Porters Pass & our Puncture!

Friday, 11th January we left our peaceful campground at Ashley Gorge ( Len loved it as the camp shop had his favourite icecreams!) and after dumping, topping up with water and refilling our gas bottle we headed on our way through Arthur's Pass to Greymouth. The plan was to have another swim in the river before leaving but the day dawned cloudy and a bit cool.

Just before Porters Pass where the road gets steep and windy the bus did a huge rattly jolt which totally took us by surprise. Luckily we were just  few yards from a rest area and Len was able to pull in. I inspected the inside of the bus while Len checked the tyres. His gut feeling was right - one of our inside back tyres had burst and split showing bits of wire poking from out of the rubber. The first thought was to ring Covi Insurance with whom we had just taken out a roadside assistance policy, with having had 2 previous punctures on this trip, and finding that these tyres aren't the easiest to change without the right jack and tools!
However we had no signal on our phones so that was out. We had a cup of coffee while we pondered whether one of us would climb the nearest very big hill, write 'HELP' on a big white sheet, wave someone down or just wait for someone else to stop for a rest.

My prayers were answered when a young couple with a baby stopped to change drivers and we managed to run after them and explain our dilemma. They were originally Westcoasters but now lived in Christchurch and were on their way back to Greymouth for the annual Kumera Races that they go to every year. A lovely couple who didn't hesitate to offer help with the husband taking Len back a few kms down the road where he could get reception to ring Covi who were also very good. We only had to wait about an hour for the Bridgestone truck to arrive from Rolleston and the guy did a great job changing the tyre as fast as he could with the sandflies driving him crazy.

Fastest wheel change ever!

We are so grateful to the couple who stopped as they relieved us of a real quandary and lots of angst. I wish I had got their names - my head was obviously not quite in the right place.

It was a relief to have the tyre fixed and be back on the road, up Porters Pass and past Castle Hill where there are a plethora of limestone boulders which look like they are forming parts of old castles. 

An amazing sight and popular with rock climbers. The front of the Christchirch Cathedral was apparently made from the stones on Castle Hill. We could have stopped and done the walk up and around them as other travellers were doing but instead carried onto Lake Pearson, a DOC campsite right by the lake where we stayed the night.

There were about 4 vehicles there when we arrived but probably close to 20 by dusk. A nice stopping place with some duck families to keep us entertained as well as little fish feeding and making circles on the lake surface.