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Published: February 25th 2013
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It’s a chilly 40 minute walk from round the lake to the wildlife centre at 7.20am this morning, and in true Kate style I am wearing my flip flops, so quickly loose the feeling in my toes! The view over the lake is stunning however, with the mountains and forest shrouded in mist.
I arrive at the wildlife centre where I am helping out with the morning feed for the birds, fish and ducks. I do the ‘walk around’ with two of the staff there, and get to go in the enclosures and see up close some of the native new Zealand bird species, including kaka, kea, kakariki as well as the ducks and fish.
After morning feed duties are complete, I have a bit of spare time so I walk further round the lake, to the control gates of the dam, which in essence control the flow of water to the hydro electric plant. As I am walking in turns into a gorgeous day, with the cloud burning off and the views revealed looking back over the lake beyond Te Anau are stunning. The walk takes a few hours round trip, and I meet with Caroline at DOC
(Department of Conservation) to be introduced to some of the staff there and help do some admin work in printing and combining leaflets for the children’s day event next Sunday.
This afternoon Caroline’s house is becoming a crèche, as one of her collgeues is getting married, but is not having children to the event, so Caroline has ended up looking after several peoples children whilst they attend the ceremony. I offered to Caroline the other day that I would help, so this afternoon she invited me over for lunch, so we could chat etc before the children come. After a very yummy and healthy lunch, washed down with a wet nose….my new favourite drink (ginger beer, mint and lemon) the children steadily arrive. I have a lovely afternoon playing in the sun with the 6 children ranging from 6months – 5 years and nattering away with Caroline. The kids get picked up around 5pm, and I head home, giving Caroline some piece before her own son, Jasper and his two nephews arrive, as they are staying the night. Before I go however, I am very kindly kitted out with the family’s spare mountain bike, helmet and a wetsuit vest.
With these in hand, I speed back to the hostel at double speed thanks to the bike, and as it’s such a gorgeous day, grab my swimming costume, goggles, hat and the vest and head to the lake for a swim (People do swim in it Dad, don’t fret – and there are no sharks or crocodiles here like Australia). It is cold, apparently 11 degrees or thereabouts, it takes me a good few 100m’s of hard swimming to get rid of the slight burning/hot/cold sensation and to feel a level temperature. I swim out to a buoy in the lake, back and out and back again, probably not very far, but enough to feel thoroughly refreshed and invigorated – I have to say the vest made ALL the difference, and I am not sure I would risk it without one, especially as I felt a little dizzy walking out. After my swim I relax on the grass by the lake with my book for a while, and then head back for a nice warm shower and warm food.
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