Monday 4 January 2010
269998kms, 11:22, 18°C. Off to take Angie to Blenheim on her birthday! Starting to rain, but stopped almost immediately. Filled up with 40L of diesel in Alexandra (270008kms). 13:38 – at Ohau C. We stopped for lunch at The Stables – had 1.5 bags of fresh peas between the 3 of us (and some for the dogs) YUM!! 
Also stopped and had a stretch beside the Ahuriri River just out of Omarama. A long, slow trip – we had all forgotten that today is the last public holiday, and as a result every man and his dog was on the road. Now starting to rain. But the squall went through quickly and we ended up sitting outside in nice warm sunshine, sheltered beautifully from the wind – another good spot chosen by Mike, as it’s not our usual spot as there is a caravan parked there. 
We sat and talked ‘til it got colder and moved inside. But before we did, JD bought us a present – a freshly caught baby rabbit. He’s not that old and slow then!! Ate tea of stir-fry chicken on salad and hit the pit at 22:30.Up at 06:30, sunny, calm and 11°C. Muesli for breakfast, rolling at 08:22.09:46 – have been to the High Country Salmon Farm and Angie got sashimi and cold smoked salmon for lunch – YUM, can’t wait!! Also been into Twizel and got some more supplies, dumped, filled etc. and now moving. Still sunny and calm and starting to warm up – YAY. Stopped at the Painted Rocks to show them to Angie, but due to the enormous amounts of rain the lower South Island has had recently, the water level is too high and the rocks underwater – bugger.
Stopped at Bowler’s Stream for lunch – soooo delicious and left there at 13:46, to find somewhere to park for the night. Oh, and it’s warm: 22°C and 27°C in the sun. Oh, Mayfield Caltex is no longer a truck stop – we stopped there thinking we’d fill up before we know for sure there isn’t any, and they no longer accept truckstop cards. Bugger, another cheap diesel option gone. Got to Taylor’s Stream – nice area, but a few people there, so we thought we’d try and find somewhere else. Went to see what Sharplin Falls was all about – have driven past a few times now – but basically it’s a carpark (that was absolutely chokka) for a 45 minute walk to the Falls. So no good for overnighting. 
So back to Taylor’s and parked up at 14:38. Beautiful warm afternoon, too warm to sit in the sun for a while later on – even for the Perthite amongst us! Roxie was delighted that there was a stream, and even though we played with her for quite a while she kept wanting to go back. She was totally obsessed with diving for rocks – never seen her go to such trouble and so deep in running water! Sat and talked and enjoyed the warmth, and when we had all had enough of that we all had showers. Pork Korma for tea, bed at 22:30. 270435kms to here.Up at 06:45 to find, to our dismay, that the sun has gone! 12°C though so not too cold. Were underway at 08:26 and got to Rangiora at 10:12. We had breakfast (muesli) parked on one of the main roads of Rangiora, as we had to go shopping for togs (Mike and I both forgot ours, despite having already thought we may go to Hanmer Springs if the weather up the Coast wasn’t good – well, it isn’t goo up the West Coast, so we had decided before we left we would go up the middle – but still forgot the togs!!). After a very successful shopping trip – Marielle bought a 2 piece swimsuit but it was only rung up as one item, so a $40 discount! – we dumped etc. and then drove round and round, and round, and round – trying to find a Caltex, Mobil or BP. None to be seen, until at the last minute we spotted the Mobil station – pretty much right beside where we’d been parked for breakfast!! And not a moment too soon – we were literally out of diesel – put 80L into her (270557kms). 12:29, finally on our way again. Got to Balmoral Forest Park (50kms short of Hanmer) at +14:00, after battling very strong NW winds and stopping in Amberley for lunch (Mike’s famous sandwiches). 
Decided to stop here because we know that there is nowhere in Hanmer to park and we will go for a dip in the thermal pools tomorrow before we carry on. Initially parked in a reasonably sheltered spot (from the wind) but it was right beside the road. Not the main road and we thought it was a quiet, little used country road – and it was – until we were all set up with chairs etc. outside, and then the traffic started. 
So Mike went for a walk and found the perfect spot – sheltered from the wind, sunny, hidden from everyone else – AWESOME. Took the dogs down to the river, but it was very high and fast, and there was no beach area anywhere other than the one occupied by a family with kids, so walked back to Maggie and sat outside and talked. Also did a wee bit of washing. Bed at 22:00 after a tea of Chinese bbq sauce stir-fry beef, fresh corn and fresh peas! 270623kms.
Thursday 7 January 2010
going to Hanmer. 12:02 – been and had a couple of hours soaking in the thermal pools – lovely! Now going to dump and have lunch by the River at the Hanmer River Reserve – partly cloudy/sunny and a balmy 25.5°C. 
12:56 – lunch done (Mike’s yummy sandwiches) and now rolling towards Kaikoura via new territory – the inland route from Culverden, through Rotherham and out at Kaikoura. Not a road we will do again – very slow as there are so many really sharp corners and lots of ups and downs. Still, have to admit, the scenery was quite spectacular in places but this route has another major drawback – although it is part of the Alpine Pacific Scenic Route, there is nowhere to stop. So consequently no photo’s until we got to Conway River, as we spotted a track down to the River there. But not one rest area along the way. Shame.
15:40 – at beach just north of the Hapuku River. Not the greatest spot – too many other people around, too many surfie dudes with vicious looking and sounding dogs – but getting too late in day to go anywhere else. There were another couple of options, but they were not on the beach, and we really wanted to be beside the sea – mountains to ocean in one day. Still 25°C but getting cloudier and despite a stiff off-shore wind along the straits getting here, there is now a stiffening on-shore breeze. Sat outside ‘til 17:45 when breeze got too hard and cold. Had fresh crayfish for tea!!! Oh, what a trip this is, food wise we are in heaven! 270821kms to here.
Friday 8 January 2010
Up at 06:30 after a very restless night due to the trains – 4 of them, every 2 hours, right behind us! Didn’t realise this track was so busy at night. But, a beautiful morning – lovely to sit on beach with your morning coffee and not get cold or blown away! Now 08:10, 20°C and rolling. 10:15 – have been and dumped etc in Blenheim, now off to get stuff for Dad’s 80th (well, the repeat celebration – neither Angie nor I were there in October, so we had decided we would do it all again!) and to do some shopping. We took one of the photo’s that Mike had taken of the two of us in to a photo shop in town, had it cropped, enlarged and framed, to give that to Dad.
We took the dogs for a walk in Pollard Park and then decorated Maggie just before we got to Dad and Anne’s place – arrived just after 13:00. And boy, did we blow Dad away – he was speechless. We pulled up outside their place and honked the horn until he came out – and he was in tears – so cool! Spent rest of day talking, catching up, having Anne’s famous cooking and enjoying family time. 270946kms.
Saturday 9 January 2010
Up at 06:30 - 11°C. Took dogs for a walk and then had coffee etc with everyone else. 09:40 – tearful goodbyes and now off to dump/fill and then to Springs Junction, where we will decided whether we go home via the east or west coast – weather forecast not good either way as there is heavy rain forecast on the west coast, and snow and cold on the east?!?!? Filled up at the Blenheim Truckstop (54.1L, 270950kms) and then had McDonalds for breakfast – a McMuffin each and a hash brown (bad but good!) at Pollard Park; now 10:40 and on our way.
11:58 Stopped at Lake Argyll for a smoke and a stretch – nice spot, but very cold wind blowing and only 12°C. 13:19 – checked out Lake Rotoroa – very confined and very busy and boy, do they have some sandflies here! 
There was a group of people having bbq lunch right by the lake – and we couldn’t smell their food, only Bushmans! Absolutely beautiful lake though.
13:40 set up beside the outlet river of Lake Rotoroa, just out of the township. We decided not to go any further because we could do with a quiet “rest” day – Mike feeling the effects of 2 not such good night’s sleep - and also, we know there is nowhere from here ‘til either the POP at Murchison (not keen on that idea) or back to Hanmer – too far – as the West Coast doesn’t look like it will be a go.
The weather over there is still meant to get awful, and judging by the number of campers on the road coming from the west, we suspect that it’ll just be too crowded for us. 271110kms, and still only 12°C when we pulled up. And from then on we had to use the truck thermometer, as the house thermometer broke when we deployed it! Sat inside and read (Mike) and did puzzles (Marielle). The weather outside was ok, but boy they breed hungry sandflies here, and lots of them! Had chicken, fresh corn and salad for tea and hit the pillows at 22:00 after a nice relaxing afternoon.
Sunday 10 January 2010
Up at 06:30 – cloudy but not raining (yet?) Had good and much needed sleep. 9°C. 9:03 – had showers and muesli and tidied up (id, did the vacuuming!). Started to rain at about 07:30 and now drizzling. Off to Murchison now to dump etc. 09:34 – arrived at Murchison, dumped toilet at Mobil and the rest at the POP – very handy and convenient, you can get rid of everything, including rubbish, in one spot, and fill up water too. But boy, did we get some snobby looks! Must be because we don’t have our “wings” permanently attached and only sit them in the windows when we need to. 10:42 – on way again, have had intermittent rain since we got here, some quite heavy. 12:04 – having sandwich and mushroom soup at Springs Junction. Only 8°C and absolutely bucketing down. The whole place is awash with at least an inch of water – even the dogs were not keen to stay outside any longer than they had to! And the short time they took
to do their business resulted in everything and everyone being soaked. Dogs completely wet, like they’d been for a swim, and out wet weather gear dripping bucketloads. 13:48 – at Hanmer River Bridge Reserve. Rained heavily all the way through the Lewis Pass – incredible amounts of rain, and only 5°C to go with it. Brrr! And so this is summer? Came across a bad car crash on the Hanmer side of the Lewis Pass – car on its side, another one with tarps over it – not nice. And standing at the Reserve (just stopped raining) having a smoke, poor Mike got stung by a bee, so off into Hanmer to get some anti-histamine. Oh, and we also discovered that during torrential rain we appear to have a leak at the back window and the back vent. Which is pretty amazing when you consider we have never noticed this, not even when cleaning Maggie with a waterblaster. Shows how bad the rain was! Sun now trying to come out – and very welcome it would be too, as it is still only 10.5°C. No pharmacy that we could find in Hanmer, so got some cream from the 4 Square instead. And very, very windy in Hanmer – big branches all over the road, and when Mike got out, the wind just about tore the door out of his hands (we know from Maggie’s Maui log that this has happened before, and it wrecked the mirror). So lucky he managed to hang on! Put 21.15L diesel in at the Caltex station in Hanmer because we’re not sure where next fill might be, but I forgot to write down the mileage. Now 14:52 and on the way to Balmoral Forest Park for the night. Stopped at Culverden as we realised they had a truckstop, so put another 39.59L in (271362kms).
15:14, all set up at Balmoral 271375kms. Biggest day distance wise so far! No sandflies and sun – YAY!! Sat outside with all the covers, mats, coats, umbrella and dogs to dry it all out. Wind changed, so we moved Maggie a metre or so at 90° to where we initially parked, to protect us from what is now becoming a chilly southerly. And it’s starting to rain – just lightly though. Mike had great fun on the rope swing beside us for a little while - until it started to hurt in an unmentionable place!! Had steak and alfredo pasta for tea, bed at 21:30, by which time the temperature had dropped to 9°C (was about 17°C for a while there this afternoon, but obviously felt warmer sitting in the sun and sheltered from the wind.).
Monday 11 January 2010
Up at 06:30, 7°C and light rain. 08:16 ready to roll and warming up to 9.5°C. And as we cleared the trees we could see the mountains – with a good dump of fresh snow on them!
10:00 – had breakfast at Amberley Beach – lovely spot, sunny and warm. Off to the chemist now because Mike’s arm is huge from fingers to ½ way to his elbow.
10:40 on way to Rangiora and onwards – Mike has ice on his arm and a line drawn on it by the pharmacist, so as to monitor the swelling. He has taken an antihistamine tablet and the swelling is now supposed to not progress. 11:59 – Just stopped in Cust at the Reserve for a stretch and a smoke – been through a shower of rain and now only 11.5°C (was 16°C at Amberley Beach)! God, we are so over this so-called summer weather! 12:40 – set up beside a fast and dirty Waimakariri River, under the bridge area in the gravel. Not the nicest spot (in fact, so nice (not!) that we didn’t even take a picture) but Mike needs to rest his arm with ice, so decided to call it quits for today. Had sun for 2 minutes but the next lot of rain is coming in any time now. 271497kms. Mike relaxed and iced his arm and slept, I sat and did puzzles and occasionally took the dogs outside between cold southerly squalls. Temperature at 17:00 is 13.5°C, so not as bad as we’ve had, but feels much colder when squall goes through. 21:48 – have had tea of pork steak and, yes, you’ve guess it – fresh corn – AGAIN. Can’t help ourselves, nothing beats super fresh corn, except maybe super fresh peas! Now waiting for ice on Mike’s arm to work and stop the swelling, as it’s just carrying on getting bigger. Have drawn another line on his arm, swelling now ¾ the way to his elbow. If it hasn’t gone down in the morning we will turn around and go back to Rangiora to find a doctor. Raining and cold, so now going to hit the pit.
Tuesday 12 January 2010
Up at 07:30 (sleep-in) on Marielle’s 50th birthday! Had occasionally heavy rain during the night, which woke us up. 8.5°C and overcast. Got text message not long after getting up – I was outside feeding the dogs and Mike said I had received a text. Silly bugger, he so made me laugh, ‘cause it was from him! Sent me a text message because he didn’t have a card – tell you what, the text message was way better than any card, it so made me laugh and what a great way to start your birthday! 09:13 – have had showers, muesli and now back to Oxford to dump as there is no dump station the way we think we might go, so better to backtrack 10kms. After that we will head off further south, hoping that the weather forecast is right (supposed to clear) and wrong (strong southwesterlies, which means head winds!).
McDonald’s we have ever had. Shopped for supplies at New World and then stopped again at Village RV and checked out some buses. Nice to look, but way out of our league. Now on the road to Arundel to check out the River Bridge Reserve, which is, as we had been told, a lovely spot. Did think about staying but decided to keep moving as we really do need to start getting a bit closer to home. So on to Lake Opuha. 14:46 – drove round Geraldine trying to find water for a little while, no luck so we decided we’d have enough for tonight anyway – only need it for coffees in the morning and dishes.
Now at Lake Opuha and YAY, it’s 19°C and sunny and gorgeous. What a beautiful spot – last time we were here it was cloud down to ground level and raining, so what a surprise it is to see the mountains behind the lake – really picturesque. 271726kms.
Sat outside enjoying the sun and playing in the water with Roxie until the wind got up and the sun disappeared behind a huge big cloud.
Tea was chicken and fresh corn (YUP, again!) and into bed at 21:40.
Wednesday 13 January 2010
Up at 07:35 and foggy, foggy 9.5°C. Nothing to be seen. And poor Mike’s having a bad trip home – his foot was a bit niggly yesterday, and now it is full-blown pain. Sore around the Achilles tendon again, just like last year, so it looks like I will be driving today. Left Opuha at 08:40 and filled up at the Caltex Truckstop in Fairlie (54.16L, 271740kms). Went into Fairlie and bought anti-inflammatories for Mike (they worked last year!) Had breakfast (Mike’s famous omelette) at the turn-off to Mt Dobson ski area and now heading off to Twizel for water. 12:30 – at our favourite spot below Ohau C. Stopped in Twizel for water, chips and icecream. 271859kms. In between light showers we sat outside, but not summer weather by any means. To be fair, it’s a lot warmer here than the last few days – 20.5°C, but cloudy. Read in the ODT that the weather has been miserable round here for last weeks or so, so I guess we can’t complain too much. Now 20:40 and cooking tea. Mike’s foot no better, despite drugs. We’re a bit of a pharmacy, this trip home!! Tea tonight green curry pork and yep, wait for it: fresh corn!!! Bed at 22:20.
Thursday 14 January 2010
Up at 07:40. Ready to go at 08:25, but not going anywhere, as the truck battery is dead! Too much beer cooling, radio and watching TV last night. So out came house battery, jump started the truck off that – and problem. The glo-plug light now won’t go out. So headed back to Twizel to find auto-electrician, none there so no choice but to carry on, after dumping and then on to salmon farm to by tonight’s tea (sashimi and cold smoked salmon, of course!).
11:09 – just outside of Tarras and WELCOME HOME – it’s blowing a fierce southerly (head wind) and 12°C and raining!!! Never seen the Lake so white in a southerly. Home just after midday. Final odometer reading 272035kms – so that’s another 2027.3kms under Maggie’s belt! All in all, not a bad trip – certainly the way to Blenheim was great, the return trip not so. And that’s it – we are not doing another long-distance trip for at least 18 months. We seriously prefer driving a couple of hours, parking up and staying put for a few days. This driving everyday is great to get somewhere, but not very relaxing!
17:03 - at Longbeach and just taken the dogs for a walk - stunning spot, but once again, very foggy! Explored the caves and checked out where the ladder used to be attached to the cliff face so that you could get to the beach from Purakanui. The whole reserve at Longbeach is now "no camping" - as one local said, it would be ok for people like us, but it's to keep the hoons and bottlethrowers out - a shame, as it would have been a great place to park. So now no other option but to go back to Warrington Domain! 17:40 - all set up. And with nowhere else to go, we have done 163kms today only to end up exactly where we started! Amazing how the kilometers just tick away. Still foggy and 14°C. The fog did disappear for about 2 minutes, giving us hope that it would clear altogether, but unfortunately it kept rolling back in again - and did this several times. Had wonderful chinese for tea and hit the pit at 22:30. Oh, the new squabs are very firm, but infinitely more comfortable than the old ones - a good buy!
Marielle up at 06:30 - fine, still and overcast morning after occasional heavy rain during the night. Had a good sleep, Mike even slept in 'til 08:00! Dumped at the Domain and headed off into Dunedin at 08:28. 09:48 - have spent the last 3/4's of an hour at Armstrong Prestige while they try to get the glo-plug controller to work - and it won't! Mercedes have sent down a dud unit, so the glo-plug light is still on. Not happy, because it means that we are going to have to do another 400km trip to have a new one fitted and also, we could have gone home last night! 11:00 - have had breakfast at the Everyday Gourment - beautiful eggs benedict for Marielle and an ok mixed grill for Mike and now filling at BP Truckstop (272485kms, 56L). Continuous drizzle and a miserable day here with only 13°C so we are going home! Arrived home at 14:10, 272685kms (595.4kms for this trip) to a much warmer and drier place. And it has rained heavily round here - there was water in Black Jacks Creek, which is normally dry this time of the year - so the dumping of rain inland did happen!
