Slip Sliding Away

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The quake was several days ago.  At the time it was rated as being a 7.5 on the Richter Scale.  This scale is exponential (or maybe logarithmic, A-level maths was a long time ago) and each increase of ONE means the quake was TEN TIMES as bad.  7.5 is a big one.  Today they have reclassified it as 7.8........in other words TWICE as bad as 7.5.  

It was the biggest quake in this part of the Ring of Fire for eighty years.  Now that we are through the worst I am glad I was here for it.....something to tell the grandkids (come on Peter and Sarah, get cracking!).

On North Island we saw few effects beyond a few cracks in ceiling plaster but we have had to detour around roads closed due to landslips  and you can't buy clean underwear for love nor money.  

Our crossing to South Island was traumatic.  Ferry services are erratic and communication  from the operators non-existent.  Eventually, after several changes  to our departure date and time we got a boat within 20 minutes of the originally scheduled crossing.

We are now on the road to Nelson and the effects of the quake are rather more tangible.  The photo was taken Queen Charlotte Drive.  If another metre of tarmac had given way I think they would have closed the road.  The good news us that we are now heading away from the epicentre so I am hopeful that things will gradually improve from here.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy smartphone.

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