After a big morning on the heli-hike, we refueled at the same local watering hole we had found for dinner. We liked it so much, and after our (bad) fish & chips experience in Haast Pass, we weren't sure when our next good meal would be. We had a long drive ahead of us to get to Arthur's Pass, where after much searching I had finally found a suitable place to lay our heads and break up the journey to Christchurch.
We stopped at Franz Joseph glacier on our way through and walked 30min to get some nice views of it. This hike is much easier and more accessible (and flatter!) than the Fox Glacier view hike. It's also remarkably beautiful with waterfalls and a stream running along part of it. Unfortunately, I was growing tired and getting nervous about the long drive ahead, so we rounded everyone up and climbed back in the people mover to continue our journey.
I knew the drive would contain steep grades, possible drop offs and cliffs, and windy roads. However, I wasn't expecting to see railroad tracks cutting through the middle of roundabouts! Luckily there were no trains in sight, otherwise I don't know if I'd have known what to do. The second time we came across this, it was a bit easier to navigate. If I come across a third one ever, I'll be a pro!
I was expecting a steep climb for this part of the journey, but the sign for Otira Gorge was not a welcome sight. My passengers with vertigo and the knowledge that there could be a slip or rock fall around any bend was making me tense. I was responsible for 5 other lives and had heard too many stories of accidents caused by things outside my control. All I could do was breathe and focus on making it as safe a journey as possible given the things within my control. Fortunately, the weather was in our favor again and we did not encounter any ice, snow, rock fall or other hazard.
There was however a waterfall diverted over the highway via a concrete channel. Another first for me in driving. We stopped just past it so I could stretch my legs and P made a pile of sticks to entertain the resident kea.
Five more minutes drive and we finally made it to our destination. It
was a lovely little 'crib' (NZ South Island vernacular) seemingly in the
middle of nowhere. Thankfully we had our resident fire minder, P's dad,
to keep us warm and cozy. We arrived too late to dine at the local
cafe, so we rummaged through the cupboards to find some pasta, beans,
corn, diced tomatos and a few limited spices to add to our cheese and
lettuce to make a make-shift dinner. It didn't turn out too bad in the
end, and everyone was tired and hungry enough that there were no
complaints, and no leftovers.
The next morning, we took advantage of the fact that we were situated at the trail head for Punchbowl Falls, and went for an early morning hike. The endless stairs were a challenge so early in the morning, but we made it in the end and the views were impressive. P scurried back to get a closer view of the falls, and ended up getting an unexpected shower in the process.
As the year comes to a close, and we say our goodbyes to people at work 'until next year', I realise that we have been in one place for over one year. This is a new experience for me, as for the five Decembers prior to this one I'd been living in a new house/location. I had grown to expect goodbyes, but in the sense that I was moving on to something new. This December, I find myself in the same home and the same job as last year at this time. As a result of staying put for over a year, I'm also learning another new experience - outlasting people and things. Since we've moved into this neighbourhood, I've seen a Burger King turn into a Mexicali Fresh, an old apartment building torn down and replaced by a modern, taller block. I've adapted to the kiwi way of spelling words such as neighbour and colour and programme, and have to go back to delete the extra letters if I'm writing a blog post or a letter back home. I've said goodbye to 6 close coworkers who have moved on to other jobs and/or cities.
