The day was leak and cold infact watching the TV news tonight Hanmer Springs recorded the coldest temperature in the whole of New Zealand. As this was not a riding day the question posed was what should we do?

The answer was simple well for two of us as Hanmer Springs is named for the hot water pools found over a century ago.

The now modern complex of some 40 different pools that range from a coolish 28oC to the Hexongal pools that range from 40-42oC was our choice.

We joined backpackers, families, kids and locals along with more then a sprinkle of International tourists for a warm day away from the rain as many pools have large shade cloths that stopped freezing rain falling on our heads.

The complex also has a well renovated kitchen and cafe where one on a good day can sit outside but today everyone was seated in the warmed interior enjoying a range of foods from slices to hot meals.

The next morning, after a Chinese for tea,was again wet and cold so it was declared a "wet ride"and suitable gear was worn but even then complaints about cold feet and despite possum & Gortex gloves hands were cold by the morning tea stop.

Part of the reason for the cold was we were passing along Arthur's Pass while not particulary high at the peak 739m it was shaded by the high ranges on either side. Arthur's pass was first an official roadway from 1929 and the accompaning National Park was the first one in the South Island.

Part of the Southern Alps we saw the immense scree slopes on the steep mountains sides and the valley was filled by braided river beds so spectacular scenery was again around every bend or indeed "just down the road".

The original roadway was constructed in only one year by a workforce of just over 1000 men. They carved out the road using only picks,shovels,axes,crowbars,wheelbarrows,rock drills and explosives. It was almost 100 years later that the old road was replaced by todays road but even it is often closed by snow and rock slides.

Our trip was not only to ride the pass as that was denied by the rockslide the week before when we did over 800km plus diversion, but to see another "first for New Zealand"that being the old gold and coal mining town of Reefton.

Reefton has its claim to fame firmly nestled in the distinction of being the first New Zealand town to generate electricity and light its streets. The Australian equivalent being Tamworth in New South Wales. Reefton however lit it's street with electricity before Tamworth and thus also officially became the first town in the Southern Hemishpere to have an electric street lighting service.

We spent some time browsing the many stores from hardware to antiques and admired the many buildings of a bygone era still operating as commercial premises or places of lodging.

The final 50kms to Greymouth on the West Coast saw us back in farming country by exhibiting relicts of it's past coal,gold and timber industries. Greymouth has suffered in recent times from disasters such as flooding but a flood mitigation wall constructed in 1988 has stopped any further river floods.

However on 10th March 2005 a Tornado which started as a water spout made landfall in Blaketown a suburb of Greymouth which caused millions of dollars in damage and a number of injuries.

Disaster again struck in 2010 (November 10) when an explosion rocked the Pike River mine trapping 29 miners, attempts to release them was considered too dangerous and a second explosion on 24th November sealed the fate of any who may still have been alive.