Day: February 1, 2011

Oops. Weather.

There was torrential rain after I left Greymouth – I was trying to get to Christchurch via the Arthur’s Pass highway (highway 73). The road was flooded and blocked by debris, and the rushing water was eroding the highway. I got there right as it happened.

There are only three highways connecting the South Island’s west coast and east coast. I had to backtrack more that 100 km to get to the next possible route over the mountains, and the consequence was that, because I have to meet my ferry back to Wellington tomorrow at a fixed time, I realized I would have to skip visiting Christchurch.

So I’m staying the night in Kaikoura, now – on the east coast but about 200 km north of Christchurch.

Here is the rain.

Here is the flood blocking the highway.

In other news, there’s a super giant humungous cyclone (aka hurricane) headed for my mom’s house.  I just missed it.  I hope she’s OK.  Do you see her waving, up just west of the red spot in the satellite image?

This blog currently being brought to you by McDonalds of New Zealand – the only reliable free wifi I’ve been able to find, driving around.

I went to a place called Cape Foulwind this morning, on the northwest coast of the South Island. Ironically, it’s the only place in all of New Zealand that I’ve been to, so far, where the air was utterly calm and still. Mostly, it’s been extremely windy – perhaps the tailing effects of the giant cyclone storm that is currently planning to harass my mother up in northern Queensland. I just missed it.

Here are some pictures from yesterday and today.

New Zealand’s parliament building, in Wellington. Called the “Beehive.”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

A view from the ferry.

Here is the Marlborough Wine Country of the northeasternmost part of the South Island.

Here is a very nice looking car parked next to my little Hyundai rental car, in front of the motel where I stayed at last night.

The avian du jour.

The view looking north at Cape Foulwind.

And looking west across the Tasman Sea.  Maybe toward Tasmania – or am I too far south already?

A place I stopped called Punakaiki.