Ready for a Roadtrip

I write tonight from the comfort of a motel in Murchison in the Tasman District of our wonderfully scenic South Island. I've seen a fair bit of Te Waipounamu today as well, driving up through the inland scenic route to Culverden, across to Kaikoura through Waiau, up to Blenheim and then through to Nelson where we collected a sofa bed we won on Trade Me (a kiwi eBay, for the non NZ blippers). After leaving Nelson we've decided to come back via the Lewis Pass, so are resting up before the long journey back tomorrow. And I need the rest after spending nearly 12 hours in the car and travelling over 750km.

As well as Mrs H I have some other travelling companions, namely her and sir. Whilst Zoey is a model passenger, Jack is a dog that likes to express his joy at seeing heavy truck and trailers, tankers and busses with enthusiastic barking. And as you can imagine, we've seen a fair bit of traffic today, even on the South Island's relatively quiet roads. To take the edge off the piercing nature of his exclamations I suggested to S that we wear ear plugs, which I can report worked a treat. He soon settles down after a while, but the Handy dog in him will out as he stares up the road, eyeing the traffic waiting for a big rig to vent at. A strange creature if ever you did meet one for sure.