Visiting the West Coast Lucases

This weekend saw four Clevelys and one Kempf trekking cross-country, coast to coast. We left Timaru at 12 noon (the boys had a short school day) with Shirley tucked safely in a corner - she insisted that the back seat was perfectly comfortable - for our epic journey to Hokitika and Kowhitirangi for Nick to preach at the Church of Christ in Hokitika on Sunday. Everyone had said that the drive was very beautiful and it was; NZ really does boast grandiose panoramas. No one said that it was treacherous and terrifyingly and nauseatingly windy and steep, but that's what you get when you traverse mountain ranges. We stopped to view the Rangitata or Rangiori Gorge (we passed so many beautiful rivers and gorges that the names became a blur) and again at another bridgey place before our final stop at Death Corner (really, need I elaborate on THAT horrible descent? Look at that precarious little stretch of road suspended high above the valley) where a cheeky kea (a large alpine parrot) was greeting tourists and doing its best to nibble off any bits of rubber from cars - door linings and windscreen wipers are favourite chew-toys with these notoriously destructive and curious birds. Had a huge laugh when this fellow found a cosy perch on a car and wouldn't budge despite scary gestures from the car's owner - they drove away to shake the bird but it stayed put until eventually fluttering off into the valley. Finally arrived at the Lucases some time after 5; Peter and Harry spilled out of the house in a rush with greetings for all, especially Nana! Was great to see Carl and Miriam and the boys and especially to see where they have settled after leaving Timaru in December last year for Carl to take up a new job.Sunset behind the mountains - Carl and Miriam live on a flat plain affectionately known as 'the valley'...they are thus now 'valley people' :)