Sue Learns to Drive on the "Wrong" Side

Kia Ora!

When Sue and Sarah set up our tour at the I-site in Invercargill, Sue specifically asked for an on-site location in Christchurch for a rental car. The staff at Invercargill did an excellent job of all our reservations, but someone (they or we) slipped up on this one. Supposedly, Ace Car Rental was available on-site at Christchurch Airport. We didn't see them there.

Sue called. They were off-site but would pick us up. (They should have had our arrival time and been waiting for us as had all our other anticipated arrivals on this trip.) We waited. Outside. It was windy and cold. Sue called again. They were very busy. After nearly an hour, they finally showed up at the airport.

The Ace agency van was old with frayed upholstery. The lot for Ace Rentals was about 10 minutes from the airport, somewhat hidden on a back street. Arriving there, the driver stomped off, and we unloaded our own bags. Again I signed on as the major driver and, because Sarah's license was still not in her possession, Sue was back-up driver. The plan was that when the visitors return to the Christchurch Airport, I will stay in Timaru. So could Sarah fax them her driver's license? No. Could she go into Ace Rental in Timaru and be added as a driver? No. They have no agent in Timaru or anywhere nearby. Time for the back-up driver--Sue--to learn left side driving!

(Note here: Sarah and I are experienced left side of the road drivers and thought we two would handle the driving for this trip. In fact, years ago Sarah helped me learn driving on the left side: "Keep your body in the middle of the road," she advised. She lived for two years in Japan in her first job out of college.)

Our next trip was to Mt. Cook Village, high in the Southern Alps. (See Tramping at Mount Cook Village) Now was the time for Sue to do her maiden voyage sitting in the right side of the car and driving on the left side of the road. Sarah tried to be the navigator as she was for me, but I rudely elbowed her out of the way thinking as the "official" driver I would be close to help Sue. (Sorry, a little misunderstanding, Sarah!) Sue was a bit tentative at first but not for long. Never once did she stray into the right lane. Her only problem, and it is a common one for all of us coming from right side driving, is that the turn signals and gear shift are switched (I always specify automatic transmission for this reason). The driver sits on the right side of the car, but our hands automatically try to signal on the wrong side. All we do is set the windshield wipers churning, which does nothing to signal cars following.

Sue drove all the way to Mt. Cook Village, including through a vigorous heavy wet snowfall accumulating through Burke's Pass. (She is from Illinois; she knows all about driving in snow.)

When we left Mt. Cook Village and took the scenic but longer route back, Sue jumped right in and took off. She was stoked about this driving. If I had wanted to be the driver, I'm sure I would have had to wrestle her out of the car. I sat meekly in the back while Sarah navigated. Sue is an excellent and confident driver.

Our trip back took us through Waimate, home of Waimate Knitting Factory Store. Their products are fine merino wool or merino and possum blend sweaters, socks, scarves, etc.

"Would you like to stop and look at the products?" I asked.

"No, let's just go home," was the consensus from the three. As we drove down main street, we saw a hard-to-miss sign: "EVERYTHING ON SALE THIS WEEK ONLY", Waimate Knitting Factory Store.

That car spun around and headed in the direction of the arrow on that sign so fast, it made me dizzy. We were generous to a fault in helping the Waimate economy.

One day in the last week, we noticed our license plate on this car. It greatly amused us; even more so when by chance we parked next to another car with the license plate: GUY.

The Adventurous Four Didn't Need Gals 5, 6 and 7

Cheers,
Kiwi Traveler