Have a nice trip, see you next fall…

 

So, Tuesday morning rolls around and it is an early start, we are heading to “pancake rocks” via Arthurs pass and Greymouth.

We are on the road for 7.30am, this is not my idea of fun, but I was promised a pie from the world famous Sheffield pie shop, so that was enough of a reason to be awake at 06.30, but boy oh boy did I fall for the pie in a big way. We stopped at the shop after a bit of driving around, losing Colin, finding him again and having a good old giggle at him not understanding the universal “stop!” signals of flashing headlights and repeated horn bashing.

Now, as I attempted to disembark the camper van I managed to miss the step, stand on the edge of the mat, miss that as well and throw my self out the van on to the hard ground and in the process of doing this, nearly snap my ankle in to several bits. OUCH! (or words of that nature were uttered, as well as some other words of which I will not divulge to you, the sensitive reader). As I lay there (in extreme pain) I realised that no one was coming to my aid, so in a very feeble and child like tone, I said “little help please?” At once people were coming from all directions, From the car in front, the pie shop to the side, it was a sight to behold.

As my dad and mum helped me up onto the steps of the now, in my opinion, most evil campervan in the world, I noticed that I couldn’t put any weight on my ankle. Oh bloody brilliant!

After ten or fifteen minutes of sitting, and drinking water to help me as I as was now feeling dizzy, I tried to get up. By this point Anne had been and seen me, I could move my foot and toes, so in her opinion, it was not a break, just a sprain, and would be sore for a few days.

Some of the bruising a few days later.

After my fall, we carried on to pancake rocks via castle rocks (where fight scenes for a chronicles of Narnia film were shot.)

The aforementioned castle rocks. (note the slight bit of glass at the left hand side of the photo, Fear of falling out again stopped me getting out properly!)

After this stop we headed up towards Arthurs's pass, a road that takes you right up and through the southern alps, some majestic scenery here, but due to my injury, I missed many of the photo opportunities. Damn my bad luck.

Though I did manage to get this… (just imagine what I could have got if my foot hadn't been falling off!)

Lake Pearson on route to Arthur’s Pass

One place That I did manage to hobble out of the van and get some photos was the town of Arthur's pass. A small place that makes it money by offering skiers, hill walkers and other outdoorsy people a place to rest or a base camp to set off and explore the great outdoors and wilderness.

Kevin the one footed kea!

Kevin in the foreground with Mum and Dad looking on.

After this all to brief encounter with the local wildlife, it was onwards to Greymouth beyond that, pancake rocks! After another couple hours of driving (not me I hasten to add, my foot still felt like it was falling off at this point) we arrived at pancake rocks and luckily for me, the foot that felt like it was going to drop off, had not fallen off! (well it was strong enough that I could walk on it, and therefore get photos)

View from the car park where we had lunch.

Wild man coming out of the bush…

Who then made us all lunch!

Once lunch was dealt with, we wandered across the road and to the pancake rocks site. This is a footpath set among what can only be described at a lot of trees and plant life, gave it a very “jungle” feel.

The rocks themself are right on the coast, and through years of erosion by the sea, the wind and other forces have sculpted this amazing place.

The cavities in the rocks create blow holes. As the waves come in, the water is squeezed into a tight space at the bottom of the rocks then forced out the top of the rocks through the blow hole. Right, science lesson over. Here are some pictures!

The kids await another burst from a blow hole.

Dad making friends with the locals

A Blow hole in action

The kids pose for a photo on some of the pancake rocks.

So that as they say is that! Another day another blog entry, next instalment shall cover traveling to wellington, angering the locals and a two taxi town!

Speak to you soon!