Tuesday 16/8

THIS MUST BE FOR A DIFFERENT DAY
brekkie chris
skiing coronet

THIS IS FOR 16/8:

Up at 8 for 9?  D&L said they needed an hour and a half.  So we agreed to get up at 7:30.

When we left at 10 we drove into Westport proper, at which point Jim and I were famished at we'd had breakfast at 7:30.
Nice town, nice buildings.  Redneck or just different?  Got food from supermarket - some nice stuff - I took over driving.  At the I-site we booked tickets for the Denniston Mine Experience - they were holding a tour up for us.  We caned it to the mountain and then upwards.  This was interesting driving in 6.4 metre lorry with a house stuck on the back.  Spectacular mountain and see views as we gained altitude.

Tour - protective clothing, safety briefing, saw remains of trolley area and cable pulling thing.  On "locomotive" into mine.  We all joined the union and were allocated roles.  The tunnel was small but would have been smaller still in the day - only going as high as the seam of coal that was being mined.  We went through all the steps of theoretically doing mining - as per our roles. 

We talked to a couple who were also touring in a camper.  We drove towards Nelson but stopped at Motueka.  Everything shut.  Decided against pies and toasted sandwiches.  Ended up at McDonalds.  Black dudes spending last pennies on ice creams.  23 between around 8 guys.

Found D&L still at the pub - the owners had to let us in as it was shut.  Chatted with owners.  Decided to sleep until we woke up - not sure why we are all tired!