Out of The Fairways resort this morning and on the road, Bob driving down to Amberley near Christchurch and we stopped for coffee and cake.
Bert took over the driving and we headed up highway 72 & 73 up to Arthur's Pass, through some of the most beautiful mountains, with snow caps and wide grey stone valleys and river beds. About 20kms from Arthur's Pass we started winding around up and down and snow on the side of the road - YES IT IS NOVEMBER!!!!
Had a nice lunch in the local Cafe and checked into Arthur's Chalet - now this was an experience to remember....
Firstly the hotel was locked up solid and I wandered around and found everyone at the back, to be told there was a problem with our booking - OH NO. They only have 1 ensuite room but have a bunk room with shared bathrooms. OH NO.. oh yes but we won't charge for the bunk room and breakfast is free. Really truely... Rooms basic but good..
Bert and I went for a walk up the road, across the river bed running with water and over two high walking bridges, with snow everywhere on the ground and in the trees, it was beautiful. The snow is still falling, the road we want to take tomorrow was closed for 9 hours last night and a snow plough was needed to clear the road.
It has been snowing lightly all afternoon with flurries of swirling snow - it has been beautiful.
Just down for a quiet drink in the pub before dinner - still snowing outside and the fireplace is burning. A nice dinner and up to our heated room for a quiet night. We won't know if we can get out to Franz Josef till tomorrow and they have evaluated the roads. They have an electronic sign at the end of town displaying road conditions.
Best of the day
Bert : drive up the mountain pass and nice to see the snow
Joyce : all that scenery
Bob : drive up and scenery
Post script
Dinner was enormous, we had "hog a log" that is a lot of roast pork and roast vegetables... Bob had lamb shanks and he got 2 whole massive shanks!!!!
I wanted a glass of wine and the barman offered me a glass for $10 or the bottle for $45.... Ummmmmm. Better go the glass and not a whole bottle. Well, 3 glasses of wine WAS the bottle, profit our way! We had another one each after dinner.
The snow continued through most of the evenings and night.....but we were warm and toastie in our heated rooms.
