The final day of my road trip through beautiful Central Otago was as varied as the landforms I travelled through. (I’m reporting this somewhat post-facto because of the unfortunate necessity of having to earn a living to pay for all this fun stuff. And work has been busy now that we are out of at … [Read more...]
Flying High And Falling To Earth Above Lake Wanaka
First item on today’s agenda is some flight-seeing around the region, but given that I was going to be in a light aircraft I might as well log some instruction time. I have flown a Cessna 172 before, but not in a while so my instructor from Learn To Fly NZ, kept a watchful eye. Take off good, … [Read more...]
Wonderful Wanaka On A Central Otago Road Trip
Day three of my Central Otago road trip did not start well. Raining. Not exactly ideal for the first planned activity of the day, tandem paragliding. Although the sun broke through, the winds on nearby Coronet Peak were too strong. Another day perhaps. Instead it was off to Wanaka, a summer … [Read more...]
A Central Otago rail-side road trip
For much of the second day of my road trip exploring Central Otago in New Zealand, I’ll travel alongside the famous Central Otago Rail Trail and fossick around the villages along this part of its journey. First call was in Naseby, a town which did not rejoice at the coming of the railway early … [Read more...]
Central Otago: A road trip through one of NZ’s most dramatic landscapes
What with lockdowns and travel restrictions road trips have been a bit thin on the ground over the past two years, but, hey!, I’m now off exploring one of the most dramatic parts of New Zealand . . . Central Otago. Dramatic, sure. At times even brutal but beautiful too. And sometimes all three … [Read more...]
But for this gutsy woman you’d read this in French
Nicola de la Haye . . . now there’s a woman you have probably never heard of. Yet she is a reason you are reading this in English, not French. It all started with Magna Carta, the great charter that limited the power of the king. In 1215, King John, one of England’s least capable … [Read more...]
What Is The Best Time Of Year To Visit Britain?
I often get asked "What is the best time of the year to Visit Britain?" Well, right now is a great time to plan a visit to the UK. The Covid pandemic has meant that visitor numbers are way lower than usual and that means the big attractions are not crowded-out with “bloody tourists”. But is it … [Read more...]
Blarney Castle – all blarney for sure
Like this ancient ruin. They have the world convinced that if you hang upside down out a hole in the parapet and kiss a stone you will get the gift of the gab. You are more likely to get Covid-19 these days. Or am I just being a grumpy old curmudgeon. Probably. But you have to say it’s … [Read more...]
Hook Lighthouse in Ireland – the world’s second oldest.
A monk sits in his cell at Hook Lighthouse, County Wexford, Ireland. It’s the second oldest still-operating lighthouse in the world and you can get a guided tour, climbing the 115 steps to the top. It marks the entrance to Waterford Harbour and has done so for nearly 900 years. In the … [Read more...]
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