We set two alarms 10 minutes apart so we would not miss rising to shower and drive to the airport to check in by 5.30am.But when you have one eye open all night to make sure you dont miss the alarm you are always going to be ready and this morning proved this.
So we had the car loaded and were on our way within 2 minutes of the target time only to get about half way there and have to turn around and return home as Gretchen had forgotten her camera.
Despite this we were still at the airport in plenty of time to join those waiting for the first flights out to Christchurch(our destination),Wellington and Auckland.
Well you may ask, ‘as usual?.The reason is simple. We do not believe in paying to secure a seat number when we have already paid for the flight and bag. However of the 48 other passengers on board we were the only ones who take this stance.
Our flight left a couple of minutes early and quickly reached cruising altitude with views of a stunning sunrise looking eastwards from our ‘well located seating positions.
Our arrival into Christchurch was right on time and we were by bright sunshine. a clear sky and a chilly 4C temperature.
The rental was quickly on the scene after our phone call to say we had arrived and with the paperwork done we were promptly on our way turning left out of the roundabout on State Highway 1 and headed north.
We didnt have time for breakfast before we left home for the airport so with hunger pangs starting to get at us we pulled into a French bakery and caf in Amberley about 30 minutes north of Christchurch and tucked into a cheese and ham croissant, bacon and egg on a bun as well as sharing a large chocolate au pain topped off with coffees. Sitting outside the caf we felt the air temperature rise to 21C by the time we were finished our food and ready to head further
The last time we were in this part of the country was October and on that occasion we travelled south from Kaikoura on State Highway 1.This time, heading north, we had decided to take the alternative route to Kaikoura via the less used inland road.
So at Waipara we turned left from State Highway 1 onto Highway 7 with the Weka Pass the next geographical spot on our radar.
The location is so named from what must have been a bit of an obstacle to the settlers of North Canterbury in the 1800s.However, todays modern motor cars zip over the low pass without even dropping below the speed limit.
We had been in this area 6 months ago with family including our train enthusiast grandsons and on that occasion we were in a train carriage hauled by a 1950s NZ Railways diesel which did seem to make heavy weather of the gradual climb to the summit of the pass.Away from the busy Highway 1 the drive was pleasant with time to take in the very dry, brown countryside that will benefit when the autumn rains finally arrive.
us and the historic hotel bearing the rivers name came into sight and it was worth the stop to take a closer look at the hotel built around 1868.The pub holds New Zealands longest issued liquor licence from the 1860s which had been granted with the proviso that the publican had horses available for fording the river at the safest spot.
The highway now straightened out and in 14 kilometres we passed through Culverden, a village looking a little down at heel, given the ease that locals can now get to a larger centre quicker than supporting their facilities.
Just outside Rotherham we came across Watters cob cottage C.1880 and read the history of how an Irish immigrant (name pronounced ‘Waters) and his wife bought up their 7 children in the small white cottage.
The Lowry Peaks range which separates the valleys Highways 1 and 7 run through looked very brown and dry and stood out starkly in the near distance.
