We knew that the forecast for today was not great when we went to sleep last night, but we didn’t know just how bad. When we awoke it was pouring in Wanaka and the snow levels on the mountains had dropped significantly. The Haast Pass over the Southern Alps to Franz Josef was closed due to rock slides. We waited for an update until about 11:00 AM, when we learned that it would be closed for the day and possibly tomorrow. This is the only way to get to the west coast from where we were. A quick group meeting and we decided to change plans and head to the east coast where it was warm and sunny. So it was on to Christchurch, Kaikoura, and Blenheim, and cancellation of Franz Josef and Punakaiki. Better to march forward then to be stuck in one place for possibly three days. No real pictures today as the weather was not great driving out of the mountains. There is one of the base of Mt. Cook, one of the tallest mountains in NZ, but the picture was taken more for the wonderful azure color of the lake. We did encounter snow on the Lindis Pass but fortunately it was not bad. Can’t say the same for someone else who spun out on a hairpin curve and had to be pulled out. He was lucky.
Anyway, we arrived safely and had a wonderful French dinner. We are all stuffed and heading to bed.
More tomorrow.
Friends of ours from Venice Golf & Country Club were in Christchurch, two years ago, when an earthquake did quite a bit of damage to this lovely city. They were very lucky in escaping from the hard hit cathedral. I wonder if much has been repaired?
Fred
BTW, aren’t the countless waterfalls, in the mountains, wonderful to the eye?
Fred