I wanted to get out of the city fast. I'd been stuck in Brisbane for a week selling the Star Car but which way to go - heads or tails; coast or mountains. heads so its off to the Banks Peninsula with a totally inadequate map.
Wow! What brilliant countryside and the dirt roads, more like tracks, so wriggly I thought I was riding the back a snake. Up, up and up higher clinging onto cliffs then plummeting down to a cove then up again then up and down. Back in Christchurch I decided to give the mountains a shot.
AWESOME! This is an oft heard Kiwi word used to describe anything from a summit to a cup of coffee - strangely though not my performances - though I haven't seen all of the press coverage yet. By the way if any of you have any pictures or press cuttings I would dearly like to have them (yes Mary I know!!) Please send them to my Birmingham address as I am still homeless - and that's not a spelling mistake for hopeless either.
By now I was already sold on the NZ countryside. It is so British. It's just in the wrong order. Now like the South Downs, now like the Lake District, now like Cornwall, - and its spring! the lambs are in the fields and the blossom is on the trees - but jesus so cold after Oz that I had to buy some warmer clothes. Now I am just gobbling up the place. heading for the first of my 36 gigs in 30 days.
Aren't librarians wonderful, dont you think? At Timaru, my first stop, warm, inviting, helpful and loving my storytelling sessions to bits. I think I should make a video of Mr Quiggly and Mr Wiggly. Do you want a list, here goes, I hope I don't miss any:-
TimaruI know I have missed some out but I have one or two essential bits of paper missing but thanks to all of you for making everything so easy for me and giving me such a good time. Not only are the librarians gorgeous, including the blokes, but the libraries are fantastic and you can take out 30 books at a time and at Invercargill especially the folk tales section is second to none. With all the extra work has meant that not only did I need a car for getting to them but it was the only way I was going to see anything of the country so I can zip here and there when I have the odd day twix one gig and another.
Waikoutaiti
Dunedin
Blueskin Bay
Port Chalmers
Invercargill
Gore
Balclutha
drive, drive, drive, drive, drive to Auckland
Glenfield
Takapuna
East Coast Bays
Birkenhead
Northcote
Devonport
Papuranga
Highland Park
Waipawa
Waipukurua
Napier
Flaxmere
Hastings
Pentone
Masterton
Dirt Roads are a sure sign of something special so after the Dunedin libraries followed the Caitlin Coast road to Invercargill. Great sandy beaches and cliffs with interesting rock formations at every turn and native bush to look at as I drove along. Stooped at Hilltop, a five star backpackers at Papatowai. Stay there if you have the chance, its just mega.
In NZ the scenery is always interesting and often lovely but the driving is a cinch. the Roads are empty and open and snaking like a python between the hills and like a ribbon across the plains. The idea of driving from south South Island to Auckland struck most people as a bit crazy but it was a breeze and I even had time to take a few detours and meet up with a few people en route getting to know a bit more about the NZ storytelling scene.
Nigel's directions to his place in Auckland included - head for the volcano at the end of the street - seemed a bit odd but thats exactly what it was. Not only that but the Devonport Folk Club has its own place in a bunker right on the top of the volcano. You should try to go there any Monday night, not just for the great performances and company but the view is aws...... I had a great reception there and I lapped it up. Thanks so much to Nigel and Innis and Roger and Heather for making me so welcome and making my visit so easy and memorable.
Took in the bubbling wrath and hissing steam of Rotorua on the way to Mary Kippenberger's place at Otane. How can you live in such a beautiful place day after day? A little paradise set in a deep cut valley surrounded by trees. The valley s a delight with a whispering stream chattering and singing to you as you walk beside it. In some ways it is reminiscent of Shropshire but its even better than the Carding Mill Valley - (even in the rain Bill)
Thanks Mary and thanks everyone for such a good time in Hawks Bay and thanks Mary for putting off the housework to care for my every need.
Over the mountain pass to Wellington. More fun packed days with Catherine and Pat at Pentone - they really know how to party those people! Spent the weekend at Otaki after another sensational snaky drive. The downside was that the weather was rather drab so I had a cool windswept time on the sea shore and in the hills. There is a very good class of driftwood here both in the sea and in the rivers.
At the Masterton Librarians Ball I met up with loads of fun, loads of friends from the previous weeks. it couldnt have been planned better. Stopped at the Slug and Lettuce - sad to see this particular deculturization of the Kiwis!
So I've seen the sandy and precipitous shore, the snow-capped mountains, warmed my feet in various volcanoes, seen lakes, rivers, streams, native bush, dirt roads and I havent even told you abut the paragliding at Rotorua which was more peaceful than you can believe. But best of all were the Kiwis themselves. Youre so lovely.
Best wishes to you all. I'll see some of you soon and some of you later.
Graham
PS
Left New Zealand with the same reluctance that I arrived with but then
I didnt know that everyone at Canberra was going to be so wonderful and
that I would make so many great friends there as well as meeting up with
old ones. I had the time of my life and I have come away with my head bursting
with ideas from the stories during the day and the discussions during the
night
G