This article from New Zealand's Dominion Post describes the tornado that wreaked havoc, destruction and death (ok maybe not death) that struck at 1.30pm in Picton today. It fails to report on events at the campsite next door to the terminal where I was having a wee rest in my tent.
Only it felt like a nightmare!!
I was shaken awake convinced martians had sought to land their craft here in the campsite and with that the tent was pressed flat onto the ground suffocating my face. More importantly I could hear the poor old tent (by now my home and good friend) ripping apart at the seams. I let out a silent scream in horror "Noooooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh" and just like that the gust had gone. So it was the martians?
Tentatively (see what I've done there) I peeked out to check my neighbours were ok but sadly they were in even a worse state holding onto what remained of their tent poles. and cursing. I dont think they appreciated me pointing out the obvious "Bit windy, eh?"
After repegging the tent and tying the guy ropes to a nearby bench and other heavy objects I made my way to the ferry terminal to book a place for the morning. Hastily I agreed to the seven am sail (they had cut me a deal presumably on account of passengers with broken windows not going). However as I lay in bed that night I agonised over whether my mobile phone alarm would work as the battery keeps failing and secondly in this storm did I really wish to be going on the ferry? This agonising came to a conclusion at four am when I phoned the terminal and cancelled the sail which was a monumental effort on my behalf to drag myself out of the sleeping bags at this ungodly hour to go to the car and get the booking ticket.
As I drifted back to sleep I thought how well the day had gone (pre tornado) ....driving from Mouteka and gorging on the sweetest of nectarines at a passing orchard. Yes I did pay for them.
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