Awoken at 4 in the morning by someone wanting to talk about diving, then barely able to sleep because of a migraine. The crossing has definitely been closed because of rockfalls, so there's not much to do here, but bargain price of last night cheaper than the motel in PN, so might be still worth just sticking about another night, but the hotel's not offering it again.
One walk is open (just), to Taranaki falls. About an hour from the hotel. Drizzle along the way, then full scale snow at the falls. Quite pretty though, worth the walk. Normally this is on a circular route,but the second half's been closed, so back the way I came.
Worth finding another backpackers to stick about? Not obviously, the weather shows no sign of improving, so trundle back down the hill, back onto a main road and off to Palmerston North.
The map seems to show two valid routes: I chose to go through Wanganui, which Duncan later seems to regard as dangerous in the extreme. Hey Ho. The route did seem to involve a heap of 35kmph turns around clifs with rather impressive drop offs, and one emergancy stop to clear a rockfall from the middle of the road. I shall try the other route on the way North.
Arrive, and after only a little bother (resolved by actually getting the motel's blub out and finding out their address) safely ensconsed in the motel. It turns out that John & Rosemary are two doors down, though the motel owner's not noticed that they're English. John, it turns out, hasn't seen me in so long that he's expecting a beard, but he recognises the voice.
Duncan & Sandra turn up. She seems nice. I have no idea how old she is. Supper with Duncan at a Turkish place.
No comments:
Post a Comment