Here comes the rain again

Karangarua to Haast
89km
'Officially' we started at 8:54, but the heavens opened so we waited under the carport for 5 minutes... That shower set the pattern for the day, mostly light drizzle, sometimes no rain (though when you're so wet it's difficult to tell if you're getting wetter), occasional but brief torrential downpours. Usually just as you're starting to feel fingers and toes again!
Out of the wonderful Pine Grove motel and away down SH6 through Jacob River. Marg, as ever the observant one, first commented on a dog sitting road-side, but not barking at us. Then the 'Church. It's a picnic table with a cross at the end'. Having missed this unusual sight, and it being a drier spell, I circled back for the photo. At the same time the mystery of the silent dog was resolved as it went wild with delight when a car pulled into itsdriveway; waiting patiently for its beloved master to return! Though not remotely religious, I awarded a brownie point to a small community that recognizes a Church is not a building. I didn't bother to look for the kingfisher later spotted further down the road...
Nothing very remarkable through this section: Bruce Bay, with its pounding surf came and went, then came Lake Paringa; slightly larger than usual! We sheltered a while under the DOC information shelter, while we juggled route instructions and had a snack: just as we were preparing to leave we were offered a cup of tea by a motorhomer. We politely declined on grounds of being totally drenched and not wanting to saturate their home on wheels. Such random kindness is heartwarming though. Next up the DOC guy (who had been doing something with the campground loo's septic tank) came over to rescue the picnic table from floating away. After snapping the action I waded in to assist. We found out later that the table had only just been returned from a 12 month sojourn on the other side of the lake.
Next stop Knight's Point lookout, where we took the obligatory photo, had lunch, and chatted to various people who had passed us along the way. Each of them further acknowleged us as they passed further down the road. Marg's and my memories differ: she told a friend we had a good view along the coast; I said I had a photo of cloud. You decide...
Another two short but stiff climbs, and then the brake squealing descent to Ship Creek. Another side trip, after the essential, immediate application of sandfly repellent, to do the swamp walk and the dune lake walk. On the former, huge kahikatia rise up to 65m out of the swamp; on the latter is a viewpoint highlighting the sweeping vista of the Haast coastal plain, which is a sand accumulation running from the foothills of the Southern Alps to the 50km long beach. At Sandy Creek the sun put in a brief appearance; though the showers were still not done with us they were fewer and short lived, a minute or two at most.
Just as we approached the Haast River bridge, a Ute slowed alongside and we were greeted with a cheery 'Great going you two, nearly there now, have a good evening, bye' from our neighbours at Pine Grove... They drove on toward the bridge, but stopped as a car entered the long, one lane bridge from the South. The potential for one of those slightly awkward conversations with someone who just left you was averted when the approaching vehicles pulled into a passing bay...
Into Haast, pull up to the wrong motel, and bump into our motel neighbours from Franz Josef... Look at email confirmation for name of correct establishment, and 'S**t, the booking's for Feb 1st'; fortunately they have room, just a twin not a double. No idea how it happened, as I was booking it ON Feb 1st, FOR Feb 3rd. That'll teach me to read confirmation emails as they arrive... Or not.
Today was mostly cruising through stunning native rainforest: kahitatea to beech to rimu, often on 'see for miles' straight roads. Tomorrow, Haast Pass!

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