Day 16- Through the Southern Alps

I have one free hour of internet today, so I spent the last 45 minutes uploading pictures for the days of blogging that I missed and hope to complete sometime. 

Since my memory is somewhat poor, I will jump around completing them as I remember them. Older ones will be very short. Since today isn't quite over, I will start with TODAY.

The weather forecast in Punakaiki (on the West Coast of the South Island), was for a FINE DAY. The plan was to travel to Christchurch via over and thru Arthur's Pass in the Southern Alps. The scheduled drive was long- about 188 miles. 

We had been clued in on the scenic route, so headed out early for us, with plans for breakfast in Greymouth.
Enough of the hotel in Punakaiki, where last night the meal was very expensive and horrible tasting.
Michael and Patsy had a bad night with their room and had to move to another room at midnight. 

Starting out on the FINE DAY

It was about an hour to Greymouth, where we found, guess what, a McDonald's where we had breakfast- a McBagel Benedict,  and more and quite yummy and far less money for us both than the price of 1 continental breakfast at our hotel.  The Brits, who didn't grow up on McDonalds, don't seem to understand our desire to eat at McDonalds. We get very tired of the traditional "cooked breakfast" that shows no creativity and is served just about the same in every hotel.

As we headed out through one of the scenic valleys, the weather didn't improve, and in fact, started to rain a bit..

The Ever Present Construction Zone

As we headed up Arthur's Pass, the sun started to shine and the day did turn out to be FINE. Eventually we caught up with Colin and Callie, Paul and Marie-Isabelle, and Nancy and Dennis at the coffee stop at Arthurs Pass (town). 

Coffee with Nancy, Callie, Colin, Paul and Marie-Isabelle

Tunnels over the roads for slippage and water like in the Northern Alps. 

We tagged along behind them for the remainder of the day as we went up over a very steep pass, then through many valleys.

The KEA parrot, known for stealing windshield wipers

Kea perched on our car- very aggressive

At one scenic outlook, we managed to get a photo of all of us traveling together,

Photo Op in the Alps

Our Morgan and Navigator in the Southern Alps

Our UK Morgan in the Northern Alps Last Summer

however, we attracted quite a crowd, as usual

The  Requisite Chinese Contingency Taking Photos

Continuing through the Alps with Cows

Note the FINE DAY

Alps with Sheep

Out of the Alps

Wise Words at the Lunch Stop

Salad at Last

I am Curious about HOW THEY TRIM THESE TREES

Colin nicely led us to the Corporate Headquarters of Heartland/Scenic Hotels, as someone had given him that address for his GPS. We thought it looked pretty industrial for our hotel, but fortunately we had the correct address in our GPS and guided the now 5 cars to the proper Hotel in Christchurch.

Michael and Patsy had arrived a couple of hours before us, so they headed off in a cab to see the damaged part of Christchurch. We headed down to the local store where we picked up coca cola, beer and made some appointments for tomorrow. On our walk, we passed two Japanese restaurants, and made dinner reservations at one of them. No one in the group would join us because they don't "eat Japanese Food". Watching the chef prepare TeppenYaki- lovely fresh fish and stir fried veges, or meat and veges, or tempura (like fish and chips), makes me sad that people won't try this wonderful food.  Perhaps we shall get them to change.
As we had driven to the restaurant, upon leaving it, we heard a strange noise in the right rear tire. It seems a screw is caught in the tread and perhaps it will create a flat tire in the morning. Philip has to find some other implement to see if he can remove it, then deal with whatever happens to the tire. 
But is it now nighttime, so it can wait until tomorrow.