Christmas day in Paradise

Dec. 25

This was only the second time that John had been alone at Xmas since 2003. However, it is different when it is summer. He awoke to a whole new day although he said his good wishes and sent his love across the miles to all those he cares about - every one.

He was packed and ready to go. The motel is operated by a couple, John and Robin. He saw Robin and she gave him a combined Merry Christmas/Farewell hug. People all over NZ but especially in the south of this country are so very nice.

He packed up the car and set out about 8:30am. Well, he couldn't find his way out of Dunedin! He first turned the wrong way on a one-way street - thank goodness there was no other traffic. He whippped his car around and went back the way he had come. Next, he turned down another street. This went across a bridge over the street he needed instead of making an intersection with it and he was off down the Otago Peninsula once again! Finally, he found his way onto the motorway and headed south, past the airport. He knew he was supposed to turn onto state highway 8 but he drove and drove. At one point he stopped, thinking he was like the teams on the Amazing Race who get lost. But no, he just hadn't reached the intersection yet.

When he found it he was treated to an incredible road. It was twisty and windey, with hills and flowers, trees and curves and dips and bends. Traffic slowly started to build up as the morning wore on, making it more difficult for John to go slower than the speed limit. He stopped whenever he could to get video but in many places that simply was not possible. However, he did get some nice shots from time to time.

Robin had told him that he would be going through a fruit growing area and to get some cherries. John thought that no places would be open being Xmas day. He was partly right and partly wrong. There were no people at the stands but there was fruit and travellers were left on their honour to pay the amount requested. John got 500g of fresh cherries and left his money.

He passed through towns like Alexandra and Cromwell before connecting to state highway 8 towards Queenstown - NZ's premier resort area. John had been there before and it brought back some memories of that trip even though much has changed. John got some good video. He also visited Arrowtown too, a gold mining town around the same time as the Klondike gold rush in Canada. As in Canada, NZ used Chinese labourers to do all the hard work.

One more step to go.... Crown Ridge Road. Spectacular, awesome, the most beautiful place John has ever seen. The road winds up the side of a mountain with hairpin turns rated at 15kph. And in NZ when they say a turn is rated at a certain speed it's not like in Canada where you can do 10, 15 or 20km/hr greater than the sign. No, here 15km/hr requires that the car be going no faster than 15 km/hr. Eventually the road reached the top of the mountain and you could look across at the summits of all the surrounding mountains across the narrow valleys.

John was also amazed to see a sign once we had reached the top that showed it was a steep descent. But under the picture were the words 'Next 40 km' Not 4km but 40 km!

As per Cath's instructions, John called Peter at the Cardrona Hotel. Perhaps I have taken him away from his Xmas dinner John thought sadly. John is one of only three guests at the hotel/resort because technically it is closed on Dec. 25. Cath had said the hotel is haunted but John was not s-s-s-scared! He did hear a mother talking to her children during the night even though there was no family staying here!

Cath had made a reservation at a resort restaurant about 20 minutes drive away. It was a wonderful meal - appetizer of marinated venison sliced very thinly with salad greens. The main course was turkey au jus (no, not gravy) with garlic mashed potatoes, green beans and crusty dressing. Dessert was a citrusy creme brulee. It was washed down with a nice glass of sauvignon blanc from Marlborough. It was great but so was the price $65.

John was going to try to upload these two posts but at $10 for 2 hours he thought he would wait to see how things went from his next overnight stop Fox Glacier village.

TRB