Segway!!

Another early start today, in order to catch the ferry over to Devonport for a Magic Broomstick Segway Tour of Devonport! What a brilliant morning. Arriving to grey skies and downpour, we postponed a while waiting for the gloom to pass over. It eventually did, and it was time to take my first step onto a Segway! There were two Aussies also on the tour, and with tales of Segway falls and stumbles I was slightly nervous to begin with! Our brilliant tour guide went ahead and showed us the simple start out points. Balance would be key, leaning forward - moves you forward and vice versa for backward. The steering post helping turn the machine around. A rather tentative start and the most difficulty aspects actually getting on and off the machine, we were soon ready to go!
We headed off along the coast front past the Yachting Club (oldest in new Zealand) whilst paying attention to the gorgeous housing, and plaques dating back areas, trees, houses, locations. We were then soon on our way up hill to North Head where the past naval base was located, and where the Navy tunnels remain intact. We scooted up quickly to the top, looking out over the gorgeous bays, over to North Shore, over to the Harbour Bridge, out to the sky tower, and across to Rangitoto. Although still a bit grey and damp, this didn't spoil the views. We then hopped off the Segways and wandered down to the Disappearing Gun. This was a heavy artillery gun that recoiled after firing, underground, to be reloaded. We viewed it from above ground, before angering the tunnels and also viewing it from below. Weighing over 13 tonnes it was a vast machine, and must have needed a lot of man power to load and fire - with 100kg bullets!! We had a quick look around some of the tunnels, into bunkers and rooms for resting with fireplaces. After our quick exploration, we then headed back to our Segways! A dash down the hill and we were soon the other side of Devonport and riding along the beach. We had a nice little stop off in a park to really let loose and see what the machines could do - I felt much more comfortable by now and this was great fun! A nice windy path back to the wharf where we had set off from, and the heavens opened! We were back just in time! It was a fantastic tour and well worth it! I cannot believe how much fun a segway is, or what a lovely, historic place Devonport is.
I hopped back on the ferry soon after, cold and a little damp to head for the city and a bite to eat. The downpours and their sudden nature was a bit of a shame, and I would have otherwise wandered around the city for a while longer. Soon I was back on the bus and heading back to Albany. Missing the majority of the rain on the walk back up, I was soon in the dry and warn with Sandy the labrador! Great for snuggled as I am greatly missing my three dogs at home - Jemma, Woody and Beau! :)
Time to dry off and I was out again - to watch youngest cousin J at his school hockey match! :) unfortunately the team lost, but I think they did incredibly well considering the driving rain!
More tired than I ever thought possible tonight. Sleeeeeeeep!!
(Note picture of viaduct harbour was largest amount of bluesky, and literally only lasted a split second!)