Caboose

Back on the Magic bus, this time with Rangi as the driver, saw some old faces again and got talking to Dave and Jessica, a couple from California.

We had a brief stop at a wildlife sanctuary where I finally got to see a live kiwi. They’re much bigger than I expected and I was quite surprised when one started calling and sounded a bit like a seagull. I couldn’t get any photos because they were being kept in a darkened room (they’re nocturnal) and flash photography wasn’t allowed.

On through the countryside, passing through lots of small towns serving the farms. I noticed that a lot of them still seem to have their own cinemas, obviously the multiplexes haven’t yet completely taken over in NZ.

When we arrived in Napier most of us were staying in the same hostel, Archie’s Bunker. No idea why it’s called that, it seems to be just another converted hotel but was comfortable and friendly. Napier is a pleasant seaside town noted for its Art Deco buildings, which were the result of a terrible earthquake in 1931.

Speaking of eathquakes, while we were sitting in the lounge watching a movie the building started shaking. I assumed it was just a passing train or something, but Dave and Jessica got up and headed for the nearest doorway (Californians are used to these thigns). Nearby Gisborne had experienced a earthquake reaching 6.8 on the Richter scale. Although there was quite a bit of damage it seems that there were few injuries and only one related death.