Not sure where the statement “more trains more often” comes from – does this mean that service reliability will improve too?  Currently the southern line which I take everyday has just over a 80% statistic for being on time!  Yes, that means at least once a week both to and from work I can expect the trains I catch to be late (or even worse cancelled!). 

You can check out the delays and increase in costs for the ARTA projects and also the reliability of the Auckland Rail Service in the ARTA monthly business reports.  Will Auckland ever get a reliable and efficient rail service?

For me, a Tui billboard I made up sums it up nicely!!

“We came in third, with 3219km on the clock, 7 spark plugs burnt out, one full service, a total of 200 rupees paid in bribes and 70 rupees in tolls and the Germans were nowhere to be seen.

The race had everything from breakdowns to bustups, crashes diharheoa (how DO you spell that!?!), sleeping on floors, FUNNY roads, cows, goats and at one point even death.”

Will have to get the real lowdown when he gets back to TVNZ for work. Anyone keen to meet up for a convoy attempt next year??

Maybe I should start importing the 3 wheel beasts into NZ – check out the bajaj website for the 2 and 4 stroke models.

For all people in the UK I challenge you to enter Adventure No 7 from THE INSTITUTE OF ADVENTURE RESEARCH  

 

 

 

The trip over took four & half hours as we decided to take the car and John’s (Amanda’s dad) little boat over so ended up on the car ferry .  Well worth the expense as we had transport on and off the water.  Many a morning was spent fishing and a bit of snorkelling also.  Managed to catch lots of snapper and a few other species (trevally, etc) and ended up eating fish everyday.  Managed to fit in one dive with Aaron and ended up with a bounty of scallops which were devoured by all.  We set the cray pots a couple of times but alas the bloody eels keep eating the bait so missed out there and ran out of time for another dive to go catch some. see the photos here… (more to come later)

Beaches and scenery were amazing  (did a already say that?).  The bach was great and had all we needed (although we bought enough food, gear and alcohol over).  It is solar powered as there is no power on the island and there was enough sunshine to keep the lights on! The bach is situated on Kaitoke beach which stretches for km’s and probably the most people I ever saw on it at any one time was eight.  An ideal setting for some R&R, and the weather was kind as well (but the water cold!).

Had an afternoon driving around the island and took in one walk (see the photos) to get a view.  Parts of the roads are sealed but the corners are tight and the width narrow.  Luckily we didn’t meet too much traffic coming the other way but I’m sure John was not keen on my driving speed around some of the unsealed downhill stretches of road.

Well back in Auckland ready to go somewhere for the New Year. Any suggestions as I believe as always in NZ it is going to rain!! 

Happy New Year everybody!!

 

Feel like a bit of adventure… someone came up with the concept of racing a rickshaw across India for over 2000 miles to raise funds for the Mercy Corps.  Sounds like a bit of a blast. 

As their website states “What better way to enjoy the Christmas holidays than two weeks of mountains, mud tracks, tropical heat, gin & tonics, cricket and that most noble of vehicular genius, the three wheeled motorised rickshaw.”

I guy I know at work (TVNZ) is doing it with another 2 guys he has never meet.  You can check out their progress and planning on their “The Dosa Boys” blog and make a donation if you want.

The race starts in Cochin (Kerala) on the 27th of December!!

101 Must Dos for Kiwis

e.g check out this one near Gizzie….

We spent the other 2 days sightseeing in Wanaka, Queenstown with trips to Glenorchy and Arrowtown and a few luge rides and a trip to Puzzle World.  Amanda had her Birthday in Wanaka so dined at Relishes before watching the rugby at the Speight’s Ale House.

Dick and Erica came down from Christchurch for the weekend and cool to catch up with them after such a long time.

All in all, a great week off with my snowboarding not improving.  I have come to the conclusion I need a season in Canada to improve, so working on Amanda to give the green light. The light is sitting in amber at the moment which is better than red!!

 

 

My most favourite animal!! and the fastest…..  

 

So far great trip in South Africa, expensive place though.  Finally at my first internet cafe that has semi realistic prices (less than 10NZD/hour and faster than 55.6Kbps speed), will update when home on the 28th April sometime soon afterwards with news, stories and photos.  In Cape town today, it’s raining so hoping for a few fine days to climb table mountain as can’t even see it today!

Craig & Amanda

If you have any MUST SEE’s in Durban/Surrounds and the Garden Route/Cape Town drop me a line and let me know what I should do and see!!

Date	Day		Itinerary	Travel
6th	Thu	1	Depart AKL to JNB (via SYD ) QF 40 & SA 7701 Operated by: QANTAS                       A night in JNB at Africa Lodge Centre	Depart Time: 06:10!! Arrival Time: 16:05
7th	Fri	2	Depart JNB for DUR (flight booking code: CEITDP)	Flight No: Kulula MN615 Depart Time: 12:45 Arrival Time: 13:55
8th	Sat	3	Explore Durban and Surrounds	Â
9th	Sun	4	Explore Durban and Surrounds	Â
10th	Mon	5	Arrive at wedding venue – afternoon	 We need a lift to Tala!!
11th	Tue	6	The Big Day – Free booze on Bruce PietermaritsburgÂ	Â
12th	Wed	7	Chill out and recover	Â
13th	Thu	8	Depart DUR for PLZ (flight booking code: UNUGWR) Stay at Grant & Tandi’s	Flight No: Kulula MN752 Depart Time: 13:45 Arrival Time: 15:00
14th	Fri	9	Stay at Grant & Tandi’s	Â
15th	Sat	10	Stay at Grant & Tandi’s	Â
16th	Sun	11	Explore Garden Route	Â
17th	Mon	12	Explore Garden Route	Â
18th	Tue	13	Explore Garden Route	Â
19th	Wed	14	Explore Garden Route	Â
20th	Thu	15	Explore Garden Route	Â
21st	Fri	16	Explore Garden Route	Â
22nd	Sat	17	Explore Garden Route or Cape Town	Â
23rd	Sun	18	Explore Garden Route or Cape Town	Â
24th	Mon	19	Explore Garden Route or Cape Town	Â
25th	Tue	20	Explore Cape Town Happy Birthday to Mike P!	Â
26th	Wed	21	Explore Cape Town	Â
27th	Thu	22	My Birthday in the Air! Happy Birthday to Jimbo! Depart CPT to JNB (flight booking code: EDWHZR) Depart JNB to AKL (via SYD ) SA 7700 Operated by: QANTAS & QF 189	            Flight No: Kulula MN110 Depart Time: 12:50 Arrival Time: 14:50        Depart Time: 18:00
28th	Fri	23	Arrive AKL	Arrival Time: 21:20