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.

Summer in the air

November has been an amazing month of endless sunny days, many of them warm. There was even time to dash up to the Sounds with my sister and spend two wonderful days relaxing and eating great food with family. We discovered that Pelorus River had warmed up enough to warrant a dip, we returned with our togs that same day and spent considerable time splashing about in the emerald water and jumping off rocks into the deep pools. Pure bliss! Then it was back home to work and start thinking about the silly month of December when everyone suddenly wants to have a BBQ, or street party somewhere.
It feels more like the holidays than it has for years - the sunshine and smiles of everyone around? Probably!

Central calling

Once you have spent several days in Central Otago, quietly peddling along trails in the shadow of a land beautiful and wild - it will stay with you. And you will keep going back to re-saturate yourself with more. I have cycled the Rail Trail four times, but this time I drove it and took my camera. And at long last I had the time to really indulge! And loved every single minute....
My local camera club cycled the trail and I was torn; I wanted to peddle too but I wanted the time to pause and drink the scenery and think about how I could freeze that moment into a digital image.












And one of Mt Cook for good measure...

To Lewis or not to Pukaki

We were both meant to be off on a photo safari to Lake Pukaki but accommodation options got mucked up and we thought it better to stay at home and go for day trips.
So to Lewis Pass we went. Prehistoric forests, crisp, fresh mountain air and a feeling of supreme contentment. Walking on soft leaf-carpeted tracks, over gnarled roots, and the sound of water never far away... All topped off with some hot cocoa back at the Smurf beside the Lewis River, looking up at the green slopes of the mountains topped with snow. Nice way to spend a Sunday...