Ross and Wyn Davies Travel Blog

Sad (and Sorry?) Secret of the Wairarapa

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Ross

We traversed the lower Wairarapa a few times as we explored the towns and sights. And as we do, we picked up the tourist pamphlets to see what to see and learn more about the places. Most of the information was helpful, plus or minus Boggy Pond. But there was one bit of history that was mentioned fleetingly, and indirectly. Which made it all the more interesting. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Rants and Raves | Tagged Featherstone, Wairarapa, war | Leave a comment

Stonehenge Aotearoa and Happy New NZ Year

Posted on June 19, 2013 by Ross

There is of course the other Stonehenge in England. But that only works for the Northern Hemisphere. It turns out we have our own one for New Zealand. Which is good as we’re not in the Northern Hemisphere. Stonehenge Aotearoa is in the Wairarapa, a few kilometres out of town from Carterton. It is not a replica or recreation of the England Stonehenge. It is a working observatory of our skyscape; our sun and our stars. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Stonehenge Aotearoa, Wairarapa | Leave a comment

More of Martinborough

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Ross

After our big day out to White Rock, we were thinking a bit more local for Saturday. It was another nice day and we headed back to Martinborough. We’d passed through it a couple of times over the last few years, going somewhere. It looked interesting and we figured it’d be a good place for a Saturday morning coffee. Along with everyone else dropping in for the weekend. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Boggy Pond, Lake Wairarapa, Martinborough, Old buildings, Rimutaka, Wairarapa | Leave a comment

Way Over the Wairarapa to White Rock

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Ross

The weather looked good for last Friday so we agreed it was time for an adventure. Wyn had always been keen to see White Rock, a remote beach South East of Martinborough. You can walk about 5 kms past the road end at Cape Palliser or drive through the middle of nowhere. We drove. And we drove. The road is OK, even sealed for about half the distance from Martinborough. Then it is gravel and it gets narrow and was a bit damp in parts. But it is mercifully free of corrugations and potholes. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Wairarapa, White Rock | 3 Comments

Gray Days in Greytown

Posted on June 6, 2013 by Ross

Did you know Greytown was New Zealand’s first planned inland settlement, in 1854? I didn’t. I guess that makes it one of the first mistake by planners because when the railway came through in the 1870s it missed Greytown out and it was in decline for the next 100 years. So when we started to value our heritage in the 1970s, it was realised that Greytown has a lot of lovely old colonial buildings. Not by planning but by neglect and ignorance i.e. being ignored. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Greytown, Wairarapa | Leave a comment

On The Road Again…. Again

Posted on June 4, 2013 by Ross

So finally today we fired up Suzi truck and headed out of Porirua. It’s been six weeks since we pulled in. Six weeks has been a long time away from our mobile home. So now we’re back Suzi. Re-learning a few things. Remembering a few things. Heading up the highway…. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Featherstone, Fell Railway, Greytown, Wairarapa | Leave a comment

Much More Motels

Posted on June 2, 2013 by Ross

So we worked one more gig at the motels at Blenheim, in March. And tried to get some jobs with the grape harvest. The big companies are awful. It’s all on-line applications and you cannot get to talk to anyone about the possibilities and it’s all don’t-call-us-we’ll call you. Except they don’t. We were looking for something to tide us through April until the kiwifruit season kicked off. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Tagged Blenheim, motel, Porirua, Queenstown, Wellington | Leave a comment

I Will Become a Better Blogger

Posted on June 1, 2013 by Ross

I will become a better blogger.

I will become a better blogger. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | 3 Comments

Still Still Alive and Well

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Ross

Crikey, another month up the spout. Farewell February. We’re still going OK. A bit much working mind you… We’re supposed to be semi-retired but the semi part is getting smaller. I guess this is what happens when we use our time off from one job to work somewhere else. From Murchison we headed on to Westport and work at motels there. We enjoy Westport – it’s not like anywhere else much. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log | Leave a comment

Still Alive and Well

Posted on February 4, 2013 by Ross

Oh dear oh dear oh dear….. Big long time and no blog…. We seems to have been a bit busy for a bit of a while. What with one thing and a squillion others 🙂 Anyway, we’re both still alive and well. Today we are in Murchison and the rain is falling steadily. Time for a few inside jobs. And a few internet jobs. Starting here….

Posted in Daily log | Leave a comment

Piwakawaka Bay – Pelorous Sound

Posted on December 23, 2012 by Ross

Piwakawaka is Maori for fantail – as in fantail birds. There you go, maybe you learned something? Don’t say this blog isn’t educational. I learnt something anyway. Elaine Bay is a bit of a secret and the walks from there are even bigger secrets Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Walks | Tagged Marlborough Sounds | Leave a comment

Elaine – Bay of Many Moods

Posted on December 18, 2012 by Ross

Our visit to Elaine Bay (Marlborough Sounds) earlier in the month hadn’t started well. The wind blew from four directions (including down) and got us concerned enough to retreat for one night. We returned and gradually the wind settled. One morning I woke up early enough to hear the birds and notice the absence of wind. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Photography | Tagged Elaine Bay, Marlborough Sounds | 2 Comments

Again the Archer Track – Sound Secret

Posted on December 16, 2012 by Ross

It was just last week that we were at Elaine Bay in Marlborough Sounds, down towards French Pass. After a rough couple of days the sun came out. Which made all the difference. And gradually the wind died down, which was another good difference. Continue reading →

Posted in Daily log, Walks | Tagged Elaine Bay, Marlborough Sounds, walk | Leave a comment

Photo of the Day #19 (SE Asia Day 9 – Bangkok)

Posted on December 15, 2012 by Ross

Travels in South East Asia August-September 2011 – Day 9 – Bangkok

Pulling in to Bangkok by train was an interesting way to arrive in the bigcity. But it did give the impression that it is quite big. Bangkok is strange for those of us from smaller cities – it doesn’t have a middle to it. It’s all over the place, with accommodation and shops all over the place. How were we supposed to work out where to stay? Continue reading →

Posted in Photo of the Day | Tagged Bangkok, South East Asia, Thailand | Leave a comment

Photo of the Day #18 (SE Asia Day 8 – Thailand Travel)

Posted on December 14, 2012 by Ross

Travels in South East Asia August-September 2011 – Day 8. Leaving Koh Samui was another adventure. We could easily have stayed longer, but we had places to go. We had booked travel to Bangkok, but that was an adventure in itself. Continue reading →