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Published: August 5th 2008
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***UPDATE: READ THIS FIRST*** Despite what I say later, this computer wont upload my goddamn photos! I'm miffed! Hopefully once Jason's done his entry I can try again on PC, but I'm not holding my breath. Sorry people, will get them up later I guess...
Hello ladies and gents!
Well we've not found any internet cafes today (we're in Greymouth at the moment) so having to use the kiosk at the Top Ten park where we are staying, so I apologise now if this is a little subpar to what you are used too...
Right, Jason left off with us in Picton having arrived via the ferry. Picton is a small town right at the top of the island, first settled as a whaling post back in the 1800s by the George family (can you tell I was paying attention at the Museum back in Wellington?). We had set the alarm for seven, and my god was it cold! I couldn't believe how cold it was, Jason even refused to leave his sleeping bag (mind you, he does that most mornings until I've fed him breakfast). To share with you all some of the
more minor events that happened, I had suffered a nightmare during the night - not one where I wake up screaming or anything, but it was scary none the less. Clowns were robbing my fortified house back at the Churchills and then brought around Armageddon. We both agree that this may be a delayed reaction to the Batman film...
We set of around nine, and the sky, while not clear, isn't as bad as it's been for the last few days. We're back on State Highway One and heading south to Kaikoura, where we hope to go whale watching. We're driving through mini-mountains, as we've grown to calling them. 'Bout 500 metres or so high normally. We had been calling them mountains, but when you've seen the 2000 metre tall snow capped giants, you really can't keep calling these diddy things "mountains". Speaking of snow capped mountains, they begin to dot the horizons, and there is a lot of them... (The problem with moutains though is that you can't get damn radio signal anywhere!)
Hills give away to miles and miles of vineyards (most of 'em underwater) and we hit the east coast. We're speeding along well and
there are even patches of blue sky ahead. It's gonna be a good day we reckon, with Jason claiming to be liking the South Island already more then the North. I keep myself amused by reading the giant messages written into the side of the moutains in chalk (one was a frog, the other a declaration of love... my cynical mind wanders if that couple are still together). We turn a corner and there is a huge stonking mountain infront of us, covered in snow and gleaming in the sunlight. Yeah, I prefer the South Island too. Parts of the road are closed from washout and we're forced to take the Merc over three wooden bridges that have been constructed beside the roads. And there are evidence of missing trees and landsides pretty much everywhere you look. The South Island must've been hit hard by those storms.
We finally arrive in Kaikoura, and I can honestly say that this place, despite us staying only the one night, has instantly become my favourite place so far in the holiday. The Seaward Kaikoura Range of snow capped mountains frames the entire north and eastern horizons, and the sandy beach and Pacific
Ocean are but five minutes from where we are staying. The main road is dead straight and has a raised walkway for pedestrians which is covered by arches, giving you the impression it's a modern day Wild West town on the frontier. We book in for the one night at the top ten place in the hopes we can go whale watching this afternoon, but the last boat had already left, so we're gonna have to do it tomorrow instead (see Jason's blog entry).
We pop into town to get cash and to see if we can find an internet cafe (where we wrote the last two blogs, Due South and the Wellington one). Jason spots a Fish and Chips place, which like me and my pizza, he wont stop banging on about it. So despite just having lunch he gets himself a cod and chips, but doesn't finish them. I'll admit, I do really really want a pizza, but I've yet to find a nice place, so am content to wait. I finish my blog entry and while waiting for slow coach I read the tiker tape news headlines that are on the log in screen. It's no
good, am gonna have to buy a paper now. We pop into the local shop for to stock up on food and get a paper, then head to the whale watching station to book ourselves in for tomorrow.
We walk under the railway and onto the "whaleway beach" (groan) and both stop dead in our tracks. The final few clouds have lifted, the sun is out, and OH MY FRIGGIN GOD IT LOOKS AMAZING. The view is unreal (as the pictures show, but they do it no justice.) Just miles of green and huge huge mountains. It looks like a picture. I had to force myself to get the camera out, I was so entranced. Must've taken about 30 photos of this scene alone (I wont subject you to all of them, honest). Forcing our legs to move, we continue to gawp around like nimwits until we get inside the whale watching station and book ourselves in for ten tomorrow. We also pay tomorrow, so all's good. I mention Jason's sea sickness and she mentions a pharmacy in town, so we wander back into the high street to find it is shut (I had forgotten it was Sunday). Ah
well, we'll do it tomorrow before the boat leaves.
Back at the Merc I begin to plan our route to Greymouth for tomorrow after the whales (for the more savvy of you, who have realised I am writing this on a Tuesday, must've realised we didn't make it to Gretmouth on the Monday... see Jason's entry). I'm slight concerned as the road we want to take is right through the mountain range, and I'm betting my right nut that at least some of it'll be closed off. But the radio doesn't mention anything, so we're gonna wait and see what tomorrow brings (it's weird writing this in a first point of view despite that fact that I already know what happens...).
The sun stays out and we enjoy the rare warmth before the sun sets behind the mountains and we have dinner before calling it a night.
I know it's a short entry, but I really can't put into words how awesome and amazing Kaikoura was. I'm hoping to put up a sledge load of photos so you at least get some inkling.
That's it from me then, enjoy Jason's entry - Graham, if you're serious
about the hat (we're not sure if you're being sarcastic or not, which I guess you can take as a compliment in a way) text either of us to confirm. I warn you, mine's an extra large (as people seem to have stupidly small heads). Missing you all, and enjoying the weird hours you all seem to be keeping (we both looked stunned to get a message at 1pm our time, since you should all be sleeping!)
Thank you for the flurry of comments and messages too by the way - I guess after the last few days we were feeling slightly low. But we don't wanna guilt trip you lot! We know you lives don't revolve around us, despite our attempts to make it that way lol.
Laters!
Ellliott
P.S. Total photo count: Elliott - 706, Jason - 745
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Paul Flenley
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Mountains:-D
I think you will have to drag me there to see the mountain ranges you talk of Elliott, they sound fantastic! Shame about the photo's not loading, but your blog gives us a taster of what's in store when you do load the pics:-) Don't know why you had to go all the way to NZ to see whales, we've had a whale beach itself off of hayling Island yesterday. Sadly, our one didn't survive. Very sad. I'm glad Kaikoura lifted your spirits - home sickness can be a terrible burden to bear. Think positively, you two are making the most of, and experiencing, something brilliant which will be with you always. Happy travels is what you will remember.