Well possums...once more apologies for not updating the blog for the last two days...things have not gone as planned.  The weather has been horrendous constant heavy rain and high winds.  Schools were closed and some major roads had landslips. I drove up to glacier country to see the Fox glacier or the Franz Joseph glacier. I drove up over hill (or maybe mountain) passes ETTIE did not like these but managed by consuming immense amount of petrol.  When I got to both parking areas I was met by wardens/rangers who advised that unless you were fully geared up with hill walking foul weather gear and pokes it was not advisable and that they were restricting access to to further east viewpoint unless people were taking the expert guided tours. I reckoned the best thing to do in these conditions was to drive on so I put in a full nine hour day to the west coast highway.   Even in the hostile conditions it was a beautiful drive up to GREYMOUTH campsite which was on the beach beside a runway.  It rained all evening and night and spent a great night drinking with a couple from Shetland with whom we have a mutual acquaintance (small world).  Also Aussie nurses and husbands, good fun and conversation.
Next day Saturday, the forecast was much the same so decided to drive instead of sitting it out.  I headed for the East Coast toward wind country in the hope of leaving the wind and rain.   It partially worked as around 14:00 if cleared to sunshine.  During the route there are blow holes where the sea punches through rock...unfortunately didn't see them as again the weather was rain/wind and I pulled up behind two bus loads of oriental tourists so the queue was too long fo Mr. Impatient...back on the road.    I ended up in Blenheim (cloudy bay country to the wine aficionados) on a campsite beside a railway line and the main road to the north Island ferry...so around three hourly intervals the freight trucks passed going north or South interspersed by freight trains....not having much luck the last two days with ferries.
Having put in two hard days drivingand cut a day from Christchurch I have three days in hand so I intend to go north of Auckland for two/three days in ETTIE....this was not in the plan.
Managed to get a Sunday morning booking on the 08:00 ferry so after a 05:00 start I arrived in Wellington at noon and headed north to a place called Whanganui.....right n the coast and although there is no rain the high ends are still here.  ETTIE doesn't like wind either....she's a dancer.
So here for the night with reasonable wifi, but it is a bit remote so it is spaghetti carbonara from a jar with additional mushrooms and bacon...with a cheeky IPA beer.   Going to have an easy night and morning and have a light driving day tomorrow ...checking out the small towns along the way....mainly beach areas.
One full week left with ETTIE before the divorce...she is high maintenance fuel wise...this country has massive ranges of fuel costs highest in Wellington was 2.18/litre and lowest was here at 1.71/litre that is NZDs divided by two for pounds.   Diesel is even cheaper about half the price of UK.
The standard of driving here is good and other drivers are very courteous ....there are of the course the testosterone fuelled young guys driving the Subaru Impreza who have their own rules.   There are a lot of doughnut circles on wider roads outside the towns....the police are trying to clamp down on this.
Will hopefully be able to update tomorrow (Monday)