Kaikoura to Christchurch via Hamner Springs

A beautiful sunny day broke over Kaikora as we packed our bags for the move to Christchurch.  With the skies clearing we were finally able to see the beautiful mountain range that over looks Kaikora.

Our destination is Christchurch, and I can't help feeling a tad nervous about the place as the local news tell us that there were 48 after shocks in one day 2 or 3 days ago.  We called the hotel and they are still in business and we checked with the travel company and they said most of the problems are "liquefaction in the suburbs". Don't you think "liquefaction in the suburbs" would make a great song title by Billy Joel or somesuch,  though some of the rhymes might be tricky!  I hadn't heard the term liquefaction till a couple of weeks ago - now it seems to be all I hear.

In the Alpine-Pacific Triangle

We are going to Christchurch via Hamner Springs through what is known as the Alpine-Pacific Triangle,  The scenery here is stunning and there are constant "wows" as we drive along.  At one point we manage to find a New Zealand traffic jam...caused by sheep of course.

Sheep Jam

As we drive in to the little town of Hamner Springs there are three kids waiting to cross the road.  So Maria stops and (thinks she has) flashed them.  She turns to me and says "why don't they cross?" I point out that they wonder who the crazy lady is who is washing her windscreen at them.  We are still not used to the car!
We have lunch in Hamner Springs, and hurrahs and hussahs we find a restaurant that does Maria some very pleasant veggie food and we get talking to two ladies from Christchurch.  mainly because they have a very friendly cocker-spaniel with them.  We ask them about the quakes and they seem pretty relaxed about the situation,  which is reassuring,

The Bridge to Hamner Springs

We drive on down to Christchurch, through more stunning scenery and manage to find our Hotel quite easily.  There are signs that this not a normal place though,  as I don't think any hotel I have ever been in has had a certificate from a building surveyor proclaiming that it is fit to be used on the front door and none have ever had Acro jacks and scaffolding holding up the roof in reception!

An unusual feature

Jack me up lively

We take a long walk across park to the city centre.  Even though it is 11 months on from the big quake the centre is closed down and looks like a war zone. Most of the buildings are marked with big spray painted circles which mark them as condemned. We found the hotel we had originally tried to book but it had "Suffered damage in the quake", actually it is marked for demolition!  You can't even get near the cathedral as the whole are is a demolition site.

Devastation everywhere

Must have been terrifying

The City Centre is completely shut

The calm of the park

We wandered back to the hotel for a swift half in the "English pub", then put the washing on and went to dinner.  They actually had a veggie option on the menu that maria liked the sound of.  Trouble was,  it took over an hour from having our starters to the main course actually turning up .  I think the chief was so surprised by someone actually ordering the veggie option that he had to get all the cook books out & send a lad down to the corner shop for the ingredients.  Its the first time I have ever left the table in a restaurant to empty the tumble dryer,  and still got to the table before the food!