Disaster tourism

We took our mountain bikes to the "red zone" today. We biked along each side of the Avon River in Dallington, Avonside and other nearby suburbs where whole streets are zoned for demolition due to the extent of earthquake damage.

The damage is gobsmacking. I didn't want to invade privacy by pointing my camera at private homes. The angles some of the houses are on is incredible.

Some have boarded up windows. Some have grass several feet high. Others have cars in the driveway and immaculately manicured lawns and topiary.

I have been very lucky to get away with a few cracks and potholes here and there

And I'm very glad I wasn't on this bridge at the time... whichever one of our earthquakes it was that did this! I hope this is kept as a piece of sculpture in memory of those whose lives were lost in February, and as a reminder of the power of the earth.