A day with the iPhone.
Taking the Bus to Auckland city
Most of us have mobile phones, and nearly all of us take photographs with them. So as a photographer I set my self the challenge of taking mine out with me for the day.
I decided the day to do it was a wine tour to Waiheke Island in New Zealand. How did I get on?
Setting out this morning was a little strange, armed only with my phone.
We hopped on a bus; another new thing for me as I tend to drive everywhere.
Jo and I Travelling in style in the stretched people carrier.
I was very surprised at how quick and efficient taking public transportation was. We arrived in Auckland City in plenty of time and saw our ferry at the terminal.
The one on the right was our ferry.
Now that is an impressive ferry!
With our chariot in view, we had a short wait for our 3rd team member to arrive, when she did we eagerly boarded the boat.
Bon voyagé
We decided to sit at the rear of the ferry so as to appreciate the great city views as we pulled away.
Little did we know, the rear of the boat was to be subjected to plenty of sea spray, and as we arrived on Waiheke, we all had cool, salty dampness to our clothes.
I've heard of dog walking, cat walking, even goat walking but bike walking???
We were greeted by our bus driver Justin -time, who took us on our journey around the island. Here goes.
The bus stopped at various locations to allow us to soak up the views.
Winery number 1 - A little organic boutique winery, Kennedy Point. We got to taste various wines including one of the best wines in the world, a 2013 Syrah which came 3rd in its class in 2015 in London.
Jo and Roxanne naming the grapes for later consumption.
We were shown the heart of the operation in making this organic wine and were surprised at the small space used for crushing, pressing, barreling, bottling and labelling the splendid liquids. Did you know each barrel loses the equivalent of one glass of wine per week through evaporation? They are topped up accordingly to avoid oxidation.
Currently empty but all this will change in a few weeks when the winemaker starts his process accompanied by his jazz music.
The cellar door is where the wine is tasted and bought, especially by my wife and her friend.
The wallet is now a little lighter.
Onwards to the next winery and more wine to taste, this time to Peacock Sky.
The very inviting entrance.
This tasting was done with a mini degustation to demonstrate how different foods compliment the wines to the point when you realise that you are actually drunk.
Wine and food great combination. It really works.
The ladies by now are well and truly experts in wine.
Where did the wine go.
At lunch there was food and WINE.
Cheers.
A quick stop off at the beach, before we head back to the city.
A pano.
Always time for a very merry quick selfie.
Don't look behind you, the tide is coming in.
The tour done, we headed back to the ferry port. The girls became very protective of the box of wine.
My precious.
Whilst travelling back on the ferry, we received a special FaceTime call from the USA to watch a firework display celebrating Chinese New Year Of the Monkey.
Boom, awesome firework display in Brooklyn USA.