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).

“Altavady” between Timaru and Kurow, exposure bracket

Out of the library bumped into Fanny again and walked back to the hostel with her, where my car was parked. Then it was off down the SH 1, first to a petrol station to check the air pressures, then to a telephone booth to try booking something in Tekapo, but all was taken. Will have to look for something past Omarama.

Under Benmore Dam, bracketed panorama (detail)

I turned off onto the road to Kurow, and pretty much on cue found the writing in the gigantic hedge & stopped to photograph it. Stopped also in Duntroon for a pack of chips and some photos (Flying Pig Café, some heritage stuff, and the old jail), then into Kurow, but the stuff in the 4square didn’t look very appetising, and finally Benmore Dam for lunch. The poplars and willows are beginning to turn yellow, and this with the ochre of the hills, the blue of the sky and the turquoise of the water is a striking combination for which it was worth taking a bracketed pan. Then it was through Omarama to Twizel.

Can remember this place from the very slow uploading of the photos in 2009. Uploading this year’s data would be totally out of the question. Had a look around as to where I might eat out, then started the rounds of the motorcamps. The one in town was just a walk through the playing fields to town, but could offer no cabin for two consecutive nights.

Next was the place by the lake, which would, but for $55, then $45 a night, which I took. Moved my stuff into the cabin, had an unmetred shower, then went back into town for some net & some shopping. Sent a message to Michael (ChCh Skeptics) about next Wednesday’s venue, and got a reply from Matt that he wasn’t interested in my giveaways. Could possibly try BBH noticeboards for that.

Now I have the AA accommodation manual and there are many more motorcamps in it than Jason’s, which seems to have chucked quite a number overboard. Anyway, not many days left.

Back here started the computer going on Milford Day 3, and the last two days, then headed off into town for a third time for dinner. Had a look at a club on the outskirts of town, but finally settled on the buffet at Razza (Thai – beef fried rice, pork with peanuts, chicken with cashews, pork curry, all after a chicken and maize soup and spring rolls for starters). OK for $15 and for $5 more there was a “handle”.

Fairly quiet place here, may see about some star photos, or an early night. Mt Cook tomorrow.