Napier and Hawk Bay

The flat land in the distance on the left came up from the ocean during an earthquake in 1931. One of the rivers went backwards and an estuary was lifted up on the south side of Napier. Our friends Malcolm and Anne Reeves picked us up from the Visitors Center and toured us around the area. Hawkes Bay wine region is named after the Hawk Bay. There was lots of new land and geology to see. …and graffiti.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

In New Zealand they export gigantic quantities of sustainable Monterrey Pine which grows better in New Zealand than in America. This wood does not need a container as we saw them loaded on as is in bundles. It is cheaper to buy new containers for imported items. Go figure…Therefore they have stacks and stacks of empty containers around all of their ports. Sure seems like there is some creative use for these containers! These containers, just like in the USA, make for great graffiti signs at least.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Cows and hedges or hedges and cows? Which came first? The cows outside the fence reminds me of home. Our Marin County Sheriff’s know where the cows are most likely to get out and which rancher to call. They also carry bolt cutters and repair items for fences as needed. The bus you can see was off our ship and they got to mosey around the cows too as they were on both sides of the road and the cows did NOT like the sound of the bus.

Hedges? My goodness New Zealand folks could you have any more wind break hedges made out of every imaginable bush or tree? I think a few square feet may have been missing one! They don’t make for quality photos when on a bus.

We passed cheese factories that became churches – Cheeses of Nazareth maybe??? Maybe they made swiss cheese since it becomes holey? Unique winery names like Red Barrel and Black Barn, Black Bridge, Elephant Hill or Wool Shed( how creative are those???).

Craggy Ridge Winery is at the bottom of the hill where you can sort of see vineyards. There is a river across the middle. In the far far distant galaxy you can almost make out water and the hill behind where our ship was docked.

LDBD – Last drink before I die…our waiter wanted it to be a wine called Enigma…I choose MSquared! A guy from the next table came over to ask what wine we were tasting and why it looked like an AK47 was serving it? It was a Coravin – or wine saver – that does look unique. I guess New Zealand has a gun by back in case you want to sell your AK47 to them.

Unique sayings like “back in a tic” or WIT as in whatever it takes. Loved the side of a porta potty that didn’t say “here’s Jonny” but Wee Doo Loos! How about the Tuki Tok River? Napier had just had its Art Deco festival and we enjoyed seeing all the beautiful art deco architecture around the town. Larkin has chosen Napier as her favorite stop so far on the trip due to its geology and “rock” beach.

After Malcolm and Anne dropped us off at the Visitors Center, we headed back to the ship but Larkin and I forgot to get our requisite sand so she and I headed right back and made sure we loaded up a baggie with the little pebbles as it is “new” land and not sand yet. We took a walk back toward the pier and picked up the shuttle and head to the ship for our sail away to Wellington and our last New Zealand stop!