Dusty’s Last Adventure Part 4a
From here we head towards Lake Tekapo.
Tekapo Hydro Spillway
Because of the amount of ice melt, there are huge hydro electric plants generating electricity. These plants are all so neat and tidy and as far as possible have been blended into the landscape.
Lake Tekapo is not just a lake, it is a thriving tourist hot spot – no pun intended!
Lake Tekapo outlet
There are hot pools here which are right next to the ice rink and one of the coldest lakes. Even in summer the maximum water temp is 8oC. And would you believe – there were people swimming all day, from early to late. I put my feet in once – within two minutes they were screaming in agony from the cold.
The waters of Lake Tekapo are the beautiful blue of the glacial runoff, and Lake Alexandrina’s natural lake water right next to it is in stark contrast.
- Lake Alexandrina
The braided River
The Godley River flows through Canterbury, and feeds into the top of Lake Tekapo. You can see where it is on South Island if you click here:
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/27473762
Because it is melt runoff it has no set river course and runs as it pleases across the plain. It is called the braided river – you can see why!
- Caroline’s hut from the air
This is an aerial photograph of Caroline Hut – and my brother wants to climb here in a couple of days.
Although this was an exciting day, now we need to enjoy an early night as my brother has a dawn start for his climb tomorrow morning – weather permitting.
Dusty’s Last Adventure Part 4b
Preparing to leave…
Oh no! No matter what we try, this morning Dusty has other ideas and won’t start. Eventually we arrange a lift into town for my brother and he heads for the hills. Me, I head for a mechanic. After much probing and many “mmmm’s”, the mechanic pronounces that Dusty is done for.
He tows her to his yard where I leave everything locked up, arrange bus and plane tickets to get us back to Auckland and take a hike out of town.
Warren isn’t taking any chances on the Mountain and goes prepared; the guides know the ropes (faint pun, sorry!). While he is away there is plenty to do around town.
Church of the Good Shepherd
The town is just so quaint, there is a little stone church which is the most photographed icon in New Zealand, and also a statue in commemoration to the sheep dogs in the area, without which there would never have been settlement in this remote area. Even now some of the stations up here are so remote they can only fly in and out.
There is no light pollution here so the University of Canterbury has built the southernmost observatory on Mt. John. I hiked up the mountain and spent the day talking to the astronomers and actually looked at the sun through a telescope.
The route up
Meanwhile my brother is up on Mt. Cook in the Snow.
Lucky him – he gets an opportunity to meet one of New Zealand’s oddities: the Kea. This is a particular alpine parrot which is only found in New Zealand. They have been tested and rated as one of the most intelligent animals on the planet. They learn very quickly and nothing is safe from their strong beaks and toes. They have learned to hunt in packs (flocks?) and really enjoy sheep kidneys – they know where to attack a sheep to get at the kidneys and will actually kill sheep. They also like to get into huts, back packs, – and will even pull the rubber out of windows on buses to get in!
Coming down
- The comical Kea
All in all a remarkable place and I vow that I will be back.
Dusty’s Last Adventure Part 4c
As I mentioned earlier, Dusty had decided that Tekapo was a good place to take her own long rest, so we didn’t argue and left her there.
Christchurch Cathedral
We then caught a bus to Christchurch. All of our photographs are some of the last of the centre of Christchurch; sadly it is all in ruins now after the last earthquake.
From Christchurch we took a plane back to Auckland, to bid farewell to my brother. He and I had managed to see every national region of the South Island and make use of almost every form of transport this trip: car, ferry, light plane, bus, plane and shanks pony from time to time!
Christchurch Millenium Building
Dusty however was privileged to go one better, and a month later when we could get her she caught a truck to Timaru and then a train to Picton, a ferry to Wellington and then another two trains to Auckland.
along the route home
When I fetched her from the station in Auckland she had obviously had a good rest and started with no problem, so I drove her home, gave her a bit of TLC and she has been going well ever since.
My brother and I are confident that there is another adventure in her yet!
