Monday 8th DECEMBER

Wed 3rd DEC.
Picking up from the cold night, these high plains in NZ to the east of their big Alpine Mtns arevery windy Clear sunny an often Cold, then scorching duing the day. An ennervating Climate some say?? this morning we went to the top of the Mt. John observatory just next to Lake Tekapo.. The sky was couldless and there was the most incredible 360 degree panorama that we spent over 2 hours taking in. Looking sketching ,photographing, taking tea, walking round the mountain. we were very reluctant to go down. On harsh bit to go with the stark beauty however was that as we looked across at mount Cook 2 Japanese climbers were fighting for their lives near the summit. We later heard that noe had died. A very tough land. We then drove down onto the Canterbury plains and back to Christchurch. The plains have a rouad that has virtually no bends in 100 KM. of driving and on this day was swept by a gale force wind which was also very warm. Huge fields of Sheep Cattle and Deer were being irrigated by massive sprayers as the wind dessicates everything very badly. Our last night in NZ was blessed with a fantastic gastronomic experience in C'church, a place called "Cookin' on Gaz" would stand the Egon Ronay tests easily.

Thur 4th Dec
Everything begins to slow down after this. We cleared up the van and dropped it off. Did the usual airport hanging around. An uneventfulflight to Aus. and unlike South America the usual Po- faced welcome of western civilization at immigration and by the biological police. Our first hic-up occurred when the car pick up was not there but we got the car by 7:00 and $ hour drive later saw us into Moruya, where the arrangements for getting into Erica and Andys house were so good we did it in the dark.

Friday 5th to Sunday 7th Dec.
We have really slowed down. indeed yesterday we went to the cinema in Batemans bay to watch a Bond film to get the adrenaline going again, we have'nt seen a world heritage site in days!!!!. we have aquainted ourselves with Moruya, avery pleasent town and driven briefly into the bush to recapture the smells and birdsong that we haven't heard for 16 years. We have both had our hair cut and done all the domestics of washing, writing and uploading some 1800 pictures and videos.
We have a few more quiet days before leaving for Dawin and will probably pick up the blog again at the end of the week.