"The Weekend that Was" Part 1 - The Travelling

It's been a while since a new post has been added. This one is in retrospect of the weekend break we took to visit Nana Mac and Waimarie Cemetery.

Thursday 20th

We finished work in due course, Meeting at 4.45 by the anti-abortionist corner. The following warning had been given to us:

See advisory from the Met Service below, and be sure to wrap yourselves up warmly and pack your snowshoes tomorrow.......

SPECIAL WEATHER ADVISORY FOR SOUTHLAND OTAGO CANTERBURY EASTERN MARLBOROUGH WELLINGTON WAIRARAPA MANAWATU WANGANUI TAIHAPE TARANAKI HAWKES BAY GISBORNE
ISSUED BY METSERVICE AT 11:05am Thursday 20-Jul-2006
POLAR BLAST EXPECTED TO HIT THE COUNTRY ON FRIDAY
A front is forecast to rapidly sweep over the South Island overnight and early Friday and then cross the North Island during the afternoon. The front is followed by bitterly cold air with snow showers expected to near sea level over eastern parts of the South Island and to unusually low levels over the south and east of the North Island.
At this stage, snowfall amounts are not expected to be large, with 5cm possible in some places. However, the combination of snow, bitterly cold air and strong southerly winds is likely to put extreme stress on newly born lambs and calves as well as recently shorn sheep. Farmers may want to consider holding off any shearing at this time and relocating livestock to areas sheltered from strong southerly winds. Also, with snow likely to such low levels, many roads could be affected, not just the usual high country ones. Hence, people considering travelling in
these areas tomorrow may want to reconsider their plans and/or take necessary measures to help safeguard themselves during their journey.

I wasn't too concerned... I had made the ferry trip down south quite comfortably during winter in 2002 and 2004, with out a hitch...

Friday 21st

We got up at 5.40am, so we had plenty of time to make sure all arrangements for the weekend were going to schedule. We were out of the house and on the road by 6.40am.

As we were approaching the Porirua Mall roundabout, Dick Shavers (can't remember his real name) had a traffic announcement. The announcement we had been dreading... "The Interislander sailing for 8.25am will now depart at 12.00pm.

Given this advice, we still went to the ferry terminal, where we were given two options - to park, or to come back at 10.30am. We parked up in the queue already building, and left the car to seek out breakfast.

Catching the Ferry Shuttle to Wellington, we were having breakfast at Trax by 8.00am.

Being still quite early, we decided to walk back to the terminal, as the sun had come out by then. We were able to walk down Thorndon Quay without much hassle, even stopping off in the Kiwiscraps shop. That's when we heard the taste of something nasty. Hail had struck! We were inside, so it wasn't too much of a concern. We left the shop after the weather had improved, and thought it would be a clear run walking back. Wrong. We were caught in the second wave of hail on the Aotea overbridge, which felt like we were being stoned (even though saying His name was because of what was happening)

Having survived that, we made our way to the car, and it wasnt long before the ferry had made an appearance in the harbour. We were on the ferry by 11.30am (about the same time that we should have already been in Picton!)

From 11.30am through to the next few hours, we were given updates as to when our expected departure was to be. The harbour looked fine to me, so I was a bit miffed that they couldnt attempt to brave the strait. It wasn't until 2.30pm that we finally left!

The interislander had been on the news a few months back, because of it setting off with high swells, 7 metres... I believe... It felt like we had hit the same perfect storm!

Dee was absolutely fine, third trimester and all, and even though I was green behind the gills we both survived without painting the hallways. We had found a comfortable couch around the halfway point of the boat, so the rocking wasnt too bad.

The boat finally arrived in Picton at 6.15pm, and being a 'man' decided to drive the rest of the way.

We arrived in Christchurch at midnight... so all together that was 18 hours of travel. This is why we have both decided to refer to Friday 21 July 2006 from now on as 'That F****n Friday!'