We were docked in Timaru by daybreak. The sky is overcast. The weather forecast isn’t promising.
We walk into town and find the tourist information center. Most tours and guides are sold out. But Donna is available with her small Honda. Our quickly agreed to plan: drive 2 hours into the country for a peek at Mount Cook from Lake Pukaki. On to Lake Tekapo for a walk and some lunch. Then the drive back to town. Off we go.
Timaru lies on a relatively flat plain, surrounded by ranches and farms. The land becomes hilly and rugged as we approach the mountains. About an hour out of town, we cross a rise and the clouds just disappear.
We reach our destination. The tallest peak in the snowcapped range behind Lake Pukaki is Mount Cook.
After a pause, back in the car and we head on to Lake Tekapo. The restaurants and tourist shops are busy. Eve and I hike a bit of the shoreline before finding something to eat and drink.
A collection of cairns on a section of the stone beach calls for further inspection. We wend our way back to Donna for the return journey.
The demarcation between the cloudy coastal region and the cloudless inner plains is strong. We take note of the farm animals along our route.
Back in Timaru we bid Donna farewell and take a look around town. A major car show is taking place over the weekend. The participants are gathered on the fairgrounds. Nice little diversion before we return to the ship.
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