1992 Morgan Plus 8

1992 Morgan Plus 8

Monday, March 24, 2014

DAY 33- VALENTINE'S DAY IN HOKITIKA

The drive from Franz Josef Glacier was a shorter one up the west coast of the South Island. The weather continued to be overcast most of the day.
On The Road to Hokitika
Arriving in Hokitika (photo by Michael)
We checked into the room early and were delighted to have a lovely view of the Tasman Sea.
View From Our Window 
Maggie and Dave from our Window
Later
The hotel had an elevator and a cart for unloading our baggage. Patsy and Maggie caught a ride back to the Morgan from Philip. 

Unloading the Car

We headed out with Michael and Patsy for some lunch, stopping at the Pizza Place for lunch, then on for ice cream. Hokitika is know for it's glass blowing and jade, so we stopped at the Hokitika Glass Studio. We bought a glass cat and Michael ordered a Glass Tomato  http://www.hokitikaglass.co.nz
I wonder if he has received his tomato?
Hokitika Glass Studio (photo from Michael)
 Having heard that getting dinner reservations "in town" was impossible, we made Valentine's Dinner reservations at the hotel restaurant and  we enjoyed our special dinner. 
Valentine's Dinner at the Hotel
Patsy and her Beautiful Dress 
 Newly weds Michael and Patsy went out to an intimate dinner at a prior arranged B&B out of town.
Sunset
After dinner we walked on the beach and enjoyed the beautiful sunset. 



It was a lovely Valentine's Day.







Thursday, March 13, 2014

DAYS 31 and 32- The Glaciers- Fox and Franz Josef

The weather report was for clouds and rain when we left Queenstown, but the roof was down and we hoped for dry weather. We headed out past Arrowtown and up over the Crown Range heading for Franz Josef.
Crown Range 
Somehow we missed this famous fence, but Patsy and Michael didn't and stopped for photos.
Patsy at the Cardrona Bra Fence (by Michael)
A coffee stop at the famous Cardrona Hotel (in the middle of nowhere),  was established in 1861 but recently renovated.
Stop at Cardrona Hotel
Inside Cardrona Hotel
Kitty Fix at Hotel

Gift Shop
The weather continued to be overcast as we travelled past Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea before reaching the west coast. 
On the road 
Lake Wanaka
Construction
It was suggested we have lunch at the Cray Pot in Jackson Bay, but 30 miles out of our way and we still hadn't found the restaurant. So we turned around and went back to the main highway and had ice cream for lunch as it was now 3 PM.
Pretty Horse
Rain Forest on road to Restaurant
We travelled up Highway 6 seeing big black clouds ahead, but they seemed to be to the right of where we were going, so no roof up and Philip didn't have a rain jacket on.  Wrong… so wrong. As we started heading up the hill toward Franz Josef, the sky opened up on us. We arrived at the hotel very wet and getting chilly. 

Very Wet at Hotel
We warmed up in front of the fireplace, then went out to the hallway where a party was in progress.
Cocktail Hour
Dave turned on his Morgan radio/iPod and dancing ensued until dinner time.
Dancing
The Next Day- As we had heard the roads were gravel to both the Fox and the Franz Josef Glacier, Michael was kind enough to take us in the Forgan to these sites. The weather was pretty crummy.
Out in the Forgan
Dave's Morgan at Fox Glacier Lookout
David did bring his Morgan to the Fox Glacier lookout. 
Dave and Elaine at Fox
We all headed over to Franz Josef Glacier and started walking toward the lookouts. The Glacier is in the V of the mountains.
Philip and Elaine @ Franz Josef Glacier
 The rain started so we returned to the car while those with proper rain gear headed on to the coder lookout to the Glacier.
Franz Josef Glacier
Michael and Patsy near Franz Josef Glacier
The weather precluded good vision of the glaciers and only one couple in the group was able to fly over them. Very disappointing.
We had been told that we would find birds at Okarita Beach, so we headed up Hwy 6 toward the beach.
Okarita Beach
No birds were found.
Patsy at Okarita Lagoo
Maybe it is the Kiwi's crossing that we were expected to see, but none were around.

Patsy at Kiwi Crossing
Nothing special for dinner...

Friday, March 7, 2014

Days 28, 29 and 30- QUEENSTOWN

The Morgan was filthy, as she  hasn't been washed for many days. So before leaving TeAnau for Queenstown, Philip shined her up. The hotel had a wash spot for the buses, which he used. Here he is drying her outside our room patio.
Cleaning Morgan
Last view from our room in Te Anau
While we passed through some cold spots on our rather short day, most of the trip had bright skies on our drive from Te Anau to Queenstown. Those on the Doubtful Sound Cruise hadn't returned by the time we left Te Anau and they were having a photo shoot. Rather than wait for them, we went ahead.
Up Highway 6
Traveling On
More Sheep "in a row"
While our itinerary had indicated a stop at Kingston for the Kingston Flyer, I had read it was "For Sale", so didn't expect a visit. But we stopped at the site anyway for a look
Kingston Flyer 
Are we back in UK?
As we were leaving Kingston, we saw the road to the beach of Lake Wakatipu and had to stop for more Morgan Scenic Photos. 
Elaine at Lake Wakatipu
Morgan at Lake Wakatiup in Kingston
We spent a few minutes watching this little boy try to learn to water ski. He was persistent, but never made it up while we were there.
Little Boy trying to water ski
Continuing up Lake Wakatiup
We arrived at the hotel, and I asked for a high level room with a balcony, as had been advised on Trip Advisor for this hotel.  Occasionally we received what we asked for, and this was one time we did.
View from our Queenstown 5th floor room
However, the hotel was up this steep street, so every time we walked to town, we had to walk back up this hill. I am getting stronger, but this hill was a challenge every time. But I did make it several times.
Hill to town
The evening was spent at Morgan Owners Jeff and Nicki's on Shotover Road. The Kiwi's were so kind  to have us over for a party. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening.
Their home was featured in some magazine (?). This was the original home, and they have added twice to make it much larger for the family.
Original home
Gathering in the new kitchen
Jeff's Super Sport Morgan
The Ladies 
The Morgans on the Lawn
More Morgans on the Lawn
Wonderful BBQ 
The Boys
Lavender surrounds the party
Keith and Richard, our MONZA Organizers
Nicki and Jeff
Instructions from Jeff on where to visit in Queenstown
Per Jeff's recommendation, most of us met at the Boat Shed for breakfast the next morning at 0900.    It was very difficult to find, but Philip saw another Morgan out of the corner of his eye as we were passing by on the road "way above". Philip amazes me how he notices every unusual car that we pass- I never see them.  
Breakfast here.
The Boat Shed
Us at the table
Another photo of our group
After breakfast, we all headed out the road following the lake to Glenorchy. The Paradise Road to Glenorchy is rated as one if the World's Top Scenic Drives. You be the judge...


Traveling back through Queenstown

The Scenic View
Fiona at the Scenic View
All of us. Was a challenge to get this photo
Our Morgan at the Scenic View
Linda, Marie-Isabelle, and Sue
As usual, can I take my photo with your car?
Coffee Stop
There isn't much in Glenorchy, but we needed a coffee stop before returning to Queenstown.


Linda, Elaine and Roger
Lyle, ??? and Susan (help me MONZA people)
Many of the group went to a Golf Club for lunch, but we headed for the Scottish place, McDonalds. The afternoon was spent at Arrowtown , a historic town much like our  Groveland hometown, only more commercialized. We lucked out with a parking place mid-town. 


Closing up the Morgan
Looking down the town
The Pharmacy


Our afternoon ice cream (by Dave)
Old cars passing by
Susan in the Beauty Shop
Beautiful Jaquar SS parked on the street
Geoff and Sue have been shopping
The Post Office Cafe 
You can have your photo taken "dressed up"
Queenstown is a very sports active city. Many of our group went on Jet Boat tours, but I didn't think that would be good for my newly healed back. 
Christine paragliding (by Susan)
One brave lady Christine, went Paragliding with a lovely frenchman as her "driver" We watched this guy Flyboarding out our window. No extreme or non-extreme sports for us. 
Flyboarding
We did, however, as a group, went on the 1912 Steamship TSS Earnshaw Dinner Cruise across Lake Wakatipu. It was a most delightful evening, with wonderful food, and a Sheep Shearing Demonstration 
Ticket
Waiting to Board
David capturing photos. 
The Boat
They found a table on the boat
We had a pianist to entertain us.
Marie-Isabelle, Callie and Colin
Joan and Maggie
The Dinner stop
View from the Dining Room
Our table
Richard and Vivienne

After dinner, we went out to the barn and had a demonstration of the Border Collie rounding up the sheep. She did an excellent job bringing the sheep back from the woods up the hill. 

Border Collie's Roundup Sheep
We then had a sheep shearing demonstration. The sheep wasn't willing until the guy put her on her side then she cooperated. He was very fast in shearing her. 
Sheep to shear
After about 1 minute, he had sheared her and had this WHOLE coat in one piece. She was glad to go back in the pen, and the guy said she will be much more active with less weight on her. 
Coat
On our return to Queenstown, we all sang old tunes accompanied by the pianist. 
Singing

Sunrise from our room

Lunch at a Japanese Restaurant in Queenstown