Christchurch 6 Years on!

Derek studying the bus timetable in the new transport centre in Christchurch.

New transport centre in Christchurch

Christchurch rebuild still in progress.

Hope these steel frameworks are more earthquake proof.

Old facades being saved with new structures being built behind.

Quake City museum. Too expensive for my liking.

More steel work.

The historic trams back up and running.

Christchurch’s Arch of Remembrance now fully restored.

Never seen so many construction workers in such a small area before.

Cathedral Square rising from the ruins. The challice (ice cream cone) Millennium statue.

The Cathedral still languishing in the weeds and steel work.

Demolition still in progress 6 years down the track.

One white chair for every person that died in that horrendous earthquake.

Christchurch’s new cardboard Cathedral.

The rafters are cardboard tubes constructed locally which are approximately 300mm diameter and 25mm thick. There are timber beams up through the centre of the tubes. The walls are used shipping containers suitably modified. The roof being made of laminated interlocking panels that can be replaced if necessary. With a life expectancy of 50 years.

Demolition in progress. This machine was chomping through RSJ beams as if they were cardboard.

Arthurs Pass to Christchurch

We had decided when leaving Lake Brunner that we would cross the Alps through Arthurs Pass.  Not a route either of us had ever travelled before.  There are warnings about towing vehicles but that did not refer to us. Not for the faint hearted on the west coast side , very steep and windy, but we managed ok.

Stopping at Arthurs Pass village for lunch and a walk around before carrying on to Christchurch.The trip is much more gentle on the eastern side and we arrived at Weedons in time for 4zz’s.

Following the leader. There is a few of these one way bridges around.

One motorhome each way in Arthurs Pass.

No height problems here. Surprisingly large trucks travel this road.

Rock fall protection shelter. West Coast side of Arthurs Pass.

Waterfall diversion a couple of hundred yards further on.

The Otira Bridge through Arthurs Pass taken from the lookout above.

Dis-used turntable at Arthurs Pass railway station.

Three relics of steam train days.

Otira Tunnel Arthurs Pass end. The tunnel was started in 1909 from both ends and took 10 years to hole through due to labour shortages. It took another 5 years before the tunnel was ready for use.

Rail bridge leading into the Otira Tunnel.

Yes, there is the first hint of snow under those clouds.

Greymouth

Sadly no trains through here at present due to the recent fires taking out bridges between here and Christchurch.

Now just a memory of times past. During the 1988 flood the signalman was stranded in here with nothing more than a cup of tea.

Looking along the flood protection wall out to the old wharf and open sea.

A recent memorial to all the 398 miners who have lost their lives in mining disasters on the West Coast, from the Brunner mine in the 1896 to the recent Pike River disaster in 2010. The granite ring around the miners revolves through a water trough.

The clock tower is built above the high water flood line.

More memories of West Coast mining.

Dredge buckets from an old dredger used to keeping the harbour open.

Old coal wagons of which there used to be hundreds bringing coal to the wharf.

Beautiful historic mural about the West Coast, it’s disasters and personalities.

This one says it all about the West Coast.

Lake Brunner!

Last remaining loco built by G & D Davidson of Hokitika. Twenty six were built between 1907 / 23. Primarily used in the timber industry for hauling logs.

What a wonderful site, thanks to the Grey District Council.

Lake Brunner and wild native bush.

This tree must be well anchored with all those root’s well above ground level.

Enjoying a stroll around Lake Brunner.

Weed clearing.

Well done Grey District Council.

Cheeky Weka’s were keeping us company.

Wow is this an an Autotrail Rally? Three different models parked at Lake Brunner.

Reefton

West coast  one way bridges.This one is still one way but topless.Reefton Power House walkway.Site of Reefton’s (Town of Light’s,) power house which was modified and enlarged three times before being eventually demolished.Inangahua River which was the the source of energy to operate the Reefton power house.

Swing bridge across the Inangahua River.

“Come on slow coach, we’re already across the bridge.