Saturday, February 4. Day 32 of the cruise, [25% of the way through.] Sunny, finally. 22 C. Nice.
We were anchored off of Gisborne, a NZ Country Town I would call it, around 6:30 this morning. A stroll through it later showed it to be a slightly decaying small town with some missing zest, nice enough though.
We were off the ship via Tenders at about 8:30 for a 15 minute ride to shore. Then a quick coach trip to the Rail Cars where we were very methodically and orderly loaded into passenger cars holding about 26 [?] passengers each. Soon enough we were off at an 8 MPH speed with an ongoing commentary about rural life in this neck of the woods.
The train is manned by volunteers, elderly volunteers, who mixed right in with us. There was some bubbly champagne-like local wine, [very nice] that livened up the chatter around 9:30 am very nicely. After a 40 minute ride crossing through local farms and neighbourhoods; five ‘major’ road crossings: as the locals patiently and politely waved from their stopped vehicles; one bridge and an airport runway we made it to the end of the line.
There was a School of elementary students there to do a Maori dance in native dress for us. They performed for us as Serious Railroad Fans examined and photographed the 127 year old rebuilt locomotive engine and replica coaches, plus one original passenger car.
It was an absolutely wonderful few hours for us, returning over the same route of course where we four searched out a mid-day meal in an open air restaurant where you moved your table to where the shade was best for you. Neato!
Then a short wander around the town. The highlight, for me, of the town-wander, was locating two casual shirts for me in a Thrift Shop, for NZ$ 5.00 each. [Another packing error on my part.]
We were back on the ship around 2:00 and sailed around 3:30. Next stop, tomorrow, Wellington, 275 Nautical Miles away, then three sea days to Australia.
Great Day, But Hard On My Feet!…
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