Leonard Cohen and State Highway 2

I know you are wondering what these two have in common. Well, for starters they are both icons. But, more importantly, one got me to the other.

I had tickets to the final Leonard Cohen concert in Wellington and found myself on a bit of a road trip with a girlfriend. It wasn't mean to be that - as far as I was concerned we were driving to Wellington to see the man himself in concert, and we were both really excited about that. Gold tickets, the whole box and dice.

But, unbeknown to me we went via State Highway 2. Now, for the country folk reading this that would make sense. But, remember I'm still a city chick when it comes to finding my way around the country and, coming from Auckland, there is only one national highway in N.Z. and that's State Highway 1. That was the only way I had been to Wellington from here in the past and that was my expectation this time round.

The original brewery

What a wonderful surprise I was in for - and my co-traveller for that matter. She had done this trip many a time but I was a 'virgin' and acted accordingly. First thrill - the Tui Brewery in Mangatainoka. You have to be a Kiwi to truly understand the iconic status of this place. One of the few independent breweries left and the favoured brew of the country lads. It's rumoured that there is a bevy of buxom women working at the Tui Brewery - well that's was the ads tell you. We stopped - I insisted! What a great place for a cold beer on a hot day. Had our photo taken with the billboard of buxom beauties (sorry no copy here because I don't want to ruin the myth) and had a cup of coffee. Yeah right!

Next 'oh my God' moment. Driving through Ekatahuna and the famous Ekatahuna pub. For the Aussies in the crowd that's like driving past the pub at Ettamogah. Blink and you miss it mind you.

One of many cute shops in Greytown

Onto other names on a map, Featherston (don't bother), Mt Bruce and Greytown. We didn't stop on the way down but we certainly did some damage on the way back. What a place to unwind, do some gorgeous retail therapy and then trip off to the divine wineries of Martinborough (famous for its Pinot Noir amongst other varieties). I can only describe Greytown as the rural version of Parnell or maybe Bowral in N.S.W. A date in February for a girl's weekend has already been decided.

And before you get into Wellington via The Hutt, you can give your stomach and eyes a thrill as you wind your way over the Rimutakas. Stunning but not for those with a weak stomach. Again, those early pioneers were definitely paid by the mile. You could envisage those TV commercials for performance luxury vehicles being filmed on this road. I would just want to make sure it wasn't on the day I was also on the road. Stunning though!

And so for Leonard - part two of this adventure. The man is 76 years old but he is like a very good wine and has got better and better with age. In my youth I couldn't listen to Leonard Cohen - made me want to cry and slit my wrists at the same time. But one or both of us has matured and his music and voice are amazing. Not only that but the group of musicians he surrounds himself are all masters in their own right. It was three hours of being transfixed and transported. Actually transfixed happened because the seats (Gold seats remember) were crap!!!!!! I had to sit at an odd angle all night to view the stage, which was close, and if the guy in front of me bopped his head one more time it was coming off!!!! I practised my best Buddhist thoughts and resisted the temptation to grab each side of his head in a vice-like grip after about the second song. I mean, he wasn't one of those clowns at the fair so why the grooving. You don't groove to Leonard Cohen, you breathe deeply and dance on the inside.

Anyway - great show and I am so thrilled to tick that off the bucket list. So, if you can't get to see Leonard try State Highway 2 from Hawke's Bay to Wellington via the Rimutakas, you won't be disappointed.

THE BEST................Have to say Greytown did eclipse Leonard. And, I can go back there.

THE WORST................Technology failing a carpark full of tired concert goers. Barrier arms wouldn't go up so we were slowly being asphyxiated until some bright spark drove into the carpark and a group of men bravely held up the barrier arm so that cars could leave.

I'M LEARNING..........this country gives you OMG moments when you least expect them.