New Zealand 4

A beautiful relaxing Sunday in Wanaka. This town sits around a bay at the end of its mountain ringed lake, which reflects the snow capped peaks and scudding clouds. The lake is fringed by huge poplars, planted by some far sighted city fathers maybe a hundred years ago, and a footpath that goes for miles, which we followed from our hotel into town, busy with local kids having their annual sports day, racing their bikes at enormous speed.  We didn't do much except take this all in, and then in the afternoon visit the local Rippon winery to sample their very fine pinot noirs (sample = knock back an entire bottle while admiring the view over the lake).  And so early to bed, until a strange sensation starts us as the beds started rocking from side to side.  A very uneasy, queasy sensation, and we realise it's an earthquake.  No panics outside so, thinking it was something minor, we went back to sleep, only to discover next day how serious this had been: a M7.8 quake.  We were over 400km south but still felt it strongly enough to get woken up. We have of course since seen pictures of the devastation caused.  We had been planning to travel by rail from Christchurch right through the affected area to Wellington and Auckland, but have had to rearrange this to fly direct. Nothing compared to the terrible effects on people locally of course, and we felt every sympathy to those who have lost their homes and loved ones.  The rail line and coast road are completely wiped out in many locations by land slides and many communities completely cut off, but NZ authorities are prepared for disaster.