Top of the Southern Alps Tomorrow

Clearing this afternoon and hopefully sunny for the next couple of days.  We are driving down through Blenheim to St. Arnaud, a mountain village at the end of an alpine lake in the southern alps.  There should be some gorgeous scenery for pictures if we are lucky and have a bright day or two.  From St. Arnaud, we drive further south and higher into the mountains to Manuia Springs Thermal Resort.  It's a Japanese influenced hotel with lovely thermal pools for soaking, a spa, and restaurant.  (http://www.manuiasprings.co.nz/) 

We hope to do a little hiking in both locations. 

Last week we did a nice hike through the Wither Hills which is above the Marlborough wine valley.  The views of the huge golden grass covered hills contrast with the green acres of vines bellow.

The Classic Car Museum is in Blenheim as well as Peter Jackson's vintage aircraft museum.  All the cars are owned by Ron Stuart who is also the owner of Mud House Wines.  There are hundreds of cars in his collection, but the ones on display were all mint condition and usually brand new 50's through 70's cars.  It's amazing - American, English, Japanese cars all brand new.  Bill said he didn't think cars from these decades qualify as antiques! 

The next morning, this little car was parked in front and across the street from our apartment.  It's advertising Easy Grass, an artificial turf.  Which one of all these would you like to drive around.  The grassy car or the classy car?