Extreme sport or just plain crazy!

 I wasn't wrong about that pesky Cockrell. No respect for those sleeping, no, he made sure we were all awake by 4 am! A short lull, we drifted off to sleep and bloody hell...he started again. This was to be our lot, one by one those sleeper car doors slammed (about 8 turned up last night) engines started and they drifted off. In the end we were the only vehicle left, that didn't last long because we also could stand it no longer!

There he is in full doodle!

 

Today has been a weird sort of day. I haven't really been myself. Very lethargic, not wanting to do much, even walking around the Museum in Murchison had me out of puff. Gosh, I do hope I'm not coming down with something! 

Driving SH6 toward Murchison what was most noticeable was the clarity of all those hills and ranges. No cloud to obscure the view and clear bright blue sky.

 That quaint little museum had a fascinating history looking into Murchison’s interesting past including the 1929 Murchison Earthquake. No photography allowed inside but items from yesteryear gave you an insight of the early 20th century. There was a vintage machinery building and another with more memorabilia. Early agricultural machinery was also on display. It was a good way to spend an hour, and free to go in although a donation box greeted you as you entered. $10 went in the box. It was worth every cent.

 

My brother used to play the Tuba. His was immaculate, cleaned it religiously on every brass band outing. It went when he left for Australia.

Ian really wanted to do the walk to one of the first public hydro power generation schemes in the South Island.  

Opened in January 1922 it was built by the local council using the existing water supply constructed by earlier gold miners and ushered in a whole new way of life for people in the Murchison district.  Six Mile Hydro Walkway showcases the historic remains of the Six Mile Hydro Scheme, in the Matakitaki Valley south of Murchison. The scheme was in operation from 1922 to 1975 and during this time provided power to Murchison and homes in the Matakitaki Valley.

Its called the Six Mile Hydro Matakitaki Walkway, groan...did he really expect me to walk 6 miles. It might be called that, but is only about 2.5 km return loop. I did start out, got myself covered in sun screen and anti sandfly spray. Got to where the generator was housed, literally just down a gentle slope. Gosh, I was buggered just coming back up. That was enough for me. Ian was sent on to take the photos and give me a low down on his return. Took him a tad under the hour to do the distance and that was with stops for reading information boards. Amazing how much quicker he is without me in tow!

 

Just a short incline down, should have been an easy walk up...not today it wasn't.

 

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Looking back down to the hut. This is the gate valve to control flow from the reservoir.

Shows the weir coming off the river.

This shows the sluice gate open and the start of the water course

Six Mile Creek waterfall

 We need to be near Buller Gorge tomorrow, so it was back to Maruia Falls again, this time to stay the night. The car park was packed, of course it's holiday season! But 5 vehicles also carried canoes with lots of canoeists in their gear ready for some serious fun. I stopped at the top for another look at the falls and was amazed by the sight that greeted me. Those dare devil canoeist descending the falls. I took these stills at the top, then walked down to the bottom to video the rest.Watch to the end. One daredevil does a backflip going over the falls!

 

 I had better be okay for tomorrow. We have booked the Buller Gorge jet boat for 10 am. Oh, and look at the car park now. We are all alone!

And the traffic stopped for cows crossing.