* * Day 15, Hanmer Springs
Friday, January 4, 2013 at 02:39AM Our day began at the palatial log manor of Tracy and David Fisher, overlooking majestic Mt. Cook. We departed late, at noon, after taking a stroll through the woods to the lake shore. We remarked on our walk how delightful it was to be in woods devoid of anything nasty; there were no ticks, no snakes, and no poisonous plants. Their little dog, Archie, a poodle/terrier mix, fetched sticks from the water, but only as long as he could reach them without swimming. The view of the grand mountain was amazing, it glowing white on the northern horizon.
Our trip to Hanmer Springs was a tiring five hours, all of which I drove. The first kilometers were through countryside that was reminiscent of the high deserts of the American west. We took what was signposted a scenic route around Christchurch, a mostly flat, farmland area. It probably added 30 minutes to our trip, but was nicer than taking the main highway through the city. The towns along the way were typically neat, tidy, and seemingly prosperous. Like the rest of New Zealand, most had a small park near the center of town with public toilets. All had marked crosswalks and pedestrian amenities. The last kilometers were through rolling pine-clad hills, also semi-arid, and scenic. The weather was finally gorgeous, with bright sun and pleasant temperatures.
We didn’t stop for lunch, but had only snacks on the way. So we were hungry when we arrived in the tourist town, famed for its hot springs. We had dinner at a pizzeria. Jane and Whitney walked from our rented cottage to the springs for a soak while I read and snoozed.
On their way back, by coincidence, they ran into Jim Galt, the motorcyclist I’d ridden with in Hamilton a week earlier. Small country! We’ll have breakfast with him and his wife before departing to our next destination, the west coast town of Westport. Then further north to Nelson, our northernmost city to visit on the South Island.
This moment, the sun is setting on a welcomed, cloudless sky, here in the world’s most appealing nation.
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