The drive that should have taken two hours

...but took 4 because it was so pretty!

The drive from Christchurch to Arthur's Pass Village was one of the most scenic routes we've ever done. Each corner we went round was a new vista that needed to be recorded for posterity!

One of the corners that caused us to stop and gape, lead to an impromptu rescue! But first some history... (the reason for which will hopefully become apparent).

In the early days of colonial New Zealand, the Brits felt that NZ was just not enough like England. So they imported hedgehogs!!

Whether they felt that this worked is lost in the mists of time...

Anyway we rounded the corner, and stopped to record the view, and spotted a pretty sorry-looking hedgehog, limping across the road.

Hannah, having some experience of rescuing hedgehogs, lept into action. First trying to chivvy it with her foot (causing it to stop it's painful crawl across the road, instead rolling into a ball), then trying to pick it up (ouch!) , and finally rolling it into my(!) hat. Once safe on the verge, it stayed in a ball and ignored us until we went away! That's gratitude for you.