In nearly a month on the road, I have made a few observations:
1) There must be a special school were villages send their idiots to become designers of hotel rooms. With very few exceptions, the lighting in rooms is totally inadequate and for no apparent reason. Showers over a bath are still found in 95% of rooms - can’t remember the last time anyone said they’d had a bath. Elevators are often inadequate (one 3 story establishment did not have an elevator at all) Almost without exception, Air conditioning units are LOUD! 2) People - both in Canada and the US, the people we have met have been curious and friendly, and on the roads, almost unfailingly courteous and aware - much more so than you’d expect in New Zealand. Anytime one of our number made an unintentional faux pas, there was no sign of the impatience, road rage or horn tooting we’re used to. 3) Tipping is a real thing here - people in service industries rely on tips to survive. Any prospective tourist who can’t get their head around adding at least 15% to restaurant bills should stay at home. 4) In travelling we become appreciative of the beauty and difference of other places - we are also reminded of those special people and places we a missing back at home - a sacrifice with benefits, hopefully not quickly forgotten 5) Food - bearing in mind that we have been living on the road, some of the best food we’ve found has been at gas station’s, particularly bigger ones. Decent sandwiches, salads, pizza, slushies, coffee, through to packaged beef jerky, and a myriad of other delights can be found, although chance plays a very big part. Places like McDonalds can be an absolute oasis when desperation is a factor - consistent, clean and a fairly varied menu. Hotel breakfasts have proven to be very average at best, with scrambled eggs of a fairly “loose” consistency are universal, with cereals, “biscuits & gravy”, pancakes being other staples. Evening meals have usually offered variations on burgers, steaks, salads, even the occasional fish & chips 6) Temperature- We have experienced everything from extreme cold and wet, (even hail), through to extreme heat - the key is to be prepared and we have been. Hydration, sun block, rest, more hydration, more sunblock…. 7) Personalities- being a big group of 24 travelling together for close to a month in fairly close quarters has offered plenty of opportunities to get pissed off with each other. That said, we have all had the ability to get away from people and situations that may have been frustrating at each day’s end, and it is my opinion that we’re all more accepting of each other at the end of the trip than at the start - perhaps better people too! 8) Although we know we’ll be heading back to the middle of winter, we’re looking forward to getting home to family, home and “normality”, where the past month will quickly become a memory , with only photos, my blog and Visa statements to remind us of this epic journey. As I finish my notes, Linda has taken our mascot Kiwi, who has quietly ridden with us from Vancouver to Phoenix, never once complaining about weather or circumstance, and given it to a small child in a room close to ours - perhaps that child will have their interest piqued and learn about NZ in the years to come. Comments are closed.
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Don MalcolmA perfect day involves being on my Harley with a long ride ahead.
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