Drama and relaxation!!

NZMHA campsite Hanmer Springs

Me at Hamner Springs hot pools - the idea is a photo with the mountains in the background but this is the second time we've been here and Malcolm has missed the mountains off!  Oh well - third time lucky?

We went up Conical Hill which has 360 degree views - this is one of them.

Me on the exhausting mountain climb

Malcolm has lunch at the waterfall - its drop is 41 metres

This first part is for all those working and/or in the northern hemisphere winter who think that we are just cruising around without a care in the world!  Just to show it's not all fun and games....

We left Greymouth feeling a bit glum because of the bad recent weather and how much we have had to spend on the bus lately.  Just past Reefton heading towards Lewis Pass there was a loud bang which turned out to be a puncture on one of the back tyres.  We unhooked the car so as to make less weight etc and drove along looking for a place to turn around.  Malcolm attempted a 3 point turn but the back wheels stuck on the soft shoulder and he couldn't get the bus  to move forward.  So the bus was blocking 1 and 1/2 lanes of road!!!  I had just seen a truck and trailer roar past so was scared that something would plough into us.  I drove the car up the road to the next bend (not far) with the hazard lights on and before long we had several vehicles helping us.  finally a grunty ute towed us clear and I ran back to the car and followed Malcolm back to Reefton, where even though it was past 6.00 pm the tyre guy came immediately and changed our tyre for the spare - as it was better than the retread he had.  So no harm done really - just stressful!!!  We drove on to the top of Lewis Pass where we spent the night.  First thing we did was pour big rum and cokes!!

Next morning a truck tooted us.  Malcolm looked out and he was tossing the morning paper our way.  So we read the paper over breakfast, then headed down to Hanmer Springs where we had a bit of relaxation in the hot pools.  The weather got better and better and the next day we did two walks.  One was a waterfall walk which was 2 and 1/2 hours - basically 1 and 1/4 straight up vertically!  Down was easier.