Monthly Archives: July 2013

51. Methven – Akaroa

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Bon Accord Backpackers, 57 Rue Lavaud, Akaroa, Tel.: (03) 304 7782, $49 double (cabin) as single
Monday, March 25: Sunny throughout, warm, a few clouds in the afternoon
Bumblebee in the garden of Bon Accord

Bumblebee in the garden of Bon Accord

Was about the last to leave this morning around 10:00 – everyone else had to go to work. Checked the net and decided to head directly for Akaroa; with only a stop at a petrol station to check oil and air pressure in Methven and then to refuel in Tai Tapu. Fuel tank showed full but can’t have been absolutely topped up because that would mean that I’d done the last 500 km @ less than 5 L/100 km; and in any case the fuel level dropped significantly as I drove towards Akaroa. Stopped for a bit of a stroll just inside of town past the cricket ground and found my lodgings at around 12:30. Continue reading →

50. Rakaia – Rakaia Gorge

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Redwood Lodge
Sunday, March 24: Overcast the whole day, with a drop or two of rain

Still feeling a bit under the weather so this morning was dedicated to piecing together the Mt Cook panoramas. Got all of them done, as well as the brackets of the waterfall from yesterday. Went out to buy a pie from the supermarket for lunch, then decided I would at least have a look at the Rakaia Gorge. Continue reading →

49. Mt Somers – Sharplin Falls

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Redwood Lodge
Saturday, March 23: Sunny at first, later clouding the western half of the sky
GPS Tour

Not up so early this morning and had a bit of a frog in my throat and about half a cold. Was out of here just after 10 to attempt the mountain, but was feeling so poorly that I could only see how far I could get. Continue reading →

48. Twizel – Fairlie – Geraldine – Methven

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Redwood Lodge, 3 Wayne Place, Methven. $45 for twin as single
Friday, March 22: Sunny throughout and quite warm with one or two clouds

No hurry to leave this morning, but had everything packed away well before 10 and set off into town for some petrol & to check the tyre pressures. Consumption is slowly, but surely, creeping up. Was given a token to vote for a local charity & gave my vote to the local lifesavers. Stopped in Fairlie for some internet, and then lunch, which was in a rather central park. Tried picking up some of the last cash, but first forgot the PIN and had to go back and retrieve it. Then it was on to Geraldine, which also appeared to be quite a nice place. Can’t recognise anywhere that I travelled along in 2009, but the whole route may have been new. Continue reading →

47. Twizel – Mt Cook

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Ruataniwha Holiday Park
Thursday, March 21: Some dewfall at night, sunny with few clouds during the day
GPS Tour
Mt Sefton Panorama

Mt Sefton Panorama

Was up at 7:00 to try to get a longer walk done today. Breakfast was a little complicated by having to use the hiking crockery & cutlery and having to wash and dry it. However, that dealt with and lunch packed away I took off for the mountain and could see it most of the way along the SH 80. Continue reading →

46. Oamaru – Twizel

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Ruataniwha Holiday Park, Max Smith Drive, Twizel. Double cabin as single for $45/night
Wednesday, March 20: Very sunny in the morning, with a couple of clouds in the mountains

For the late bedtime I was up relatively early at around 7:00 and had breakfast in the upper lounge, packed my stuff into the car, unhung and folded the laundry that had been left overnight on the line and was now dry in the rising sun. Had attempted some full front photos of the District Council Offices trying to minimise perspective distortion, and then took off down to the library after taking leave of Fanny. Not much by the way of mail or facebook, except that the wordpress-facebook plugin has distinguished itself by not working (again). Continue reading →

45. Waianakarua – Oamaru

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Empire Backpackers, 13 Thames St., Oamaru, $40 single room
Tuesday, March 19: A bit clearer in the morning, although still quite cold, becoming cloudier in the evening
Steampunk Museum, Oamaru, exposure bracket

Steampunk Museum, Oamaru, exposure bracket

Today was a bit of a day for odds and ends. On the way into Oamaru had the tyre pressures checked – front right was down to 16 psi, which probably explains the recent fuel consumption. Leaky old air delivery system had to be operated by the attendant himself as I could not work out how to let the tyre down again. Will have to check this again tomorrow to see that there is no leak. Continue reading →

44. Dunedin—Waianakarua

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Olive Grove Lodge, 2328 Herbert-Hampden Rd, Waianakarua, $45 for double as single
Monday, March 18: Rain at first, becoming drier but still cloudy, cooler

Was up fairly early to get some breakfast and get my stuff packed up. For some reason PPP had packed in during the night, so the whole directory wasn’t completely developed. Waited around a bit for Ben, but only Lucy appeared, first for a shower and then for breakfast in their bedroom. Had all of my stuff in the car and when Lucy was ready to go, I left with her. Continue reading →

43. St Patrick’s Day in Dunedin

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Ben & Lucy’s
Sunday, March 17: A little rain overnight; overcast in the morning, then some rain in the afternoon

Was out of the house by about ten to stroll around town. A couple of people stopped me with requests for various directions and I did as best I could. Went right around Moray Place, then back along George St. Decided I wanted to look for “Boy the Movie”. Had a look at Whitcoull’s and their staff tracked down two copies in Christchurch & one in Nelson. Then tried a record store in the Golden Middle shopping centre, which is right out the front of my lodgings. They, too, gave me a pass. Continue reading →