Crashed

This is another entry from Red Rock Racer. Sadly the rubber peeled off from wheel and crashed into the barrier. No one was injured. It is really great design, by the way.

The Fastest Trolly

The Red Rock Racer. The fastest Trolly (70Kph).

Waiting

At the bottom of the hill.
I wish the official is our of the way, so we can all see trolleys to come.

Trolly Derby

At the "Collingwood Street Freeshchoice Trolley Derby", Yesterday. This is an annual event and a quite lots people compete the speed.
One of the race called "Monaco style" which is push start and compete the pure speed. Today's recorded was 70Kph. A local police officer is there and using a speed gun to measure the speed at goal line. According to the officer, if we run this street 70Kph in normal occasion, we will get $125 fine and loose a merit.
One trolley just can not measured because of its shape and all shiny surface. This one get special recognition.

I have few more shots to show you from this event.

Let Me Out

You may remember this guy from this post, or rather, it wasn't until Dallas Rita suggested I try in B&W that I noticed him. I think he might be from the Easter Islands. And while I'm at it, can you see his chubby mate here?

Riverside

Beside the SH7 (Lewis Pass Road) near Hanmer Springs.

Choking Gargoyle

It's not on the roof, but to the side of the front entrance of the Cathedral. I thought at first, "Oh, nice, a bird gargoyle; how New Zealand!", but on approach, I realized it was a lion with a bit of spouting stuck in his mouth. Now that I've got a minor dental surgery pending, this is no laughing matter, folks.

Happy International Women's Day, International Women! Happy Birthday baby brother, a ripe old 35 years old! Happy Birthday Kuala Lumpur DP by Sheila and Ed.

Fire Station Mural

One of the town art at Nelson Fire Station.

We had the last census a year ago tonight, and Meg found some final numbers, so here they are:

On the night of 7 March 2006, the there were 4,143,279 persons in New Zealand; of them 115,332 were overseas visitors. The population shows an increase of almost half a million in 10 years, and it nearly doubled in 50 years.

Nelson City had 42,891 persons, compared to 40,239 of 10 years ago. (So why on earth are we so short of parking spaces???)

The neighboring Tasman District, (Richmond, Hope, Golden Bay, Murchison) had 44,625 persons, compared to 37,971 of 10 years ago.

For more information, check here.

Christ Church Cathedral

We often refer to the Cathedral Steps here in NDP, but I don't think we've ever shown the Cathedral itself. I learned last Friday there are volunteer "Welcoming Staff" inside (never seen them in my previous visits), and between 3-4PM on Fridays, Max is in charge. For a small donation, one is allowed to photograph inside, and there is a booklet on the history of the building of the cathedral, so I'm going back another Friday to see him, take better notes and donate/buy/photograph.

Meanwhile, this is the alter-end, at the top of the Steps, facing Trafalgar Street, and the sea. The structure is in gray marble, (Big Confession: I had thought it was boring old concrete all along!) and while it's no European marvel, it is laden with European Immigrant history of Nelson.

Sunset

Yet another dramatic sunset show.

A Caravan of Caravans

Friday morning, I heard on the radio there have been problems caused by the rapid increase of caravans, house buses, and camper vans, especially in smaller tourist town like Picton (nearest town to yesterday's shot). At the moment, it seems these vehicles are allowed to overnight pretty much anywhere unless signs say overnight stay is prohibited. Worse yet, some tourists feel free to dump their refuse where they please, and folks traveling on "home-made" vehicles or ones with fewer facilities sneak into backpackers and other establishments for bio-breaks, showers, and rubbish disposal.

I'm hearing calls for regulations on caravan activities and for more roadside facilities, but the there's another layer to this. Previously, when NZ's population was smaller and visitor numbers fraction of what it is now, there were many aspects of life, especially pertaining to leisure and recreation, left to the discretion and common sense. With the increase of resident and visiting population, we're seeing an increase in regulation, facilities, and cost.

The effect is a mixed bag of locals not being able to do some things they've been doing for generations; ugly but useful public structures springing up in places; travel becoming more convenient and meeting the expectations of overseas visitors; and a foreboding for yet more Kiwi freedom being taken away. The bottom line is often the tourist dollars. (Disclamer: I'm not sure how the loo issue was dealt with before the installation of small roadside ones; that was before out time.)

Friday afternoon, I saw a convoy of three from the Cathedral steps.

Marlborough Sounds

This is at Picton, from the lounge of our friend's vary nice house.

Tiny Ferry

The tiny ferry goes to the tiny (but 6 hectares nevertheless) Haulashore Island, seen here.

Theme Day: Men at Work

Nelson City Council (I think) funded a Chinese Garden at one corner of Queen's Garden to celebrate Nelson's Sister City relationship with Huangshi, Hubei Province, a while back; I don't know how long these things take normally, but the garden has been in the making for at least a year. The other week, however, I finally found a couple of guys working on it. Yay! This place is going to be fantastic when it is completed. And this is, I think, going to be my favorite feature in the garden.

Today is Theme Day. Other DP Blogs have also posted "Men at Work" shots. Please click on the numbers below to view them.

1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - 11 - 12 - 13 - 14 - 15 - 16 - 17 - 18 - 19 - 20 - 21 - 22 - 23 - 24 - 25 - 26 - 27 - 28 - 29 - 30 - 31 - 32 - 33 - 34 - 35 - 36 - 37 - 38 - 39 - 40 - 41 - 42 - 43 - 44 - 45 - 46 - 47 - 48 - 49 - 50 - 51 - 52 - 53 - 54 - 55 - 56 - 57 - 58 - 59 - 60 - 61 - 62 - 63 - 64 - 65