Day 24- Dunedin, the Scottish Town

Although there were many other ideas for what to do in Dunedin, we chose to spend our time looking around Dunedin, at least until I no longer could walk. We just didn't want to get in the Morgan today. 

Some drove out the Otaga Peninsula, others rode  the Taieri Gorge  Railway and the engine broke down, while others drove the World's Steepest street. 

So we headed down to the Railway Station on foot. Patsy and Michael had been there the day before, so they stopped for a cappuccino and a coke while we wandered around the Dunedin Train Station. I think we were gone a lot longer than they expected, as I spent time talking with the daily resident artist who was painting that day, and looked around the art gallery as well as the station. 

Out with Patsy and Michael

 It is a beautiful station which has rather recently been renovated. 

Philip at the Train Station

Minton Tiles Mosaic on the floor

Looking down to the lower floor

Stained Glass Windows on the upper floor-

Elaine inside the train station

Philip on the very long platform

Short History

We picked up Patsy and Michael and headed around the corner to take a tour of the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. The place was packed with people and the sign said you needed to have pre-booked tickets, so we meandered around the shop. Eventually a lot of the people left and we were able to purchase some candy. 

Cadbury Chocolate Gold in the background

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Patsy with the Cadbury Truck

Elaine at Cadbury Truck

Elaine & Philip with Cadbury Rabbit

Patsy and Michael

Soup

We stopped for lunch at the pub on the corner on the path to the Settler's Museum. Patsy and I had Tomato Soup and laughed about it. It seems the only soups in Dunedin (or maybe NZ) are Tomato, Mushroom or Pumpkin.

After lunch, after a harrowing street crossing, we went to the Settler's Museum (free). It was a beautiful museum on the history of NZ and Dunedin. I am afraid that I just couldn't visit all the many rooms in the museum. Once I had admitted defeat, the men also admitted they were tired. Patsy had left earlier to seek out a couple of recommended vintage stores. 

Elaine and Patsy at the Museum

Fire Truck

Early Settlers Canoe

Michael and Philip

On our hike back to the hotel, the men noticed this car in one of the buildings.  There were men working in the building, so the usual tire-kicking occurred. 

Upon return to the hotel, we split up with Michael and Patsy, and took a much needed rest. For dinner, we snuck out on our for sashimi at the restaurant down the street. 

Day 23- Short drive Oamaru to Dunedin via Moeraki Boulders

It is now Day 35, so I have some catching up to do…..

I will attempt to write this while watching the Beatles, a Grammy Salute on television…..

The morning was overcast as we headed toward Hampden where we would find The Moeraki Boulders.  As usual, we were way behind most of the other groups in leaving the motel alone, although later we found that many had stopped in Oamaru to check out the shops and were, in fact, behind us. 

Construction 

We didn't know exactly which road the Boulders were down off Highway 1, so we headed seaside on one (wrong) road. I love these signs for railroad crossings. 

Love this Sign

Eventually we found the  correct road leading to the site of the Moeraki Boulders and parked at the restaurant.

View from Parking Lot

Morgan at the Beach

As usual, we attracted all the Asian tourists to take photos of our cars. In the field beside the parking lot were these Alpacas. I do not know why they are in this location?

Alpacas

It was a steep walk down to the beach from the restaurant at the top of the cliff, which of course made me nervous- can I make it back up? (I did- no problem)

We found that many of the group were still on the beach so we joined with them. 

Driftwood on the Beach

Moeraki Boulders on the Beach

Elaine Lifting a Boulder

Elaine and Philip at Moeraki Boulders

Colin and Callie Inside a Boulder

Such an Interesting Boulder

Michael Pushing a Big Boulder  (photo by Patsy)

Linda and Roger  in the Boulder

Roger Getting Silly Upside Down

Lunch at the Lookout

We joined the group when they left the beach, and followed them down Highway 1. Callie found a wonderful spot for a picnic lunch.

Lunch and Overlook

Morgans at Lunch Stop

Vivienne and Richard Stopped By

We arrived in Dunedin mid afternoon and checked into our hotel. Having heard Patsy's "war cry" as we drove through the Octagon on entering the city, we walked down to the Octagon to find Patsy and Michael. It was time for "the first of the day", so we sat down and called Michael. They were nearby shopping for Merino Sweaters. Eventually we caught up together, and wandered the Dunedin shopping center. 

First of the Day by Philip in Dunedin

Michael in Dunedin

As we were returning to the hotel, we came across Tuesdays Only, which had nostalgic clothes. We called Patsy and she came over and we spent the next hour trying on nearly everything in the store. Patsy picked up a few items for Napier Weekend. 
Dave had previously visited the restaurant where we were to have dinner, and had found this lock on the door. His family had this lock company many years ago, and this was the first TOZER lock he had ever seen. He HAD to have it…. and eventually the owner indicated he would send it to Dave.

David Tozer found this lock on Two Chefs Restaurant

Two chefs divided the group into two tables for dinner. This is the "other table".

Some of the group at 2 Chefs

Linda and Roger had been dining alone at the restaurant earlier. Roger had ordered strawberries and ice cream for dessert (not on the menu), so I copied his request and it was delicious and expensive (everything in New Zealand is expensive).

Linda and Roger at Dinner 

A stroll back to the hotel for a good nights sleep in preparation for wandering around Dunedin tomorrow.
The Beatles Special has been wonderful and is just about over. Lee- Joe Walsh was on it.

Day 12- Colin is 60 in Wellington

This day would be a very full day ending up in Wellington in preparation for catching an early ferry to the South Island in the morning. 
Several of the group had already left, when the local Hawera newspaper reporter showed up and asked to do a story and photos  (story published at end of blog). Of course,  the "late risers" lined up on the lawn of the motel for our photo shoot. 

Photo Shoot in Hawera

It was nearly 10 AM before we left Hawera and we were expected near Levin around 11 AM for a Morgan Owner coffee stop. After an hour or so of driving, we passed several of the group who had left early and stopped for breakfast.  

A Nice Driving Day

Shortly after passing them, we pulled over to the side of the road and for some reason (can't remember now), we turned off the engine. Lo and behold, when Philip went to start the engine, it wouldn't start. So he started testing various components of the car and determined it had something to do with the ignition. About that time, the "coffee" group came along and gave us a push to get started.
So we continued on to the Morgan Club owners, Warren and Jan's home, where Philip could let the engine cool and look into  (and hopefully fix) the problem.

Jan had set out some wonderful goodies for us to feast on, including cold water, as it finally was a hot day. 

Coffee at Warren and Jan's near Levin

The guys checked out all the Morgan's while Philip waited for our car to cool. I was very nervous that he would need a part and that somehow we would need to find it. 

Dennis and Nancy

Colin and Callie

Morgans On the Lawn

Morgan Sunroof

Once the engine cooled, Philip was able to do some poking about and discovered that the connecting line from the starter solenoid to the starter had come apart. So the fix was to reconnect it. Thankfully no parts were needed, and I relaxed. 

Morgan Fixed

Roger and Linda

Checking out the Morgans

Lovely Three Wheeler

Nancy and Dennis

Presenting the Plaque to Warren and Jan

 Roger did his wonderful presentation of the very rare MONZA plaque to Warren and Jan thanking them for their wonderful hospitality.

Plaque presentation

This day was a 177 mile drive, so we passed up the Southward Car Museum in order to get to Wellington in time for Colin's Birthday Party. 

Continuing On

 The arrival at the Hotel in Wellington was challenging, but fortunately Nancy had arrived earlier to be certain parking was available for us in the parking garage. 

Arriving in Wellington

The Birthday Dinner was at Shed Five which was on Queen's Wharf, not far from our hotel. We walked over with Patsy and Michael to the restaurant, where the group had a private room

Elaine and Philip Dressed for the Party

Patsy and Michael Dressed for the Party

Someone had brought glue-on Moustaches for the men for the party.

Dressing Colin for HIS Birthday Party 

Moustache Men

The Boys

David

Joan and others at the Dinner Table

The dinner was superb  and the company fun. 

My Dinner- Fish 

A Toast to Colin 

Colin's Speech 

Colin's Birthday Cake

The Greeting   

Roasting Colin

A Joke

We all headed back to the hotel in preparation for departure to the ferry at 7:30 AM the next morning. If was a VERY HAPPY BIRTHDAY for Colin and we all enjoyed celebrating it with him.

 Morgan sports cars roar into Hawera

DEENA COSTER Last updated 05:00 25/01/2014
Hawera proved to be a popular pitstop for a touring party of Morgan sports car drivers yesterday.
About 17 couples from Britain, the United States and Belgium, are two weeks into an eight-week tour of New Zealand, taking in the scenery from the comfort of their distinctive vehicles.
The group stayed in Hawera for only one night, but not before taking in a tour along Stratford's Forgotten World Highway.
Keith Parker, accompanied by wife Joan, said all the cars had to be shipped over to New Zealand in preparation for the tour.
He said the costs of shipping worked out to be about the same as it would be to rent a car for the duration of their stay.
Mr Parker, who is from Shropshire, England, said he had a passion for the shape and look of the Morgan motor car.
"It's basic driving but lovable," he said.
One person driving solo on the tour is Northumberland's Fiona Cowley. This tour was her second trip to New Zealand. "I loved it 10 years ago so I came back."
The chance to spend time with her friends was one of the appeals of the trip.
"I'm having a lot of fun and seeing fabulous places," she said.
The party's next stop is Wellington, before heading over to the South Island.
To ship a car overseas for driving tours, a carnet de passage is usually required. The internationally- recognised document allows travellers to temporarily import their vehicle into a country they are visiting.
A safety check is carried out on the vehicle when it arrives to ensure it complies with safety standards.
THE MORGAN MOTOR CAR
The Morgan Motor Company Ltd was established by H F S Morgan in 1909 in Britain. The cars are hand- made at the company's workshop in Malvern, Worcestershire. There are eight cars in the Morgan range, including a three-wheeled model. About 1300 cars are made a year. Prices start from about NZ$66,500 to $172,000, but can vary depending on the model and other optional extras. Source: Morgan Motor Company
- © Fairfax NZ News