West Coast

Trip Start Mar 07, 2006
1
15
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Trip End Jun 30, 2006


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Flag of New Zealand  ,
Monday, March 27, 2006

Currently in Hokitika, about an hour south of Greymouth, on my way down to the Glaciers. Hokitika is a tiny little town but there are a lot of glassblowing and jade shops everywhere, which is pretty interesting since you can watch the artists at work. Shortly we'll be heading towards Ross, which is a goldmining town that is estimated to be sitting on over $700 million in gold, if only they get around to mining it.

The West Coast of the South Island is pretty empty, since the towns were mostly built up over a century ago during the gold rush, and - unlike in Ross - most of the gold is gone so most towns have not recovered. So there are lots of tiny towns of the "blink if you miss it" variety, abandoned rail stations, closed quarries and mines, things like that. Greymouth was easily the most boring stop in New Zealand so far. I only spent one night and even that was probably too long, but it did break up the bus ride.

Yesterday's stops included an hour's walk along the coast at the inappropriately-named Foul Wind Cape to see the seal colony - lots of baby seals on the rocks - and a stop at Punakaiki to see the "pancake rocks", called that because of how they formed in layers. Both fairly interesting. It wasn't raining, which is a bonus since this region of New Zealand is pretty much always raining.

Onto the glaciers next. Funny that I'm heading towards snow just as it's all melting back home. Should feel familiar, anyhow.
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Comments

lstein
lstein on Mar 27, 2006 at 12:37PM

glossies
Hey Sar...
Love seeing those photos. Scenery looks breathtaking. Great one of you in Foul Breath...Wind...Whatever! That should make a great postcard...can you do that?? P.S. Habs won again: 6-5 and Dad and steven are going to Tuesday's game.What's the common greeting in N.Z. ?...M

stevo1
stevo1 on Mar 27, 2006 at 06:24PM

Habs update
Mom's right......they won again....against the Pens, who would have swept the season series with the Habs with a win last night. So now we're tied for 7th spot with the Devils, 3 points up on Atlanta and 2 points behind Tampa Bay. Anything can happen with 11 games left, but it would be a good idea to finish in 6th, if possible, to avoid Ottawa and Carolina in the first round, cuz they are both tough. But.......just making the playoffs is still the main objective, whatever place we finish. Stay tuned. Me and Dad at the Islanders game tomorrow.
Aebischer let in 5 goals in all 3 games he's played......but at least yesterday they won. I don't know about him......Huuuuuuuueeeettttttttt

hershie
hershie on Mar 29, 2006 at 03:49AM

allo allo
So how is u doin? U realize u really are toooooo far away! Your travels sound like fairy tales, still can't believe it's actually real.

Travel safe, have the fun!

hershie

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