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Published: August 16th 2007
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As you all probably noticed, there was some pretty big problems with travelblog over the last few weeks. We had added several new blogs and the following day logged on to check them and the site wouldn't load. A few days later we found out that the new ones had been lost, along with another 25! Nearly all of our Australia and NZ so far. It's fair to see the mood wasn't too chirpy that day! Anyway, since then most of them seem to have reappeared, a few still nowhere to be seen and some with missing text. It turned out some virus or something got into the database and the last 6 month of peoples blog had been deleted. Luckily it's nearly all back to normal so that's good. Anyway, because of that there's a bit of catching up to do. So here goes....
After our energetic activities on the glacier we continued to move up the West Coast of the South Island. We decided to stop off for a couple of nights in Greymouth. Two reasons for this: it was the only major town to stop in, and we'd been told there was a pretty awesome BREWERY
tour to go on, and given that we'd missed the one while we were in Dunedin, there was no chance I was missing this one!
On the way we happened to come across a sight that Caroline in particular was very excited about. As we were cruizing along past the endless fields of sheep/cows/deer/more sheep, we saw a cow lying pretty awkwardly on the ground. At first it looked dead. But a second glimpse showed it had a calf on it's way out! We got out and watched as the new calf came into the world. Caroline was in tears as it got licked clean by its mum and then stuggled over and over again to get to it's feet before tumbling back down again after a few seconds. We never saw it take it's first steps, it looked like it would carry on with it's jelly legs for some time so we said goodbye and headed on.
Once in Greymouth, we realised that there really wasn't a lot to do or see. The hostel we checked into was very quiet and with a well equiped kitchen we decided to treat ourselves to a good home cooked meal.
So off to the supermarket get ourselves some grub. Garlic mushrooms, cottage pie, carrot cake, cheese, olives and a couple of bottles of wine. The other guests looked very envious (all two of them) and we felt stuffed afterwards. And we'd have spent a lot more eating out!
The next day we booked ourselves on the brewery tour for 6pm that evening. During the day we took a drive up the coast a little to Punakaiki, to see the Pancakes rocks. On the coast, they were layers of limestone, that looked like a stack of pancakes, hence the imaginative name. Quite impressive. And then back to Greymouth for the famous Monteith's brewery tour.
Well, first thing. Turned out the brewery wasn't working. They were making rennovations. So the first part of the tour to see and learn about the processes they follow in the brewing was a bit of a waste of time. Not to worry though - because I can pretty much guarantee that noone that was on the tour could give a toss about any of it. We were ALL here for part two of the tour. The TASTING. So after a quick twenty minute walk round
the non-working brewery (in which not one person asked the pour woman a question!) we made our way to the bar. Each given a 1/3 pint glass, there were 7 beers on tap to try. The lady very patiently talked us through each and served us each in turn a glass for us to down in one. After that, she told us she would go and call the bus driver and leave us for 15 minutes or so to help ourselves. Well all hell broke loose! Everyone crowded round the taps and poured and downed drinks until the second the tour guide came back in the room. And she'd even given us a bit of extra time. It was excellent!! As we left the brewery, the cold air hit us and the alcohol kicked in hard. On to the bus where we were driven to a pub for food and another free MEGA pint (that's what they called it?!). After that we all got chatting and moved onto to another pub, and then another. It was gone midnight when we got back to the hostel and I can't remember the walk home. A bloody good night. And the next morning
Caroline didn't reel off the usual "I can't believe you did that!"/ "Can't you remember doing that?!" - BONUS!!
Other than beer there was nothing of any interest to us in Greymouth. It was also time to return the car to Christchurch where would change it for a CAMPERVAN. A long drive across ARTHUR'S PASS (through the mountains) and we were back where we'd started.
After the smooth change over (no fines, damages to the car), we took our campervan all the way to the top of the South Island to Nelson. A pretty small town with supposedly a big art/alternative/crafts scene. We spent two nights there and all three days were washed out by really heavy rain. So not a lot to tell really. Sorry.
From there it was on towards Picton to board the ferry to the North Island. Fingers crossed for a smooth crossing...
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Tricia
non-member comment
NZ
Lovely pics. Certainly looks very picturesque. Sounds like you both had a good time at the brewery!! tons of love Mum