We seem to have battled jet lag to a draw. This morning we set off in an all-wheel drive vehicle to visit Edoras, one of the sites from that trio of movies that was shot here that you might have heard about. Vehicle was a Land Rover cruiser with 4-wheel drive. Lunch and champagne were promised as part of the all-day excursion. Kathryn was all but correcting the hunky guide Glen on points of fact about the trilogy. After passing hectare after hectare of sheep, deer and cattle, we made it to the site of Edoras, which took eight months to construct and two months to tear down after five days of filming. DVDs and music from the soundtrack punctuated the ride as well as various attempts at universal tour guide humor. Views of braided rivers, rings on hillsides (not a film promotion but a fungus) and spectaculare glacier-carved valleys abounded.
Well, things got to be a bit less than funny when the slightly smoky smell of burnt farmland was replaced by the singed differential of our vehicle. We had forded streams and gone over hill and down dale, and the vehicle had been cooked somewhere along the line. The tour company is called Hassle Free tours, hence the title of this post.
Kathryn did not make it to the top of Edoras but I and my gimpy knee made most of the climb and took pictures of another location Helms Deep for posterity. While awaiting a new ride, downed something called a 12 of beer and watched Glen and fellow tourist Paddy play pool. Kathryn smoked with many women with questionable teeth, buying a pack of Rothmans for $12.20 NZ, which is about $6.10 US.
A tiny Land Rover replaced our cruiser for the 45-minute ride back to Christchurch. Upon alighting at the Heritage I went for a pedicure and was surrounded by people in costume for a company party in the hotel dining room. Austin Powers, Wonder Woman, a Williams sister, Batman and Batgirl and other luminaries were on premises.
Kathryn and I ate dinner at Basque place right off Cathedral Square. We join up with the bike group tomorrow. Just in case, I’ve already booked a massage for once we get off the bikes on Palm Sunday.
