Day 387: Davenport & Auckland

From Mt. Victoria in Davenport

Day 387  Tramp 424/404

Tuesday December 6, 2011 (New Zealand)  **Happy Birthday Dad**

Downtown Auckland - New Zealand

My Tripometer: 3 Hours 2 Miles  +300 Feet

 Rangitoto Island in the distance
(Looks like they cloned Toad from Mario Cart)

Rangitoto Island formed just 600 years ago from a volcano that errupted out of the Tamaki Strait.  We will climb this later in the trip...

 Fort Victoria was active during World War II

 Due to Japan bombing Pearl Harbor the United States entered the war...

 The US presence helped save New Zealand from the Japanese.
With only 4 million residents, surely less then,
 they wouldn't have stood a chance.

 Fat man flying! I still got ups!  Hmm, this pic isn't right :)

 Best chocolate in New Zealand

 More Beer!

 On the radio!

Look at the computer monitor behind the DJ's head; It's my Blog! 

We randomly walked around the entire town.  We climbed Mt. Victoria, strolled the Main Street, drank beer and then walked to the wharf where frequent tourists normally arrive by ferry (we drove across the harbor bridge to reach Davenport today but the ferry ride may have been faster).

It was early evening and the enclosed pier was mostly dead, with exception of the radio station.  You can view the DJ as you walk through the wharf so we thought it would make a good picture to pose next to him.  DJ Mike Star invited us in his booth and we chatted for nearly an hour.  He first spoke to Jess on air about the trip we won and then I began talking about hiking.  It was truly a unique experience.

Click below to listen online to 88.2 & 107.1 FM (Strange, 88.2, an even number)

http://theflea.co.nz

Earlier that day:

Day 387  Tramp 423/403
Tuesday December 6, 2011 (New Zealand)
Downtown Auckland - New Zealand
My Tripometer: 5 Hours 5 Miles  +200 Feet

 I was born to play Rugby but I grew up on the wrong side of the pond

 Somewhere near Queens Arcade; Can you spot Jessi?

 Where's Jessi?

 Beer!!!

 Construction working in the nude?

 Extreme Bungy!

Jumping off Sky Tower!

...Ok, so we didn't Bungy or suicide jump off Sky Tower but we did walk and shop all day.  We found Valet for $15, way cheap, and I tried to tip the guy.  I learned that in New Zealand and Australia you don't tip.  At first I thought my $2 coin was an insult because the guy refused it but John explained that wages are set appropriately where tips are not necessary.  Cool...