atahualpa domain was triggered too early. This is usually an indicator for some code in the plugin or theme running too early. Translations should be loaded at the init action or later. Please see Debugging in WordPress for more information. (This message was added in version 6.7.0.) in /home3/aboarddi/public_html/blog/wp-includes/functions.php on line 6114In miserable weather we set off from Karamea and headed south. All the rivers which the previous day had been trickles running through stone beds were now raging torrents. In hindsight I wish we’d taken pics of some of these torrents but at the time we didn’t want to get soaked.<\/p>\n
By lunchtime we’d reached Punakaiki famous for it’s pancake rocks which are a section of layered limestones carved by the wind and sea into some very interesting features. The weather by now was easing and by the time we’d eaten lunch the rain was down to a fine albeit cold drizzle. We set off to see the rocks. The path that took us round the formations was very well laid out and informative and bar a voluntary donation at the end it was free. It even stopped raining during our hurried stay.<\/p>\n
We pushed on south. By the time we reached Greymouth the northerly moving front passed us by and suddenly we were in full sunshine. We soon reached Hoktika and we found a backpacker lodge called ‘Birdsong’ to stay for the night in a very nice double room overlooking the still raging sea. Having acquired the room we drove into town to take a look around. The town is famous for it’s jade shops which we took a brief look at. The big surprise was last week on the beach they’d had a driftwood art competition and all the ‘sculptures’ were still there. They were fascinating and a complete surprise.<\/p>\n
In the evening we had a takeaway and spent the time after in the communal lounge chatting with a couple of the other guests, both of whom were quite interesting. One was cycling round New Zealand and the other was the only female salvage team leader in a male dominated industry.<\/p>\n