The wind finally dropped today and so Mum and I caught the ferry to Days Bay (on the other side of the harbour) and cycled all the way back – through Seaview, Petone and down the motorway (using the cycle path thank goodness).
Bikes in Wellington need cupholders. I have my priorities – we cycled from the apartment to the ferry, and I detoured via Mojo to pick up a flat white and a cappuccino. However, this meant I had to juggle the coffees and the bike to get to the ticket office.
On the ferry, we were instructed to put our bikes on the top deck – this meant negotiating the stroller obstacle course inside and some steep stairs. But at the other end, I unchained my bike and wheeled straight down the gangplank – first off! Win!
We made a beeline for lunch at the Chocolate Dayz café, descendant of the Chocolate Fish empire. Their courgette and corn fritters were mighty fine, and we had a seat with a stellar view back towards Wellington. Then we poked around Eastbourne, a sleepy seaside village with some nice shops, and it was back to Days Bay for a swim. The water was lovely, and not threatening to pound me into a pulp like it was yesterday. In a fit of activity, I swam out to the raft and stood astride it, fists on my hips, master of all I surveyed.
Then we cycled back, unfortunately not with the tail wind we were expecting, but the head wind was more of a gentle breeze. According to Google Maps it was only 24 kms, but according to my tail bone it was a lot further. Hard to get used to a non-Velib bike, especially one that was slightly too small!
I’m staying at Mum’s apartment for the rest of my holiday. It’s a big contrast to go from Dad’s house in Paekak, where you hear the roar of the sea at night, to downtown Wellington where you hear the roar of Courtenay Place. But nice to have both. Have spotted a bar down the road called The Library, which might as well have my name written outside in big flashing lights.
Having dinner tonight with the doors and windows open, a lone busker is playing his trumpet on the street below. Actually he could be several blocks away, but it sounds like he’s got a good amp. It’s a still summer night and he’s playing ‘Halleluiah’.
