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Now I know how to attach snow chains (04/07/2009)
 
While you are basking in the sun (or swim in the rain water) we had snow in Central. When I came to Alexandra last Thursday the heaven looked very suspect like snow and it was cold enough also. As I reach Cromwell it started to snow, first only very light but while I was driving through the Kawarau Gorge to Queenstown (you can look it up at Google earth, State highway No. 6) it became more heavily and I drove really slow. Nobody dared to go pass. At Gibbson Valley it was over, only rain here no snow. When I reached the depot in Frankton/Queenstown we received a phone call from Cromwell depot: the Gorge is closed and could only be passed by cars with snow chains. In Germany unimaginable but 5 cm snow in the Kawarau Gorge make it really necessary to attach snow chains. There are uphill grade that steep it beats every one in Germany and special tyres for winter are unknown here - so snow chains. But unfortunately I had no idea how to put these things over the tyres. I asked a lot of people but nobody could or would help me. Finally I stop at a car with a yellow light on top. A road patrol driver should know how to put chains on. He did and he pulled them over the tyres for me, I watch him carefully. By the way I found out, he was  responsible for the 4 Highways in the Lake District and he had to go urgent to Alexandra because it had started to snow there also. So I knew what was coming towards me. Just an hour after I passed the Gorge it was closed totally to put the snow aside (and the entire cars which got stucked) and spread gravel on the road. In Cromwell Allan and Ross didn't wanted me to go back to Dunedin because there were also snow chains needed for the road from Alexandra to Roxburgh but I rather wanted to go home and the chains where still at the tyres. Right after the bridge at Cromwell was no snow anymore and I had to take  the chains off but the closer I came to Alex the more snow was on the road again. When I came over the hill at Clyde dam I had a spectacular view over the valley, fresh snow every where and no tracks and a nice gentle yellow light came from the street lamps. A picture of peace. The temperature was just below 0 degree what means the snow became ice as soon as a car went over it. Until the end of Alex I drove without chains (just behind the bridge over the Clutha) I was already thinking about this part of the road, another steep uphill grade and long so it is crucial. When I got there the first car stood already across to the driving direction. I had to put the chains on again. But this time I knew how to do it. To my own surprise I needed just 2 minute for the first one and less then 1 minute for the other. Hard work, the Toyota has rear wheel drive and who ever tried to close a chain at the back of a tyre knows what I went through. My fingers got cold quite quickly and the street lamp was at the other side of the van. But as I said, I managed to do it in a good time. Have a guess who waved at me when I went pass, right, the road manager I med at the Gorge. Actually I was prepared for a longer trip with chains but at Fruitland’s, maybe a third of the distance to Roxburgh, really no more snow was on the road, so I had to take  the chains off again. It was pitch dark and more a feeling job then anything else but at the end the chains were off. At 10 pm I reach Dunedin and somehow I was glad to be there. John was already waiting for me impatiently (I had to call him every 20 - 30 minute as long as I was on the way to tell him that everything is okay). But why? It was only a bit snow on the road, nothing exciting, I already went to harder conditions than that. On the next day the whole magic was gone, melted in the sun and at lunch time there were no more snow to find but the gravel was still on the road and did not make driving easier, in particular in the curve and at the intersection it was more dangerous than the evening before with snow.
 
Unfortunately I don't have picture from the snow, therefore some photos from Central, I took these in summer when my mum and my friend Thekla visited me and John. John took us over the Dunstan Trail, the old way from Dunedin into Central, maybe more about that later.
 
 
 

All through the night - Lyrics 
Sleep, my child, and peace attend thee
All through the night
Guardian angels God will send thee
All through the night
Soft the drowsy hours are creeping
Hill and dale in slumber sleeping
I my loving vigil keeping
All through the night

While the moon her watch is keeping
All through the night
While the weary world is sleeping
All through the night
O'er thy spirit gently stealing
Visions of delight revealing
Breathes a pure and holy feeling
All through the night

Though I roam a minstrel lonely
All through the night
My true harp shall praise sing only
All through the night
Love's young dream, alas, is over
Yet my strains of love shall hover
Near the presence of my lover
All through the night

Hark, a solemn bell is ringing
Clear through the night
Thou, my love, art heavenward winging
Home through the night
Earthly dust from off thee shaken
Soul immortal shalt thou awaken
With thy last dim journey taken
Home through the night 

Music: All through the night - Int.: Celtic Sunray (Melody:Trad./Arr.: Celtic Sunray)

 

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