Stoney Batter Post Script

We made our second Stoney Batter visit on 13 September.

While driving back, we turned a corner and found two cows out on the road. I was a bit worried until I noticed a young man who appeared to be walking the cows down the road.

Then, the man turned, saw us, and put out his thumb.

Oh, he wasn't walking the cows, he was just walking along with them.

Lucy said "Oh, he's a backpacker. We're on the far side of the island; let's give him a lift."

I pulled to the side and the kids moved over to let him join them in the back.

He and Lucy had a great chat while I drove us to Onetangi Beach, where he could catch a bus to the ferry.

His name was Otto. He works for a real estate company--owned by a Dutch concern--that manages real estate in Germany. He did not take the common world-tour trip after finishing university and has always regretted that. So, he convinced his employers to give him a three-month unpaid leave to take a quick trip around the world.

He had three days for the Auckland area, and friends told him he had to see Waiheke. He had walked the 17 km from the ferry to Stoney Battery and was glad that we were giving him a lift.

We dropped him at the bus stop and told him he could get something to eat and drink at the Beach cafe before the bus came. Then we drove ourselves home.