A PERFECT DAY # 3

STAND BY ME


It was January 1963 I think. I was at Marist Brothers Newtown school in Standard 4 that year.  I would have been about 10.

One of my best friends at Primary school and Intermediate was David Throll. We lost touch at Secondary due to the streaming that separated classmates from Intermediate into separate classes in the 3rd form. This was a shame as a Few of my best friends ended up in other classes.

We generally only socialised at school and school events so it was unusual for David (Throll as I called him - we only ever used Surnames in those days) to invite me for a day out on our bikes.
The plan was to cycle to Petone which for me at that time was a big adventure. Petone was the dark side (still is?) and was only ever approached as a throughway to somewhere else.

My mother was concerned and I had to assure her that it was perfectly safe and that we would be careful. her concern I guess was that I'd been hospitalised twice already from bike accidents. This was a few years before Tony Gilligan (4th form at St Pats) was killed while riding his bike on the Hutt Road. If this had already happened there was no way that I'd have been allowed to go.

ACCIDENT

I think it was a Saturday when we set out. Mum had prepared a nice lunch (sandwiches and fruit) and I had money for a drink. Believe it or not FANTA had only just been released in New Zealand at this time and the Nazi drink was very popular. It was only sold in small bottles so hadn't yet done irreparable damage to the teeth and health  of New Zealand kids.


I remember riding from Vogeltown  to Courtenay Place to meet Throll. It was mid-morning.
We rode to Aotea Quay and contemplated going along on the Hutt Road but even in those days on a Saturday seemed a bit too busy. We found a cycle and walking track at Kaiwharawhara that went along the harbour side of the Hutt Road out to Petone. This was safer than riding on the road but in terrible repair. I was afraid of getting a puncture because the track was littered with broken glass and sharp railway-line stones. I've never understood why people smash bottles on walkways. Yobboes!

The cycleway was like this which is how it still was in 1978

This is what it's like now

It was a nice day with no wind except for some cooling breezes and riding around the harbour was really nice. Somes Island was off to the right. This was a bit of a mystery as in those days the public could not visit it. For a 10 year old this of course added to the mystery. What was there? Germans? Evil scientists? Dangerous animals?

At Petone we rode along the Esplanade. This is still a nice feature of greater Wellington and long may it last AND be kept in good condition. We rode past The Gear Meat Company with all its disgusting smells. Little did I know that I'd be working there some tIme in the future.

We mooched around the Esplanade for a while, went to the end of the wharf, tried to ride our bikes in the sand (not advisable) until we were hungry. We bought our FANTAs at a nearby dairy and had lunch by the Wellington Provincial Centennial Memorial (now known as The Settler's Museum.)

Then

Now

after our lunch we kept riding along The Esplanade to Seaview where the oil and motor companies were still alive and well at the time. We went past Todd Motors (Roote's Group) little knowing that I'd work there one day in the future.
The Esplanade and general area of Petone and Seaview was great for bike riding as, unusual for Wellington there were no hills - it was all flat. Our misgivings of the area weren't realised as we didn't get accosted by any rough fellows - they all lived in Garden Road Northland.

We'd ridden further than anticipated and it was well into middle afternoon so we rode back to Wellington which, after our endeavours was a bit harder going as the wind had come up - in our faces. At Courtenay Place we said our goodbyes and I rode my way,  all uphill - Tory Street, past the Winter Show, up Hutchinson Road to Vogeltown. It was well after 5 and I'd said that I'd be home by 4. Tea was soon on the table which was well received - probably 'casserole steak', mashed potatoes and green vegetables followed by apple crumble and ice cream. Bath, some TV and then bed.

A great adventure. Another Perfect Day.