THE TRIP - WEEK 6,7,8,9 (part 3) - NEW ZEALAND
Following a blowy and slightly damp night in Dunedin, I ventured off to see, what I am reliably informed by the owner of the camp site, the only castle in the southern hemisphere (QED?). It was quite a hill climb for that time of day. Below is a shot looking back down to the town.
Larnach Castle, built 1871 by William Larnach, merchant, baron and politician. Apparently, 200 workmen spent three years building the Castle shell and European craftsmen spent a further 12 years embellishing the interior.
Speaking of interior, photography is not allowed inside the castle. So I took this one of a strange floating woman.... no explanation that I can find.
Photography is allowed outside in the castle grounds, so I didn't take any! Well, ok, just a few to be sociable, here's one of some of McDucks distant relatives.
On the journey to my next overnight stop, I was given lessons on how important hydro - electric plants and dams are to the NZ grid. This the dam at Waitaki Power Station.
And these are examples of some of the earth moving equipment that was used to build the water tunnels. Hence the big tunnelly looking thing surrounding the Euclid truck at the front. (Now, for some reason, some of us know a little about Euclid!)
Now, I'm not going to dwell on this, but..... it does appear that when ever I approach either the famous glaciers or the big mountain, with every intention of spending money on a scenic flight, they hide from me!! Mt Cook is in there somewhere!
Now, look at what it could have looked like, sadly, I blagged this one off the Internet. So that makes it the glaciers, Queenstown and Mt Cook, yes, three reasons to come back to NZ!
.JPG)
It was a fair trip up to and back from where Mt Cook should have been! However, it was brightened from time to time by a watery sun which showed off the incredible colour of Lake Pukaki, which is a product of 'rock flour' or sediment in the water caused by glaciers crushing rocks and minerals into minuscule particles. Hence the outstanding turquoise colour. Here endeth the lesson!
Had a bite of lunch in a nice pub come restaurant which, although advertising St Patricks activity, was decked out in all sort of Scottish things. You can run but you can't hide!
How many more of these 'long arm' photos can I get in, and why? We all know I'm here and what I look like!
Six, seeing as you asked. Six attempts to get the shot of the wave breaking over the rock. Good though init?
I'm warning you McDuck. Don't start something you can't finish!
I think I'll keep left, oh, and stop taking pictures when driving. (Yes, of course I had stopped to take it mum, of course I did)
These mountains did not have snow on them the night before. I had spent the night on a site where they had no 'powered' pitches left. That means no heater. With the wind coming straight from the Antarctic, I had a night with nearly all my clothes on in a bed with my quilt covered in all the towels I had. With the wind rocking the van I wondered if it were possible to get sea sick in a camper van!
Fickle weather round these parts! The morning brought this kind of sun and the temperature was in the high 70s!
Warned you! now there is a gang forming!
Another perfect morning when I stopped at Humner Springs for brunch. The eggs were not off after all. It always smells like that round these hot pools apparently.
I could go off on another one here, all about how old the bridge is and how the previous one blew away, but I'll save that as a story for when I get back. For now, enlarge the picture and see if you can spot the platform in the middle. They tie people up in elastic and they jump off... no comment from me! Unfortunately it was closed but I will not make that the fourth reason to come back!
Even the tree in the car park lived life on the edge!
Thought it was cute to see these old timers trundling up the steep passes. There is a sticker in my van that asks me to pull over for faster traffic behind. These cuties didn't have that sticker!
I got a little frustrated, so I let McDuck drive for a bit!
It's a view.
Now there a thing! Nearly home already? Can't be!
Well, yes actually, or so it seems.
It's Wakefield captain, but not as we know it!!!
Regular readers may remember 'ADVENTURE ON THE ‘CONTINENT' where I described one of the most dangerous roads in the UK. Well, I may just have topped that with the trip, in a camper van remember, from sea level to 2500 feet and back to sea level in around an hour. With seemingly endless hairpins, no crash barrier worth talking about and cars going considerably faster, it started as fun but even I will admit to being grateful when it stopped! (I actually did stop to take these mum!)
Larnach Castle, built 1871 by William Larnach, merchant, baron and politician. Apparently, 200 workmen spent three years building the Castle shell and European craftsmen spent a further 12 years embellishing the interior.
Speaking of interior, photography is not allowed inside the castle. So I took this one of a strange floating woman.... no explanation that I can find.
Photography is allowed outside in the castle grounds, so I didn't take any! Well, ok, just a few to be sociable, here's one of some of McDucks distant relatives.
On the journey to my next overnight stop, I was given lessons on how important hydro - electric plants and dams are to the NZ grid. This the dam at Waitaki Power Station.
And these are examples of some of the earth moving equipment that was used to build the water tunnels. Hence the big tunnelly looking thing surrounding the Euclid truck at the front. (Now, for some reason, some of us know a little about Euclid!)
Now, I'm not going to dwell on this, but..... it does appear that when ever I approach either the famous glaciers or the big mountain, with every intention of spending money on a scenic flight, they hide from me!! Mt Cook is in there somewhere!
Now, look at what it could have looked like, sadly, I blagged this one off the Internet. So that makes it the glaciers, Queenstown and Mt Cook, yes, three reasons to come back to NZ!
.JPG)
It was a fair trip up to and back from where Mt Cook should have been! However, it was brightened from time to time by a watery sun which showed off the incredible colour of Lake Pukaki, which is a product of 'rock flour' or sediment in the water caused by glaciers crushing rocks and minerals into minuscule particles. Hence the outstanding turquoise colour. Here endeth the lesson!
Had a bite of lunch in a nice pub come restaurant which, although advertising St Patricks activity, was decked out in all sort of Scottish things. You can run but you can't hide!
How many more of these 'long arm' photos can I get in, and why? We all know I'm here and what I look like!
Six, seeing as you asked. Six attempts to get the shot of the wave breaking over the rock. Good though init?
I'm warning you McDuck. Don't start something you can't finish!
I think I'll keep left, oh, and stop taking pictures when driving. (Yes, of course I had stopped to take it mum, of course I did)
These mountains did not have snow on them the night before. I had spent the night on a site where they had no 'powered' pitches left. That means no heater. With the wind coming straight from the Antarctic, I had a night with nearly all my clothes on in a bed with my quilt covered in all the towels I had. With the wind rocking the van I wondered if it were possible to get sea sick in a camper van!
Fickle weather round these parts! The morning brought this kind of sun and the temperature was in the high 70s!
Warned you! now there is a gang forming!
Another perfect morning when I stopped at Humner Springs for brunch. The eggs were not off after all. It always smells like that round these hot pools apparently.
I could go off on another one here, all about how old the bridge is and how the previous one blew away, but I'll save that as a story for when I get back. For now, enlarge the picture and see if you can spot the platform in the middle. They tie people up in elastic and they jump off... no comment from me! Unfortunately it was closed but I will not make that the fourth reason to come back!
Even the tree in the car park lived life on the edge!
Thought it was cute to see these old timers trundling up the steep passes. There is a sticker in my van that asks me to pull over for faster traffic behind. These cuties didn't have that sticker!
I got a little frustrated, so I let McDuck drive for a bit!
It's a view.
Now there a thing! Nearly home already? Can't be!
Well, yes actually, or so it seems.
It's Wakefield captain, but not as we know it!!!
Regular readers may remember 'ADVENTURE ON THE ‘CONTINENT' where I described one of the most dangerous roads in the UK. Well, I may just have topped that with the trip, in a camper van remember, from sea level to 2500 feet and back to sea level in around an hour. With seemingly endless hairpins, no crash barrier worth talking about and cars going considerably faster, it started as fun but even I will admit to being grateful when it stopped! (I actually did stop to take these mum!)
Oh, did I mention that it's the only way back from where I am as well.... deep joy!
That brings this episode to a juddering halt, might have a wee drink now.
posted by Hamish at 3:52 am
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