17 June 2013
11:05, 7.5 ºC and raining, 312399kms. Going north to check up on Dad, who is now in fulltime dementia care. The weather couldn't be worse - not sure how far we'll get because roads are closed everywhere: east coast due to flooding, round here due to rockfalls and slips, up the middle due to snow! But we're going to try! Oh, in between last trip & this one Maggie was serviced in QT, hence the increase in mileage.
11:35 Cromwell for quick shop and a pie!
13:00 One pass safely out of the way! Snow on the Lindis but the road is gritted and open!
14:25 Lake Tekapo: 1.5º and lots of snow around but roads ok. Hope it stays that way over Burkes Pass. And then: flooding!
11:35 Cromwell for quick shop and a pie!
13:00 One pass safely out of the way! Snow on the Lindis but the road is gritted and open!
14:25 Lake Tekapo: 1.5º and lots of snow around but roads ok. Hope it stays that way over Burkes Pass. And then: flooding!
Got to Kaiapoi Club at 18:15, after about 15kms of traffic jams through Chch and going slow to manoeuvre through flooding. Picked here because it's not grass or dirt. It is soooo wet that we need tarmac or concrete under our wheels! And I feel sorry for the people here - the earthquake damage is still very evident, especially when it rains, let alone floods! Had a couple of drinks in the club and now cooking yellow thai curry for tea.
18 June 2013
Up at 07:00 after being woken several times during the night by planes (right under the flight path to Chch airport), trains (right beside the railway) and automobiles (right beside a side road which we didn't think would have any traffic!). Anyway, 4º and clear skies so hoping for a better day travelling today! 08:30 ready to move - aiming for Peketa Holiday Park so we can chill for a bit and also let the dogs run.
Had breakfast at Amberley Beach and stopped for a coffee at Cheviot. Checked out Alexander & Emily Craighead's grave at Homeview Cemetery - they were from Spotswood (Parnassus) & he was Mike's 2nd cousin. 11:30 - at the Kaikoura Coast and the end of the sun - seafog! Bugger! 12:10 - sitting waiting for lunch (blue cod) at the Adelphi in Kaikoura. Grey, wet mist but not cold. Just bought some new shoes - my new boots leak like a sieve so have bought some little black ankle boots & we'll see how they go! 13:00 @ Peketa Holiday Park. Let dogs run along beach - still misty and damp but not cold as it's 13.5º. Spent afternoon stitching/reading/walking dogs/nana napping/doing surveys and showering. Played rummikub (which we bought especially to have on Maggie as it's the travel version and then forgot to pack last trip because we play it at home too!). Steak, mushie sauce and veggies for tea.
19 June 2013
Up at 07:40, 8 degrees and drizzling but at least the snow hasn't arrived yet! Got to Blenheim at 11:30 & stopped at Warehouse to get new mat (forgot it) & had lunch (pumpkin soup and toast) sitting outside Pollard Park. Went and saw Dad & spent couple of hours there. Then arranged to park up at Blenheim Top 10 Holiday Park as it's raining, raining. $39 for the night and once all settled in and taken dogs for a wet walk we realised that there is a railway line right beside us. A mere couple of meters away! And over the other side is SH 1 & we are under the flight path! But we are on tarseal. And then we realised we had left the new mat on the tarseal at Pollard Park! Anyway had a drink at the Grove Tavern.. Mike bbqed the pork steaks for tea and that was the end of a tough day.
20 June 2013
Up at 06:45 after a very restless night with trains, trucks & rain, rain and more rain! Not cold though - 6.5º. Spent 4 hours with Dad with the dogs while Mike mucked around in town. Just as we left the home the rain arrived again. Got to Rarangi about 3pm and took dogs for a play just before the storm hit. Heavy rain and winds. Had stir fry chook for tea.
21 June 2013
Up at 7am after good night's sleep. Rain and wind are much nicer noises than trains! 6.5º and not raining! Snow on hills all around and a ferocious surf the only evidence of a storm that has caused chaos around the south island. Took dogs for a couple of walks which they really enjoyed - no leads necessary! Now 10:20 and off to see Dad while Mike goes for a haircut and to get a leak in Maggie's cooling system looked at. And we left yet another mat behind! What is it with this trip. No probs with Maggie (phew). Mike had a haircut - lunch parked at the garage. Not at Dad's long. Went to the Omaka Aviation Centre - really cool but really expensive at $25 pp! Back to Rarangi. Still not sure if we can get home - biggest snowfall in Canterbury and Otago in decades! Yummy pork mignons for tea with delish mashed spuds.
22 June 2013
Up at 07:00 - raining! Went and said goodbye to Dad and left Blenheim after being doormat number 3! And as we drove out the warning sign said "Take extra care flooding and high winds". And at Ward we saw why. Glad we weren't driving through the winds that not only toppled some very large macrocarpa and gum trees but cracked heaps of them in half! Then we hit winds and battled our way in to Kaikoura. Put some more diesel in the tank and did some shopping. Had lunch at South Bay and thought about stopping at Peketa but in the end we decided to get over the hill to Parnassus. The wind disappeared as soon as we left the coast and was rapidly replaced by snow! Got to Parnassus at 15:00, 4º and raining. Had a spectacularly goodlooking yet completely tasteless piece of garlic & herb steak for tea! What a disappointment!
23 June 2013
Up at 7:20 after couple of wake up calls during the night (Stoney & trains). Minus 1 & not a cloud in the sky! Yay it's going to be a good day. Still can't get home though - all roads into Central still require chains. Had showers and bacon & eggs for breakfast (finally - last 3 mornings has been cereals & now 11:00 and on the way south. Had BK for lunch at Belfast at 13:00. Stopped in Ashburton for more fuel and decided to keep going. Now 16:20 and checking into Fairlie Top 10 Holiday Park (we didn't extend our membership WHY? LOL) because there is soooo much snow around that we can't get into Lake Opuha or in behind the pub. No point in carrying on because Tekapo is even worse. Played in the snow with the dogs - snow makes Stoney go more than a little crazy! Bunny hopping, rolling and just running flat out - all normal snow behaviour for the Stoneman! Mike helped some asian tourists park their camper - it was either that or watch them scrape it to bits on the snow mounds! Had meat balls and spaghetti for tea. Freezing when we went to bed.
24 June 2013
Had a good night despite being parked right beside the State Highway - bugger all traffic! Up at 07:45 it's minus 3.6º. No clouds to be seen so another good day ahead. Drove through amazing amounts of snow and at one stage it was minus 6 (@11:00)! Hit fog just outside Pukaki and now about to have lunch parked beside the walkway in Twizel after letting the dogs run round and round for about an hour! They both seem to really love the stuff - even Roxie is bouncing around like a puppy! 14:00 Parked up at Fisherman's Bend after checking out all the other places - too wet, too windy or too much snow! Very bitter wind blowing which makes the 5.8º feel much, much colder! Relaxing afternoon. Steak and pasta for tea. 1.6 degrees at 20:15 which means temp. is dropping now that wind has stopped.
25 June 2013
Happy Birthday Roxie! Up at 08:00 after a restless night caused by noisy wind! It did stop at one stage and the temp. dropped below freezing but then it picked up and howled around for hours. Good thing - no frost this morning. Was 5.8 when I got up but dropping now and it's 3.6! Left at around 10am and had our usual brunch at the Wrinkly Rams. Lots of snow through the Lindis but road clear. Clyde at 12:45 after stopping to dump in Cromwell. Overcast and 7.5º. Have done exactly 1,980kms - 314187.
