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Published: August 6th 2008
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Evening all, though god knows what time it'll actually be when you read this, so just accept for the moment that is indeed an evening (it is for us, it's 6.38 here).
I'm here to continue the story of our trip in the South Island. Ignoring the shitty computers we had yesterday and Jason's mini rant (to be fair, yesterday afternoon was probably the first time we both lost our cool at the same time on this holiday). Anyway, we were attempting to head to Greymouth, but the weather and damage to the road system was blocking us at every turn. So before we hit Lewis's Pass through the mountains, we stop off at Hanmer Springs, a nice little place I reckon. It's snowing hard, and it's zero degrees outside. As Jason said, I had dug out the extra blankets the guy had given us at Auckland for the night (both blankets were doubles, always a nice find) and we add them to keep things warm.
Anyway, Jason's alarm went off at seven, but he just turned the damn thing off and carried on sleeping. We had decided yesterday that we were gonna attempt to keep to our itinerary
(as brief as it is) but we're also gonna take each day as it comes. South Island is a lot more isolated then the North one, and if an accident should happen... well, we're not willing to risk it. Since we're not in a big hurry today I re-set my alarm to seven thirty and give us a half hour lie in.
The extra blankets and the heater being on at night means if very warm, which is very welcome change. Hell, Jason even sleeps without wearing his socks for the first time since arriving in this country! (just to clarify, we're sleeping on seperate beds, despite the chill). I know the warmth has affected Jason as he actually gets up the same time I do, getting out the sleeping bag and everything! We're awake and about to head to the showers when suddenly an air raid siren begins to echo around the camp. As I head to the shower a women keeps looking around and then back at me, as if I knew the source of the alarm. I was tempted to tell her someone had died up the mountain, but decided that's playing a trick to far.
More snow covered mountains
You can see in the window reflection that there are mountain on Jason's side of the road as well I settle for telling her it's time to wake up and get moving. I then end up almost killing myself anyway as there is black ice everywhere. It's alright though, I don't fall over, and amuse myself with Jason's attempts of walking on it.
We're all ready to roll and we just check in the office to see if the 7 is still open (Lewis's Pass). It is, but the woman informs us that the fire brigade has been called out already once this morning for a motorhome getting stuck (it's coming up to 9 a.m.) Fantastic.
The sky is crystal clear (as you can see in the pics) as we drive out into the winter wonderland. Everything is covered in snow, mountains, trees, the fields, the animals... okay, maybe not so much the latter. But it's like a scene from a bloody christmas card. We drive around the road as it winds and bends around the mountains and down and up into the valleys, until after about an hour we're suddenly plunged into a dense pine forest, with no hint of snow anywhere. The road has been gritted over and we're basically driving on pure slush. A
passing lorry flicks grit and what looks like a particularly bad crack appears in the windscreen, just above Jason's head. We pull over, and while it looks bad, it's only taken a tiny film layer of glass off. Jason's not worried, so I decide that it's on his side, so I don't care either. We did attempt to find any scenic stops for photos, rather then them all being through the windscreen, but there aren't that many on this track.
Few hours later we eventually arrive out of the Pass and follow the River Grey to Greymouth. We pass right through the town, and are almost back on the outskirts before we find the Top Ten place (it amuses me that we had initially decided not to always use the Top Ten places, but the weather kinda forced our hands). I grab a few leaflets on glacier walking while we wait for over ten minutes for someone to arrive in the office. From upstairs a man and a woman suddenly both appear, looking flustered. I don't say anything but I grin at the bloke, who (I think) blushes slightly. Caught ya!
Lunch is eaten swiftly and we decide
to head into town, to see if we can't find an internet cafe and possibly a book store (I'm down to one book and am borrowing Jason's Jurrasic Park - I hadn't intended on reading all four of my books this holiday, but meh). The walk to town is a good half hour, much to Jason's bemoaning. The pavements here also just randomly stop, forcing us to keep crossing the four lane road and railway line. My hat is causing a stir, everyone seems to be staring. Jealous obviously. Jason's doesn't get any attention. The town is laid out oddly, but we wander around the odd shops (it's like Totnes for those who have been shopping up that hill) but can't find either a bookshop or internet cafe - not sure I like Greymouth, what kind of town doesn't have a decent book store!?
Giving up for now we head back to the camp, stopping to stock up on food supplies - we're good for another 4/5 days now. I'd bought another paper and have a read while Jason kips, the walk having pretty much done him in - god help him when we go glacier walking. We attempt
to use the internet kiosk, and well, you all know how that turned out, so I'll just skip the profanities.
We'd put some washing on over dinner and as per usual the drier doesn't dry anything fully, so we're stuck with our kit drapped of cupboard handles all over the Merc. I plan out our route for tomorrow, and cut off Stewart Island from our trip - it's too far out and we just don't have the time. Guess the ice bergs will have to wait until Antartica.
And that was it for yesterday (from my current perspective). Jason's writing up what we did today so that we're all up to date. Hope y'all enjoyed it, not a big eventful day but still an active one. Enjoy the pics and I shall catch you all in a few days! Love to all,
Elliott
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