The highway to Kaikoura was closed just before Easter, when we had two back-to-back cyclones. The cliffs that were already weakened from the earthquake did some more slipping, and a hillside that hadn’t moved before came down. We had about given up hope of getting to church in Kaikoura before leaving on our trip to America, so we were quite happy to learn that the road was to be opened for a week and a half over our last weekend in New Zealand! It was wonderful to get to see our friends there again, after missing 10 Sundays there.
We had to stop at a light near Barney’s Rock, which gave us a good look at a slip that happened during the earthquake in November.
This hillside slipped more in April.
During one of the cyclones, this hillside slipped so much more that the containers, which are filled with rocks, chained together, and bolted to the cliff, were being pushed out to sea. Five of the containers were unhooked and removed so they wouldn’t be lost.
The new slip. They built a new one-lane road over the seabed for temporary traffic.
We were impressed with the size of the boulder that obviously hit this container. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the way when it came down!
Interesting to see Emma……how did your big trip go????
Interesting to see Emma….good photos….How did your big trip go??? It’s a gorgeous day here