From Ashburton to Lake Tekapo

We decided to go to church with Mike and Suan in Ashburton, and then have lunch before setting off. The weather has turned wet and cold - around 14' I think, and it was like driving through cloud, at times visibility only 100 - 200 yards. It feels more like winter here to us.

Fortunately the journey is under two hours and we soon found ourselves at Burkes Pass, where we are booked into a tiny motel. There are only three double rooms, and we have the one on the end with lovely views of a garden and sheep grazing in the paddock beyond.

Julie and Jan run this small motel business, with an art gallery and framing shop. Julie Grieg is a self-taught fine artist who produces photorealistic paintings of shepherds and dogs, horses, and a lovely portrait in oils of her husband in the gallery. I could not believe that she has not had an academic training, and her heroes are the same as mine - Singer Sergeant for portraits for example.

She supplied us with an electric frying pan since the weather and our supplies are not good for the BBQ in the garden, and Carol whipped up supper outside on the patio.

We will leave exploring Tekapo and the views of Mount Cook until tomorrow and we just hope the cloud lifts a bit for us to get the views. Fortunately the rain stopped as we arrived here in the pass to the mountains. Tekapo is about 15 minutes further on, and there are hot springs and a spa there, and Lake Pukaki has wonderful views of snow capped mountains.

There is a quaint 140 year old church here at Burkes Pass, and the art gallery and motel used to be the blacksmith's shop. Bill Hamilton, a local man who developed the first jet-boat is buried here.