Queen Charlotte Drive & Picton

I realized after I published my last post that I never said anything about our road trip around the Queen Charlotte Sound. We had heavy rain all day Saturday and Sunday which meant flooding in the area between Blenheim and Nelson. Since we weren't heading in that direction, we didn't worry about that. We headed out around 10:15 Monday morning and were planning on driving all around the Kenepuru Sound and back again winding up in Picton. The plan was for an all day road trip ending up at Seamus's Irish Pub in Picton for supper and staying for the jam session of traditional Irish music.

When we put the info into our GPS for Linkwater to Kenepuru Head and we would then double back to Picton. The GPS said it would take us 3 1/2 hours to get to and we were a bit surprised since it is only 41.7K. Use the link to see what the road actually looks like on Google maps.

http://maps.google.co.nz/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&source=embed&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=108330471466062217291.00044e734074214354d9e

Once we started driving from Linkwater, we understood the situation. Here's a photo of a short section of road on our GPS.

We made the left turn onto Kenepuru Sound road and came to a sign that read:  SEVERE FLOODING ---- PROCEED WITH EXTREME CAUTION.  We went a little bit beyond the sign and passed 2 road graders and and few plows that were heading down the road - in the same direction that we were headed - and they were covered in mud and spewing mud everywhere. We decided at that moment that discretion is the better part of valor and chose not to go on the Kenepuru Sound road and took the Queen Charlotte Road instead. The sights were stunning! I've placed several photos below. So we were feeling pretty good about our decision and looking forward to an easier drive. What a surprise! The road was a series of switchbacks on switchbacks on switchbacks. Is it possible to have that many? Don't know but it certainly felt that way. We were shocked and concerned when we came on the first mudslide on the road. By the time we passed the 5th one, we stopped counting. Most of the slides only covered 1/2 of the right lane. While we were concerned with the slides, we got rather complacent about them. When we came on the first caved in road, our concern was again raised. But, like the mudslides, you get complacent after the 4th or 5th. Just a leisurely drive to Picton - until we came to the tree that slid down and totally covered both sides of the road. Obviously it had been there for a few hours already because folks had simply drive off the road onto the mud and created a new 'road' around the tree. Thankfully there was room enough to do that on the left side of the road and we were not on a cliffside.

Spectacular isn't it!!!! This is what we get to see every day as we drive around here. Since we were in Picton earlier than originally planned, we had lunch and decided to see their aquarium. When we got to the aquarium, we noticed that it was the aquarium and Picton Cinemas. since the aquarium was on the small side and we had time to kill, we bought the combo-ticket (for the aquarium and a movie). Our timing for the aquarium was great. We got in just when two New Zealand penguins were taking their quarter hour swim.

Here's info on this little blue critter taken from http://www.penguin.net.nz/species/blue/index.html:
The blue or little penguin (Eudyptula minor), also known in Maori as korora, can be found in many places around New Zealand and Southern Australia and is the world's smallest penguin. They only come ashore under the cover of darkness and live underground in burrows. Although quite common, its small size and unusual habits make it rarely seen.

Physical characteristics
The blue penguin stands just 25 cm tall and weighs a little over 1 kilogram. The plumage is slate-blue with a bright white belly. Juveniles are indistinguishable from adults. Both sexes are alike, although the male is a little heavier and usually has a larger bill.

There are several distinct races of blue penguins and some argue that they should be split up into sub-species. Perhaps the most distinct is the "white-flippered" penguin of Canterbury, however genetic tests have shown it not to be as distinct as its plumage would suggest.

We also saw a most unusual fish - the gurnard. This fish has large pectoral fins that spread out like wings and are irridescent. My picture doesn't do it justice so please check it our on the internet.

Now, I have saved the best for last. When it was time for our movie, the ticket seller located us in the aquarium and advised us to take the ramp over the fish tank and go through the door and up the stairs to cinema 2. If we wanted snacks, we had to return through the aquarium to the gift/snack shop. I will not describe the theater other than to tell you that we have a private screening of the movie. I will let the photos tell the rest of the story:

With this, I will say good night to all!