Patterson's Creek

Lewis Pass National Reserve - another wet day today.

When I got my photos onto the computer I realised I should have wound the time down slightly and the iso up to 200 - oh well, experimentation is part of learning.

I was feeling pretty flat this morning, after receiving disappointing news yesterday, so wasn't enjoying my own company on the drive home. Just past Boyle river they have started doing the permanent repairs to the road that was damaged in last months flood. As I pulled up at the stop sign I cursed the campervan in front of me - figuring they'd hold me up once we got going again. Then when the road works man came to tell me that the wait would be at least 30 minutes I cursed (mentally) some more.

I really have to stop doing that, and give a little more credit to my fellow man.

Bert and Gill, the campervan owners, had their water heating and began handing out the water and the makings for tea and coffee to anyone who had their own cup. Fortunately I did. A group of us proceeded to huddle under the trees on the roadside chatting and waving away sandflies.

In fact, we were enjoying our impromptu meeting so much that when the traffic was let through Bert and Gill, Mandy and John in the car behind me, and I waved all the other traffic through and we decided to wait - and keep chatting for another half hour.

Thanks guys - great company. I eventually drove on (in front of the camper) in a much better frame of mind. When I stopped at Patterson's Creek, in the rain and wind, to take this photo, Bert and Gill pulled over behind me and they took photos too. We must have looked pretty odd - three people with umbrellas, in the middle of a national park, leaning over road barriers taking photos - me with the umbrella sheltering my camera and tripod not myself.