The Drive to Christchurch (updated)


Don't expect too much from this entry all I did was drive... all day long. From Cromwell to Christchurch.

Don't expect too much from this entry all I did was drive... all day long. From Cromwell to Christchurch.

I woke up in Cromwell with my view of the golf course, and sheet covered furniture. The wake up call I requested never came but that was ok I wasn't in that big of a rush as long as I got on the road before 9. I packed up and went to the lobby to check out. Before I said anything to the girl behind the counter, she saw the key's room number and promptly asked with a big grin, "So where exactly did you sleep last night?" I came to find out that I was the talk of the hotel. Word passed quickly about CJ and I making the bed. We both had a laugh, and when I came back through to throw away some trash from the car, I found the receptionist telling the story to two men checking out of the hotel. Who knows who has heard the story by now.
I left Cromwell and headed back to Bannockburn and Felton Road Winery. After hearing that Australia may charge me for bringing in or shipping a case there I decided I would go pick up two bottles of the highly coveted Pinot Noir Block 3 which the winemaker was keeping on hold for me. When I arrived, Blair (the winemaker) was obviously not expecting visitors, he turned out to be getting ready to sit down to a meeting and seemed very rushed. When i attempted to tell him my plans, he stopped me and asked me to wait for someone to come sell me the bottles. I realized that maybe I didn't make the impression that I thought I did the last time I was here. However the girl who sold me the wine couldn't have been nicer. Just the fact that she remembered my name, and where I was from, set me at ease. I purchased my wine, promised to buy a case as soon as they worked around the $400 shipping fee, and started my trek to Christchurch. Only 5 hours to go.


(Lindis Pass - the only place on the drive I was told to worry about possible ice)

At one point on the road back to Christchurch I passed an area which caught my eye last time i passed. Along the road for about a 15 mile area, people had stopped and make small piles of rocks along the side of the road. I had no idea what the purpose of all these small rock formation represented. For all I knew it could have been a sacrid Maori ritual, however seing that I saw a mother and father helping thier little kid build one on my way down to Cromwell a few days ago, I didn't think it was too sacred. Seeing I would probably no be that way again. I decided why not! Pulled over and started collecting rocks. Here is my little addition to the New Zealand countryside.


And just to show you I was telling the truth, here is a picture of two other piles just down the road.



On got back on the road to Christchurch and after four more hours I arrived in the city limits. I had to stop by the airport to fill out for paper work regarding my car wreck earlier in the trip. I also had to take my current rental car back. Both went without a hitch. For dinner I stopped by turkish restaurant that i had dinner at with Mehir the Saudi Arabian friend I met earlier in the trip. After that I may my way back to Chester Street and went to bed.

Posted: Thu - August 21, 2003 at 09:33 PM        

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