292396kms, 10:42, 0°C with a bit of cloud around. Off to the Coast for the weekend - the West Coast, that is. Just thought I'd put that in there because Mike programmed the GPS unit and when we got to the top of the Clyde hill, it said "now turn left", which we did - and that took us down to the boat ramp! It always says "now turn left or right" way too early - so Mike was playing silly buggers. Well, when we turned around, the system got it's knickers in a complete twist, because the next thing you know, it's sending us across the Clyde Bridge towards Earnscleugh and after that who knows where. And all this time it still said it was sending us to Haast Beach - 546kms away! Had a good old laugh about it, and thinking we're glad we are not actually relying on it to get us there - would have been a long day's driving! Anyway, stopped at Cromwell for some diesel with the 20cent discount voucher for 37.24L. Oh, and here's the thing - we heard on the news this morning that BP had dropped the price of petrol and diesel by 3 to 4 cents. But just because it's on the news doesn't mean to say that's what you pay at the pump - we rang around our local petrol stations, and not one of them had actually put the price down - they wait for official notification from BP - and that doesn't usually get through until "about 1pm", we were told. So a lesson for those who rush out and fill there cars when there's a price decrease - don't! Amazing though, that the price seems to go up immediately! Anyway, I digress! Had lunch at Relishes in Wanaka - not as good as last time, simply because last time we felt it was real value for money, and this time it wasn't! Mike had smoked cod acini (which is just a fancy name for berry shaped!) - which he said could have been any fish, and there wasn't enough of it. I had salt and pepper lime squid with a spicy korean dipping sauce. The squid was cooked to perfection, but not enough salt or pepper and the dipping sauce was so sour it was acidic. So we'd have what we had last time again, but not this. Shame. 15:21 - all set up at our normal spot, after filling with water at DoC. And what a surprise we got - the area where we park seemed to have inordinate amounts of driftwood - and so does the wee path from the beach.
Had tortellini and harvest sauce for tea, bed at 10:30. Oh, temperature did drop to 2.9°C during the evening, but now back up to 4.9°C. And, as you can see from the photo's, it was a lovely afternoon - very mild, sunny with little wind (which did make for a few too many sandflies!)12 August 2011
Up at 07:30, 2.9°C. Beautiful morning, not a cloud around but the breeze is keeping things a bit cool. Now 10:40, 9°C and have had sausages, eggs and mushies for breakfast, had showers and done the chores (dishes, quick vacuum) and now contemplating going for a walk. 12:05 - just got back from a lovely walk along the beach - beautiful weather. Light breeze, sun and 11.6°C, but felt warmer. 
Did the normal relax stuff for rest of day. 
Mike did get firepit ready, and collected firewood but apart from that we just chilled. Now 17:00 and Mike's just prepared tea - his famous stuffed (sourcream, garlic salt, cheese) chicken wrapped in bacon and baked spud - YUM, salivating already!
And while we've been sitting here during the day, we kept saying that the gorse (that Mike did reduce in height about 2 years ago) had grown again, and it was spoiling our view - can't really see the sea unless we stand up, and can't see the island either. So at 17:35, Mike grabs the slasher and hoes into the gorse again - much better, now we've got a view again! So that was Mike's exercise for the day!
And then we watched the news, and more importantly, the weather forecast. Now, if we didn't have a TV, we'd probably still be stuck on the wrong side of the Haast Pass - but we now have TV, no matter where we're parked. And the forecast is for a major winter storm, with heavy snow, blizzard conditions and gale force winds. So we've decided we should head home before that hits - we don't have chains, and Mike really does have to be at work on Monday.
13 August 2011
Up at 07:30, 6°C and we literally hit the road after a coffee. Stopped at Albert Town camp ground for some brunch (ham and cheese sandwiches) and a cuppa and got home, in beautiful weather, just after midday. 292849kms.
PS - the storm did arrive, but not until Sunday afternoon - and did cause major disruption on the roads, with the Haast Pass still listed as "chains essential" on Wednesday morning.
