Russell Kirkpatrick's Journal
Day 6 and home: Disaster Averted
03-Jul-2009
We were supposed to be on the road by 8am. And we would have been but for a pair of drunken hoons. No, not Stuart or myself, two Monaro-driving morons who were working on the roof of the local hotel and who fled after leaving a $500 bar tab. They went north to Franz Josef and smashed into the only power pole between here and the black stump, taking out all the power between Franz and Haast.
![power pole [main]](../images/gallery/main/85.jpg "power pole [main]")
So we had to wait until it was light to pack, and this delayed us for over an hour.
We got a good close look at Franz Josef Glacier, now much higher in my books than Fox - at least you can approach it. Got some nice close up shots.
![Waiho [main]](../images/gallery/main/87.jpg "Waiho [main]")
Then the fun began. We arrived at Otira in the rain at about 4.30, but Arthur's Pass was closed by snow. We raced north to the Lewis Pass - having been told it was clear - only to encounter heavy snow on the Rahu Saddle (700 feet lower than the Lewis). We barely made it to Springs Junction, having passed a truck jackknifed in the snow.
By this time we had acquired a convoy, of one. Gemma had been at Otira, and like us she was trying to make a plane connection in Christchurch. There are a number of passes through the Alps, but none lower than at St Arnaud. Trouble is, that was seven hours out of our way. Still, we didn't want to get caught in the snow or get trapped on the West Coast. We managed to get through at St Arnaud by dint of some superb driving (by Stuart, who took it all in his stride) and outstanding navigating (by me). We eventually arrived exhausted in Christchurch at 3am. Fifteen hours on the road.
We entertained each other (and kept each other awake) with a combination of outrageous dialogues in foreign accents, including some creepy southern states stuff, by singing along to 70s albums and by me fussing about road conditions.
Today we flew ot Auckland, then I drove Stuart to Hamilton and he conducted himself admirably at the Penny's event given his lack of sleep. I said goodbye to him there - awkward, as I couldn't quite tell him what a lovely man he is.
Linda
Looking forward to seeing you tomorrow. The Dweeb is looking forward to getting to know you better. BTW is there any NZ sweetie things you can bring with you? I was thinking just an ordinary block of Cadbury's Milk Chocolate as it is sufficiently different...but then I was thinking what is distinctly kiwi and I just don't know anymore.
I just wanted to say congrats on your accomplishments...what an encouragement it is to see a best-selling author on a debut novel. You have wonderful talent, and I hope God keeps blessing you thoroughly.
Taylor J. Beisler
www.taylorbeisler.com
www.impossiblewriter.wordpress.com
http://www.eloquentbooks.com/ArintSaratir-WarriorsLight.html