Autumn at home

Since Coleridge the balance of recreation and work has fallen somewhat to disarray. Therefore there isn't much in the way of news. Among the highlights was a wedding I photographed with my friend Nick but since it wont mean much to most who might read this post, I'm not going to include those. Perhaps just one of Nick...
Then there was classic car run to Gore Bay on the 9th March which was fun, yet another image from Mt Cass, and some from a night shoot of Christchurch with the camera club 17th May. And one of Roger who has finally cracked the problems of cutting onions.
Other than that, life continues to be good and the fire keeps us warm as Winter gets a grip on the region.

High Country Adventure

On the 9th - 10th February, the Camera Club encamped at Lake Coleridge at Ryton Station. From there we did a number of outings including a full day to "The Pinnacles" which the local farmer said was easily accessible by way of an easy 4WD track.
Yeah maybe, but not for "Merivale Tractors", or "Girlie 4WDs" according to one seasoned 4WD man there on the day. Luckily for me Roger had chosen a machine well-suited to such terrain. The only problem was I had not taken much notice of what Roger had tried to teach me at such appropriate times when the wife needs a course on 4WD-ing... so I did a crash-recall on what I did remember and took it from there. One Honda didnt make it and had to turn back but three carried on. The Pinnacles are these strange megoliths all made of crumbly shingle situated in a small valley off the main Harper Valley. I actually had fun that day and Smurf got a well-deserved bath and shammy on return to home base.




Overlooking the Harper river and valley.



Hairy section. Does not look it, but it was decidedly steep. Many of these photos were taken by relaxed passenger and friend, Joy. I was in no condition to be doing such things.



The Pinnacles. Weird place. One of the guys who walked up this valley was 86 years old. We were humbled by how agile he was.



On the way home. We stopped at this cool little hunters hut. With graffiti on the bunks going back to before the second world war...


Back at Coleridge. Photographing the surrounding landscape... AND our trusty Smurf. I was so proud, it did so well.



As with all these events there is a lot of eating but dishes are done in no time. Colin, Norma, me and Kevin.


Lastly, the beautiful Lake Coleridge. Little black specs in the water are divers - their training ground I gather.


On a final note, I find uploading via broadband to this blog an absolute pig - 50% of the time the upload is unsuccessful and the code for it always gets placed at the top of the blog, not where the curser is. I'll be looking at Fickr at sometime if this problem does not go away.

A beautiful summer

Taking stock of what we've been doing since my last entry has made me realise just how much we've been up to. All in all, it has been one of the BEST summers for a decade at least. Everyone is saying it has been a page out of their childhood summers - when there was time for picnics, swimming, exploring, warm balmy days and nights.
We start at the end of year event with the Triumph Owners Club at Orton Bradley Park. Roger got second in the Tug of War with the Spitfire...


On to our "Meeting Day" 12 December. 20 years ago. Gulp. Went to Okains Bay for picnic. Photo of us 20 years on. OMG.


Then suddenly Christmas was on us. Nick arrived from Oz and we trundled up to Ngakuta Bay to join in the massive feeding for three days. How often do you say "I cant eat another morsel" to someone offering you a whitebait pattie???? It was gluttony in the first degree.




Went for a waddle later down to the water's edge and took photos at dusk. There was a lot of other Kiwi's waddling about after the excesses of Christmas scoffing...



Once back home we drove to French Farm 28 December to celebrate Ben's 40th Birthday at a private beach. More lazing about I'm afraid...



Sadly came the day to take down the Xmas tree... so I took one of it all lit up one night... awwwww preeetttty.


And then, it was 2008!!!!
What did we do on New Year's Day? Drove up to Cave Stream and went through the cave - well I didnt that time but later that month. Nick, John and Roger braved the dark and rushing water...



And then the rest of the hot afternoon was spent testing every swimming-hole in the river and through the limestone gorge. It was HEAVEN. The best place in the world for divine dipping...



A little north of us is the new Tiromoana Walkway, near Mt Cass. It was time to check it out. Fantastic views of the coast.



Late January saw us heading back to Cave Stream for another go at the cave and river. The only difference was the sandflies were utterly maddening. Still jumped in that jade green water...



Finally we headed over to Lake Pearson for a wonderful dip in the lake - accompanied by two juvenile ducks. They were so comic.


What next ; my birthday. [shoulders sag] so what better way to get on with the event than to share it will happy locals and family members. And in our new Pergola area which really made it for us. Roger had made a new macrocarpa table and it was perfect. We've been using this new outdoor area in the mornings to have breakfast, cool in the shade before the hot sun descends. Cat is our neighbour Cocoa.



Coming soon... 4WD adventure at Lake Coleridge with the camera club. HUGE FUN.