Preamble. I'm sure it will surprise no one that I hit the road a day later than planned. On Sunday my shopping schedule was scuttled when I had a flat while driving Becky's car; Monday morning was lost doing Sunday's shopping, and by the time I had finished that & picked up the rental van it was late afternoon & the light was just about gone – and Becky was preparing an appetizing stir fry – so that was that for the schedule.
Day 1 Tuesday, March 22. Christchurch – GeraldineTuesday I, uh … slept in, then wrote for a while. Around noon I headed into town for a couple of last-minute errands, but ran into another obstruction: A performance artist I had been looking for – The Wizard of New Zealand – was just setting up his step ladder in Cathedral Square, so what could I do?
The Wizard of New Zealand
Finally, around 4 p.m. I finally loaded the van, pulled out and … went in circles for 20 minutes. I don't know whether it was computer, data or operator error, but for whatever reason the GPS Robin loaned me decided I should circle the same block 3 times (“In 200 meters, turn left. Then, turn left ...”)
But I did finally make it out, and quickly learned the key to New Zealand's beauty: Its
clouds. One thing that makes this country different from the U.S. is there is 1000 miles between New Zealand and the nearest land mass to the west (Australia) – meaning that weather systems can march right up to the country unmolested. The result: Massive cloud banks that can blanket the land.
Clouds 1
Clouds 2
The most amazing clouds I've ever seen – and each is more remarkable than the last. Definitely going to be one of those stop-every-15-minutes-to-take-a-picture trips.
Spent my first night on the road in the micro camper. The venue: Geraldine Holiday Camp (like a KOA but less evil). Got my first city light-free glimpse of southern stars – oh my! Seeing the Milky Way directly overhead is not a sight soon forgotten!
Day 2 Wednesday March 23 Geraldine – Lake TekapoA brief chat with the i-Site (tourism) sold me on Lake Tekapo – home of the Mount John Observatory (and, allegedly, NZ's best stargazing). The weather report was so-so but slated get worse, and with the moon half and waxing it seemed best to go for it. More clouds – and my first views of the Southern Alps!
Lake Tekapo
Lake Tekapo is a pretty glacial lake, its water a deep blue clouded by silt. But the real appeal was the observatory. Although closed at night, the access road is a great drive to a rather scenic destination!
One view from the Mount John Observatory
BUT - That night I returned, as part of a tour group. For me the best part: One astronomer & photography geek had a device set up so patrons such as myself could affix their cameras & track the Earth's rotation – allowing long exposures! This was taken with my Canon, and no other special equipment! (Except a little Photoshop, of course.)
The Southern Cross & Heart of the Milky Way
View all pics from this update
here.
