After sunrise....

.....the Ashley River Railway bridge is bathed in golden light.

A cooler 4C this morning, a bit of a nip in the air with clouds rippled through the sky. Sunrise was breath taking as the clouds encased the vibrant colours and then the golden light from the rising sun hit the railway bridge - just took my breath away, I have never seen it like this before.

A little history about the Ashley River Railway bridge:

In February 1873 a start was made on a rail bridge but was held up to a shortage of materials so that the bridging was not completed until April 1875. The Ashley railway bridge was a wooden truss bridge 3,055 feet long, in fifty spans and cost 21,000 pounds.

Uncontrolled rivers and floods were the bane of early explorers, surveyors, and settlers, delaying journeys and endangering human life, stock and buildings. Periodically, the Waimakariri and Ashley rivers gave sharp reminders of the need for flood protection. While local bodies were haggling over or denying responsibility to contribute to the cost of extending river protection works on the Ashley river and shortening the Ashley railway bridge by 18 spans, the flood in March 1902 struck, sweeping away several spans. Much of the line was left as a series of suspended undulations, like a roller-coaster railway, it was a long time before the railway bridge could be repaired. In the meantime, 12 hired drags transferred passengers between trains at the Rangiora and Ashley stations, on opposite sides of the Ashley river. Whenever possible, the drags took a direct route by fording the river. The railway bridge was finally constructed in 1911 with help from the government.

The clouds above stayed with us until noon when more white puffy clouds came bouncing along before the thick heavy clouds with lightening and thunder rattled above just before 3pm, the temperature had climbed but dropped severely and all became dark......and it rained! Heavily and then lighter showers, we'll take any bit of rain the sky is offering, all is so dry here.

A day spent mostly at home other than a trip to the gym. Daughter A has been working on her uni assignment while the house jobs have been calling me. Tea tonight is.....leftovers! We do have leftovers in this house and it makes it nice and easy for me, love leftover night. But no leftovers from Daughter A's delicious roast vegetable salad with a little chicken added and citrus dressing - it was divine! And I really appreciated her help yesterday, today my eyes are much better - just using lots and lots of drops.

Anyway, happy weekend to you all - Friday has come around again :)