Greetings! it’s been a few days since I posted. This is because we have had a few heck-days involving some long and challenging journeys and a LOT of this kind of sign…

I would also like the thank my cousin Kev for checking in on me this morning. He was a bit worried I hadn’t posted for a couple of days. I digress. Normal service resumes…

Day 15 and we say goodbye to our rainforest retreat. We have been very grateful for the lack of midges and sand-flies that are abundant on this part of the west coast.

Leaving Franz Josef we travel along (and along) State Highway 6 for our first stop at Hokitiki. We like Hokitiki. It’s got a nice vibe, good beach, great sunshine…

and even better, The Stone Oven Bakery! Great pies and cakes for a half way stop. Thanks to friend Adrian for another great recommendation.

After a refuel, we were back on the road for Greymouth, a short hop of the coast.

What can we say about Greymouth. Well, for one thing It was closed, on a Tuesday. On further checking, it was a bank holiday in New Zealand, but as Julie pointed out, it didn’t seem to affect Hokitika. On the plus side, the station toilets were nice and clean.

We were back on the road. Next stop, the natural wonder of Pancake rocks and blowholes. This is a truly great wonder of New Zealand and this is really a place to see! It is very well thought out in paths that lead you around so you get to see all you want to. And, it’s free! If this was in Cornwall or anywhere in the UK for that matter, it would cost you a small fortune to view. They are in the process of building a visitor centre which will be fantastic when finished. New Zealand know how to promote tourism!

Ice cream eaten with worrying chicken sized bird lurking, far too close, for scraps…

we are on our way to our next stop over, at The Ghost Lodge, in a small town called Gravity. This is an Air B&B meets (sort of) hotel where we have our own rooms and bathrooms but other people share the lounge and kitchen. Sharing with us were a couple from Wales, Angie and Phil. Angie was born in Wolverhampton(!) small world. They have a daughter in Wellington and were, like us, touring the south Island. They had done most of the route we had and like us, picked Ghost Lodge because it was reasonable in price and on the way to our next stop.

OMG what a place! They, like us, agreed that had we have know how good the location was, we would have booked an extra night. The house itself was great, lounge balcony upstairs overlooking the sea, pool table, big sofa’s. Fantastic for a family weekend away! At the top of the garden was a great beach-hut, seating area and hot-tub overlooking the sea. The weather was perfect. The waves were excellent and the surfboards were there to use. Heaven!

Now here is the thing, Angie and Phil told us there was a band on tonight at the local theatre (2 doors down!) and it was going to be a good gig. India meets Ireland fusion music. Only $25 and Angie and Phil have seen them and they are ‘really good’. Guy, the local chap that helps out the owner with the Ghost Lodge also asks if are going? He’s going and if we go to support the local community, we might double the number attending. Oh dear….

This for us turns into a big debate. Julie says we should go. Lynn wants to stop and take pictures of what will be a spectacular sunset over the sea. I want to go surfing! We go to the gig.

We go in. It’s sold out(!) but they squeeze us in at the back. I meet my new mate Guy who is thrilled we have come along. Well, I can safely say it wasn’t our cup of tea, and even though it wasn’t the cup of tea of most of the audience, they gave the band a standing ovation. There was even a coach laid on from Westport, 28k away! They don’t get much live music this way apparently.

Long day done, well, not quite. Has to be the best night sky I’ve ever seen. So I head up to the beach hut to look at the stars for a while. Greatest day so far.