Big skies

A long, long journey today. We travelled up the middle of the South Island and zigged over to the west and then zagged back east. 570kms (360 miles), about 200 miles more than normal had the Kaikoura earthquake not closed the coastal road. At one point we almost drove off the road with laughter when we saw a detour sign which read DETOUR 350km - now that's what l call detour! A good trip though through interesting and varied landscape. We knew we were getting near Blenheim, our destination, when we began to see all the wineries (as they are called in Australasia), all those familiar names:
Mudhouse, Villa Maria, Wairau, Wither Hills, Oyster Bay, Brancott etc etc.

One of the things that intrigued me all the journey was the clouds, caused by the mountains and so todays blip.