A funny thing happened on the road to Akaroa....

In Christchurch we met up with a couple of old friends, Richard and Rocky, Classic All Blacks who don't come up to the Classic in Bermuda any longer so it was good to catch up. We met them in Richard's pub Speight's Alehouse on Bealey where we were treated like queens with all the drinks and food and attention!

The next day Richard was going to take me for lunch and show me around Christchurch. You know, it's interesting that none of the other girls wanted to go on these little tikki tours I did. Everywhere we went the people we knew were really keen to show us around. I know from living in Bermuda that a tourist will see a very different side of a place when shown around by a local so I took full advantage and took them all up on their offers while the other girls went shopping or on homogenised Lord of the Rings tours...and then they wondered where I took all my great photos! Uh, duh!
Anyway, we still had the morning to fill and Richard suggested that we take a drive out to Akaroa, even though they were not doing the dolphin tours at that time of year it was still a beautiful place and worth a look-see. Since it was only a 45 minute drive out of Christchurch we decided this was a good idea. And it was. Akaroa is a gorgeous little town and high on the list of places to spend more time in....next time!As we got out of the city and into the countryside we encountered some pretty heavy local traffic. Yes, this farmer is herding the cattle from a dirt bike!

And here, with the sheep, this happened about four times with different herds and was hilarious.....

So, all these animals in the road got me to thinking. We had spent the whole day before driving from one side of the South Island to the other, stretches and stretches of road, and not once had we hit anything...or even seen any roadkill. Very strange considering this... Really? Could have fooled me, we hadn't seen a one!

Driving back from Akaroa we saw signposts for the "Scenic Summit Route" and figured, why not? (Well the answer to that is that it takes for-bloody-ever!!) It was worth it for the 'scenic'...

...but we're still not sure that we ever got to a 'summit'.

On the way down from the "Scenic No-Summit Route" conversation turned back to the subject of roadkill, or rather the lack of roadkill sightings and as we turned a corner....you know what's coming, don't you?....yup. Roadkill. I don't know what I was expecting. Here in Bermuda we are well used to seeing squashed toads, rats, sometimes birds, and even, sadly, the odd cat. And for some reason I thought possums were cute little things. So I was not expecting this.....

WARNING: Image may disturb you. Unless you are a Kiwi.

This thing was HUGE. And there was blood??? We didn't hit it. During the whole trip, practically zig-zagging our way up and across both islands of New Zealand, we never hit a thing. But there it was in the middle of the road. So naturally, we all got out and took photos. As you do.

Our "Scenic No-sign-of-a-Summit Route" had added a good two, yes TWO, hours onto our return to Christchurch so my lunch plans were postponed to the evening and changed to a few drinks and a tour of the city. In the meantime us chics headed to the tattoo parlour and got busy with some serious inking. But that's another story....

Later, after my driving tour of down-town Christchurch, Richard drove up the Port Hills to show me the view of the city lights. Unfortunately it was bloody freezing and so not conducive to getting out of the car and checking out the view so we headed back down the hill to find a bar.

As we started off I told Richard the story about our road kill spotting that morning and he began to tell me how they were such a pest. So much so that kids learn to shoot by using possums as target practice....and yeah, they were major roadkill objects...and yet he himself, in his whole life in New Zealand, had never hit one. And just then....you know what's coming for sure this time, right?....THUMP!!

In hind sight it was absolutely hysterical how he freaked out! He was as horrified as I was!! But he said we had to go back and not leave it half dead and in pain. Whaaaaaat...?????? was my thought! So, we turn around and head back up the hill, driving really slowly and scanning the road ahead. Nothing. Richard reversed a bit and drove up again even slower as we concentrated on the sides of the roads. On my side it was just rock as the hill climbed upward and all of a sudden I spotted these two glowing lights in the brush. We stopped and in the headlights there was this possum, staring back at us. And I swear two things: 1. It was totally unharmed, as evidenced by the way it bounded up and through the brush and out of sight and; 2. It cut its eyes and flipped us the bird before leaving!!

We laughed all the way back to the hotel.

A few days later when we were stopped for petrol on the way from Wellington to Palmerston North I went into the station to buy a cup of tea. Next to the register was a whole counter-full of New Zealand's equivalent of the Beanie Baby. And here I found and bought my karmic redemption and apology to all possums of the world....meet Lil' Poss.....

He sat on the dashboard of our car for the rest of the trip.

We never saw another possum....dead or alive....and I will never again talk about roadkill while on a road trip. Never, ever again.