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Other entries in Twizel

Honky-tonkin'

After the bungy jump, Helen got behind the wheel of the Blue Ikko for our drive to Christchurch. We motored through vineyards and orchards near Cromwell, and near Omarama we shared the road for a bit with a herd of sheep as they were being mustered from one paddock to another. A pickup truck with flashing lights and a giant orange sign with the silhouette of a sheep alerts drivers to slow down before they reach the herd. Another pickup truck carried three sheepdogs, but they weren't necessary. The sheep stuck together on their own.

We stopped in Omarama for a tank of petrol. We took on 30.07 litres, and according to our odometer we had traveled 523.3 kilometers since our last fill up. If my math is correct, that works out to 40.9 miles per gallon -- not bad!

We had lunch of fish and chips at Lou's Restaurant in the little town of Twizel, which features a sunny town green surrounded by rows of shops. As we were eating on a picnic bench we heard songs by Willie Nelson, Johnny Cash and other classic country and western artists playing from a loudspeaker. Turns out it was the live feed from Radio Twizel 98.5 FM. Agriculture still figures large in NZ's identity and culture, and country music, both American and home-grown, is popular all over.

Photos / videos of "Honky-tonkin'":