Weather, wether, whether

New Zealand has interesting weather. Interesting as in, 'unpredictable', 'stupid', 'different'. Micro-climates display their variability and perverse-ness everywhere; I've seen localised storms which span less than 1km and have edges like knife-edges.

Today I started my standard weekend drive across the Rumatakas to view the progress on the house build. Drive, drive, dah-dah, then about 30 minutes out of Wellington a sign said Rumataka Hill: CLOSED. The radio said it had been snowing but the weather where I was was OK ('was was' doesn't seem like allowable written England but it speaks OK). Decision; believe or believe the sign not? I drove on a few kilometers further then another sign confirmed the opinion of both the first one and the radio. The radio is not usually too reliable as you can be driving to work in the morning through beautiful sunshine and the radio will say it's raining.

So, decisions, decisions. Stay in Wellington or go the long route which adds about 170km! No brainer; go the scenic (long) route!

If you look on the larger scale map I was in Upper Hutt and had to get to Featherston - not far but its a very twisty, scary mountain pass with 1,000m sheer drops. The alternative is to go in the opposite direction (west) and then north, east and south. So I turn around and Head across to Waikanae. This was an interesting road; narrow, twisty, full of rock falls and idiot local-drivers using the centre of the road at high speed.

Once I hit Waikanae and headed north towards Palmerston North (PN) the weather was glorious. blue skies and bright sunshine - dark shades weather. Once you get to PN you head east to Woodville then south to Pahiatua, Ekatahuna, Masterton, Carterton, Greytown and then Featherston. I passed through rain, sleet, snow and hailstones but, of course, once you hit Featherston you are at the eastern foot of the Rimutakas. OPEN! Of course it's open because the mountain road has been basking in sunshine for three hours while I drive around the world avoiding it!