Drawing continues

Debbie's drawings are better according to  how much time is spent. This happens on holidays so I would say the next drawings will be a while. This one was started twice until she got the perspective right.

Governor's Bay

Sluice Box

This reminds me of Derwent Bridge today. There were times when we would turn up at the Derwent Bridge pub bedraggled, muddy and they would have the big fire place going and it was the end of January.  All the fire places are going here at Lewis Pass. We went down to the Lake Daniell's track but only walked as far as the Sluice Box, an impressive slot where the river squeezes. After that we drove up to the pass. This is where the St James walkway starts but our walking was around the short tarn loop. The last hour has been moving from hot pool to hot pool.

Gray Day but Blue Water

Get your hot rocks

Maruia Hot Springs

We are high on Lewis Pass and this internet is dodgy.  The bugs are ferocious but we still went outside into the hot pools.  There is a bigger indoor pool with a huge window looking out onto the river.

Bugs begone

Road Trip accommodation

We have driven no more than 4 hrs on any one day. The accommodations are a bit of a confusation.  We have stayed in a variety of these. The first pub was straight forward but then we stayed at a chalet that was a hotel then a lodge that was a B&B then another lodge that was a motel and a motel that were beach cabins.  I'm not sure what a bach is but we haven't had one of those.  The lodge which was a B&B meant we had tea around the table with two other couples which just happened to be Dutch. They would break into dutch half way through the conversation and they had never met each other before then.

Kowhai - Golden tree

More Hints for travellers

We always use travel style debit cards. There are advantages in locking them after a trip is finished as well as cutting out currency fees on exchange rates etc. However we discovered a trap.  We have a few currencies currently eg some euros from last time but 500 pounds which we bought quickly on the lowest point after the Brexit decision. Also we added a 1000 NZ$ for this current trip.  So we are travelling along merrily buying our coffee etc expecting that we will get an error when the NZdollars run out but no such thing. If you have money then your bills will start eating into it no matter what currency it is. Der we spent 70 of our cheap pounds in New Zealand before we topped up the NZ dollars. 

Crustaceans & Molluscs

New Zealandisms

The NZ$ is about the same as the AU$ at the moment. There are still some expensive aspects. There are no tolls on NZ roads but fuel varies up to 50c a litre from $1.90 to $2.40. We paid $2.40 in Lake Tekapo.  There are many one lane bridges and one end always gives way to the other end but which end depends on either a small red arrow or a big black arrow.  If there is a queue you may be able to use this as a means of getting ahead of a campervan.  Hitchhiking is alive and well in NZ. This is how we got around 40 yar ago however we have not picked up anyone in our small car.  The other hazard is touring cyclists, usually in pairs and with panniers and sticks poking out so that it will scratch your car if you get to close.  We always used YHA back then and these days they advertise YHA on TV commercials.  Backpackers have never had it as good.  YHA was all there was and now backpackers lodges are everywhere. You can tell it is a wet cold day as I am indoors typing this.

Ideal beach house even on a wet day

Abel Tasman National Park

This is a small park but a busy one.  Munster was keen on walking here two years back and did the walk from one end to the other. We hired a water taxi to take us to Torrent Bay and pick us up from Bark Bay, 4 hours later. It took two hours to walk the 6 km section. We took our time with a few side trips. One to Sandfly Bay which wasn't as bad as Sandfly Point some 40 yar ago on the Milford. In this place they weren't biting as bad. The boat ride was as rough as we have had. At times we were air born both the boat and us off our seats.

leafs

Falls River