en route to Christchurch

After conquering Fox Glacier and claiming it in the name of North America (we decided to share), we parked our rubbery legs in a nice hostel in Hokitika. (Pronounced by us, "Hokitikitikitookitikita.")

Church in Hokitika.

The next day we headed due east to Christchurch, where we were to spend New Years Eve.

It was on this leg, after all those winding roads, that we finally hit a long straight stretch. At which point I may or may not have taken advantage of this by speeding a little (shown here in this dramatic reenactment).

After which point I may or may not have been pulled over by a sneaky policeman around a bend who may or may not have caught this incident on a super sneaky overhead camera. To my credit, I was only going 5 kph over the acceptable limit, which is like what, 3.2 mph? Plus I’m pretty sure it was while I was passing one of those annoying camper vans. Anyway, before you start hyperventilating (mom), I was later advised by a completely un-sneaky policeman to flee the country without paying the fine. What a magnificent place. Although this may interfere with my plans to emigrate there. They might be less willing to accept a fugitive from the law. Dang it. I knew I should have showed him my Japanese license instead. They would never have been able to track down a Miss “ケイトリンハンセン.”