Another road closure and more slippages.

 February 24th

This morning Ian felt much better. In fact apart from the runny nose and cough, you wouldn't know anything was wrong with him. With no internet at the DOC site, it was a drive back towards Blenheim so we could at least get a phone signal for the waiting text message from the health centre. This duly arrived as soon as we were in range of the Sparks WiFi with the advice to go to the nearest pharmacy to discuss which anti-viral drug he was to have. A Countdown with a pharmacy was found at Renwick. Good oh, kill two birds with one stone. First was to see the pharmacist and explain Ian symptoms and the best way to deal with it. Ian was eligible for the drug but she had to find out which one. There are two apparently, and with the reassurance we would get a phone call later in the day, I left Ian and went to do a shop for tonight's dinner.

We drove to Blenheim to find a Jaycar electrical store. That charger bought for my laptop end of January had packed up! Armed with the charger, laptop and receipt I was prepared for battle. But the very nice man took the charger away to test and confirmed it was dead! An exchange would be granted, he went off to find one and came back with the news the last one had been sold yesterday! So it looks like I will be sharing the small inverter with Ian, hmm... so elbows at the ready, who will get to charge their laptop first!

As it was nearly lunchtime we pulled in at Pollard Park Waterlea Gardens. Oh wow, now this is one park much loved by the people of Blenheim. So well looked after and local volunteers were doing a spot of weeding. What a great place to relax with a sandwich. The colours fabulous, a feast for one's eyes.

 After lunch, we got the call from the pharmacist. The drug Ian was going to be given was a cheaper version of the NZ anti-viral drug. KiWi's, understandably, get the real deal.  Anyway Ian had done a bit of research into the anti-viral drugs, it was to be given to those vulnerable and most likely to end up in hospital. Also the side effects appeared worse than the Covid symptoms, so after mentioning his concerns to the pharmacist, very politely declined the offer. She fully understood and accepted the reason. So off to do a road that looked interesting. The road led off between Havelock and Picton taking one to Portage and then onto dirt road leading all the way up to Titirangi. This was to be new territory for us and one I was looking forward to. At Linkwater we took the left turn only to be confronted with this,

Hmm, seems it's not our lucky day today! Onwards to Picton. My goodness this road has seen some damage. Some appeared new, others obviously been like it for a while and one section already being repaired. Was it to do with the Cyclone Gabrielle or the earthquake felt in Wellington. After all the North Island isn't that far away.  

 Several places to stop at and see the stunning views of Queen Charlotte Sound and on the approach to Picton a ship was being loaded with logs.

 As time was rapidly approaching 4 pm we decided to go back to Whatamango, the camp ground we pulled into when we arrived two months ago. The road leading to it also had had slippage, it wasn't like that back in December. I'm still wondering if maybe it was the earthquake that caused it and not the Cyclone after all.

Whatamango camp ground. A DOC site.

Tomorrow we sail back to Wellington. The forecast is for 4/5 meter swells. That will make the crossing interesting!

And more wonderful post boxes,