Weta Cave, 2018

We drove across old friend Wellington to the Miramar peninsula, where our campground was, a block or so from the Weta Cave, which we'd visited in 2009 and 2014. The campground was a flat spot astride Brendan's driveway, electricity provided, for 15U$. Brendan himself was nice enough and accommodating; he's part of a scheme that rents residential camping space to fellow RVers, an interesting plan we might conceivably use again, especially in the big cities (!). Anyhow, after settling in, we decided to take the bus into town for the opening of the biennial New Zealand Festival (next post). The Weta Cave was on the way.

"Please do not climb on the trolls"

Bert, Tom and William are still guarding the place, if in different positions; compare
with my 2014 post, and you will see that they are now partially clothed; something
about a US tourist posting photos of troll genitalia...

Theoden King's armor; the place is still part-museum and
part-retail store

Gollum is still there; they keep moving things around,
placing ever greater emphasis on their more recent
achievements; alas, our interest is strictly old-time LOTR

Snow White...wait! no! ...rather more of the store now is figurines and other
purchaseables; and not cheap, either

Gandalf-style hats for sale

Also still there

Bilbo's wearable feet

Mouth of Sauron

So, much later in the evening we are returning from town,walking past the Cave
in utter darkness, and I see Bert, lurching there menacingly by the sidewalk...I
wonder how many drunks have fled in terror at such a sight..