Now Voyager: Whanganui

Sunday January 24 Whanganui

Up at six-thirty for a bus to the station, there to connect to my booking for Whanganui at 7.45. I realise late with a public holiday tomorrow I could have parked overnight near the station in the university grounds, but no worries, I always enjoy my bus rides. Today it is near full of young things in their late teens carrying enormous back-packs with all sort of things hanging from them. They look very Scandinavian, and their language is possibly Swedish. They are super-slim, long legged and a bit nervous as they have to catch the ferry to the South Island at eight o'clock, but they will, it's Wellington after all.

The trip is interspersed with a lively chat with the bus driver, behind whom I have cadged the best seat. He is rotund and humorous and was born in Levin he confides. I wonder if he knows my friend Ron who would be the same age, but not married with young kids as this friendly giant is. I refrain from asking him.

There are a few stops before we alight at Bulls, where I am to change coaches for Whanganui, this bus going on to Auckland arriving about seven pm. I eat my salmon sandwich at the bus station as we have a twenty minute wait. A rather grubby man wants to have a conversation and I realise later he is possibly destitute, and although he didn't ask for money I feel I should have given him my loose change. Oh well, next time I will be more aware I hope.

I arrive early at the bus terminal and have a few hours before I meet Graeme at the Ridgeway Street meeting room, so I avoid the crowded nearby cafe and descend immediatley to the wonderful river where is a lot of action, trains-rides, market, music and even a vintage Rolls Royce show!

As always I find an excellent café with a view of the river and sit to rest with a drink. A local womanjoins me as it is very busy and we chat about Whanganui. She has retired her from Lower Hutt home andit seems to be a good thing to do, cheaper real estate and everything. She tells me there is a house for sale on the opposite bank for a reasonable price she assures me. Pity I haven't enough money, but c'est la vie, I am a rollong stone.

More people sit with me and we talk of life after death, quite fitting as we are to do a workshop on this subject. I decide to order a Smashed Avocado on toast, which is delicious, just enough to tide me over. The day is beautiful on Whanganui River.

On the banks of the beautiful Whanganui River