The 2011 Rugby World Cup (RWC) was about to kick off, so I decided to get far from the madding crowd and view the games at some lesser-known south island pubs.
The Cook Strait crossing was a bit lumpy, but calmed down once inside the Queen Charlotte Sound.
We are onboard the Interislander Kaitaki passing sister ship Arahura in the sound.
The Bus With No Name was up on the top deck this time, furthest from the camera.
RWC opening ceremony and first game, ABs v Tonga, was viewed in the Hampden Hotel in Murchison.
Next west coast pub was at Cobden, in Greymouth.
The natives here are friendly and I call in for a beer whenever I'm in Greymouth.
The west coast can get pretty wild and at Punakaiki the wind and waves were whipping the white caps from a big sea into a froth of foam.
Freedom camping on a remote and rugged west coast beach is a great experience.
Just had to stop and view a couple of games at the Charming Creek Tavern at Ngakawau.
This gem is on the coast north of Westport.
I won a free beer here for wearing my World Rugby hat!
Waiau is near Hanmer Springs and the pub is over 100 years old.
The observant amongst you will be able to make out two local kuia having their daily quart of DB outside in the sun.
They didn't give a shit who won the footy!
This bridge is over the Waimakariri River at its headwaters near Arthur's Pass.
The spring melt has not yet started much of a flow.
Always worth a stop at Lake Mahinapua.
This time to dry a load of laundry.
I was planning on watching a couple of games at the old Ross pub - the bloody thing was closed!
The sky and the mountains co-operated at Lake Matheson, but the famous reflection view from the water was wrecked by a constant wind.
Another good reason for a return visit.
Freedom camping is a joy on the west coast.
Looking over Clearwater Stream in the middle of the shot you can see the tongue of Fox Glacier creeping down to the meet the rain forest.
Watched the ABs deal to Canada here at the Fox pub.
Whenever you are on the west coast you're never far away from sandflies.
More than a hundred of them are trying to escape the insect killer aerosol through the roof vent.
They didn't make it - all the bastards perished!!
Another very west coast thing is whitebait.
The season runs from beginning of September to mid-November.
Tony Kerr (left) is the very hospitible owner of Curly Tree Whitebait Company at the Waita River, about 8 kms north of Haast.
Tony serves up a very mean pattie!!
More adventures to come as the RWC moves into the knockout phase.
Another update after the final.
Good luck to you and your families.
1 comment:
Well Hawkeye you are living the dream, long time between drinks Mate.
Mike Roughan
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