Bungy bike riders, really??

 January 20th

Gosh, it was dusty at Albert Town camp ground. Every vehicle that arrived threw up more dust. Rain is badly needed! And to think that lovely jet washing was all in vain, and it wasn't just accumulative on the outside, the inside of the Toy was covered as well!  

Everywhere was so very dry.

 

Slightly cooler today, a bit of cloud cover and most welcome too. We stayed on the site until after a Zoom meeting with the canal society, It was their Thursday 7.30 pm meeting in the UK and for us of course, it was Friday 8.30 am. Many complaints about the cold weather over there, of course we didn't rub it in about the 28 degrees temperatures of yesterday.😂 

One of the roads Ian always looks forward to driving is Crown Range road from Wanaka to Arrowtown Junction. The road is windy and very reminiscence of Scotland's road through Glencoe with the steep face of the mountain towering overhead. I remembered this road with loads of Lupins, took some photos back in late January 2020.  This photo from January 27th 2020.

Masses of Lupins along the Pass

And this from today

A lot had already gone over.

Another comparison photo. The view from Crown Terrace which was a wonderful lookout on the road descent. Sunny in 2020

Crown Terrace

 And cloudy today

 

At Arrowtown junction spur of the moment decision, turn right toward the town. We have always bypassed this place, going straight on for Queenstown instead. That's the junction below.

Oh wow, the place was heaving... why? Finding a space to park was a challenge, and we had to go right down to the lower car park before squeezing in between two cars. I only just managed to get out! Anyway so glad we made the effort to come to this historic town, So much to see and do including the wonderful Museum showing the history of the 1860s Otago gold rush. 

 

The Chinese played a big role in forming this town, a complete Chinese settlement sprung up during the gold rush years, and it was on the death of the last store holder in 1925 that the village was abandoned. It is now of great historic importance.

Ah Lum's store

And one of those Tohu Whemua maps were there. This was another place that had helped to shape the nation.

What was so amazing as we walked through the Chinese settlement was how small their dwellings were. I remarked to Ian that it could very well have been built for Hobbits.

 Rock dwellings

Walking up a very steep sloop from the settlement we came across the War Memorial and cemetery

The museum

By now time was getting on. The museum was much bigger than we thought and took longer to look around. Many artefacts and stories, too much to show on here but if ever in the area, don't overlook it, it's well worth a visit especially as the price was only $12 each.

I was beginning to worry, would we get an overnight parking spot. The time was well past 5.30 pm. Ian found a freedom camp spot at Kawarau Bridge heading toward Gibbston. As we pulled in I thought we were in the wrong place. Kawarau Bridge Bungy jumping was in progress. Well we got parked, luckily, and headed over to watch. I'm sorry but this was utter madness. Bungy jumping with bikes! 

We stayed for ages watching, then hunger got the better of us and by 7 pm a Thai Green Curry prepared and eaten. 

I must show you this. We were parked right next to porta loos, two positioned on a trailer. I was that surprised when some of the campers started using them. Surly not!!! But yes they were all set up with flush pump, loo rolls and hand wash. Goodo, won't need to use ours.

If you saw this wouldn't you think they were not for use?

 And wildlife