From one side to the other

 Pirate had a go with the camera as we travelled...starting at Ngahere.

First stop was Reefton for coffee..and brownies of course!

And next to the café...a communal art gallery...

A handsome building

And signs on the door of a (closed) antique shop

Then onwards and upwards towards the Lewis Pass through beautiful scenery.

Along by another braided river, then up and over....907 metres above sea level at the top...and down to our recommended breather stop...

We stopped at the car park at the first end of the walkway...and were being well bitten by mosquitoes...so didn't stop long... although the history is interesting, thanks for the heads up!

And a nice solid bench!

Then on again...

About 15km before the turn to Hanmer Springs, a motorcyclist passed us, after one roadworks and before the next. Nicely done, no hurry. The second works were rather rough and lumpy....and uphill, just before the Works End sign he had stopped....

So we did too, in case he needed help....and his suspension had bottomed out , not through going too fast....and a rock had gone through his sump and the bike dumped all the oil on his back tyre.

We couldn't do much...but the next vehicle was a Ute....with an empty tipping trailer...on his way home to Christchurch, just where the motorcyclist was going too!!

So he turned round to face downhill to make loading possible and we pushed the bike on!

All sorted...Cosmic Chuckle or what?!!

We decided on an overnight at Hanmer Springs...the price was nearly twice that at Picton....and very little more for your money. In fact I enjoyed the slightly simpler camp more!

We had an evening walk..much needed after most of the day sitting down!

That is looking up to the gravel road that comes over from St Arnaud....from where the gravel road from Molesworth arrives in the town.

We like the sign by the fire station... appreciation of employers who support the local volunteers

And off again in the morning!

Coffee in Culverden...next door to the Three Bored Housewives local community craft shop...products of all levels and all crafts.

The red post being a boundary marker where different stock stations met.

And on again.....

Down through the Weka Gorge...but not being a weekend, the steam railway wasn't running...across the plains and joined state highway 1....around Christchurch and through the lanes to Lincoln and back to Tai Tapu where we stay until we fly out.

A total journey from Greymouth of 380 km...best done in two days not one!