking at not only the scenery, but the action too.
In Picton I drove off and as we passed the curry house we saw that it was closed, so onto the cabin we had booked where we sat, drunk beer, ate crisps and watched Mock the Week on my iPod. The cabin here was much nicer but it was more basic in it's features as in there was no fridge for the beer and no covers for the beds. Just sheets and pillows, but then it was a cheap cabin. Just before going to bed I went to clean my teeth. I had left my toothbrush behind in Taupo. It was only one I used for travelling that I picked up from Singapore airlines many moons ago so I want too worried about it.
The next morning, Dean drove to Kaikoura where we stopped and got brunch. We then moved onto where the seals were and ate it. A few photos later, Dean took the honours again and drove us all the way to Christchurch.
The car was great to drive. Smooth, air-conditioned and speedy when needed. It seemed to be about as economical as my MR2, even with using the more expensive, higher octane petrol. Quite impressed. However, the test will come when I drive it to work and back. We'll see then.
I filled the car up on the outskirts in Hornby where there was a bit of a commotion. Some young ruffians were rather unsportingly ganging up on this young man in an unfair bout of fisticuffs. Very quickly the staff of the petrol station came to the rescue and separated the guys and sent them on their way, whilst phoning the police also, just in case they returned. Then I drove home.
The photos taken are here.