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New Zealand day 3
Aaaahhhh the serenity- how’s your serenity? Ours is great thanks- on the shore of LakeTekapo...bit bloody cold, but in a park again (electricity for the heater & Rays breathing machine). Keep saying we will venture out into the ‘camping’ but have yet to find a place that is suitable.....and warm. Funny that- it is autumn after all. And speaking of autumn- damn it is beautiful- yes the weather/temperature is ‘fresh’, but the colours of the tres as they change & drop their leaves is beautiful...stunning really. This morning we woke to.....no rain- bugger me.......that was a new one! It was a bit misty/overcast, but nothing that a few hours of shopping couldn’t fix. Went to a craft shop or two, tried on some merino wool products- price tag to match. Had a look in the Swarovski crystal shop, & a pair of pink (?) crystal earrings I bought in Mildura for $120 were $165...........no wonder so many NZers live in Aud- it is a lot cheaper. We bought some cheese today- for a country that has a huge dairy industry, their cheese is more expensive than the dame product back home- go figure...
So, eventually (without a
major purchase) we left Ashburton after lunch & headed for Lake Takapo. After driving thru more than one town with ‘craft/art’ shops, I pulled over (yes the problem previously was that Raymond was driving) & at a little one horse town, finally made a significant purchase...well it was significant for me! I think we were somewhere near/at Burke Pass & this little shop with craft & beautiful wooden furniture cause me to do a ‘u’u turn & go back. Dead set, these Kiwi’s like to chat! It turns out that this lovely young lady had a shop in Christchurch that has been closed down due to the earthquake. She was then driving 1 hour each way to go to the markets on weekend & has now bought a lovely house at “?” . It has a little craft shop out the front, her husband displays/makes all of his wooden furniture (beautiful outdoor settings)..........although he doesn’t have time to come into the shop & hang a mirror or two for her (Now where have we heard that before?)...........but being the resourceful woman that she is, has implemented in ‘interim’ plan.....she has a portable mirror that you can pick up & take
where ever you want to see how lovely you are looking. Anyway, I have been eying off either some natural NZ wool products, or more to the point, some possum/merino products. The thought of wearing possum fur really cracks me up! I bought a poncho that is a combination of possum & merino & although it doesn’t come in pink, I lowered my standards & bought one in blue. Not cheap- $100, but the thought of all those annoying little possums was worth it!!
So, onto Lake Takapu- it is gorgeous- takes your breathe away..................the colours are stunning- the blue of the lake is really blue......& I now quote...”the turquoise blue of the lake is created by ‘rock flour’. The glaciers in the headwaters of Tekapo grind rock into fine dust on their journey towards the lake. This ‘rock flour’ is suspended in the water and when combined with the sunlight (we did get some this afternoon) creates the unique water colour”. We booked into the park & then walked back into the town- 10-15 minutes walk. Had a very quick look at a few of the shops as it was closing time & purchased a couple of grocery items
(local wine is a grocery item over here).....then headed back. One thing we have noticed- butcher shops are few & far between.......in fact we haven’t seen one, but the young girl at the shop assures me that there are a few here & there......need to get to here & there....
So, for tomorrows activities. Thought we would do the 1 ½ - 2 hour walk to the Mt John observatory (yes Raymond has agreed to go......we can stop & rest on the way) & then potter around here for the day. We will then go to the pub for tea (it is Friday night after all) & walk back home again. The prospect of some lovely photos is there, but I have notices I have a bloody black spot on my shots......I have cleaned everything within an inch of its life, so may have to find a camera shop somewhere & get it fixed.
Now, here is the dilemma..........do we go to Queenstown (sky gondola & restaurant), then down to Invercargill & the bluff, then back up to Dunedin (Cadburys chocolate factory), then double back to Franz Joseph Glacier......that means missing out on Milford Sound, but I REALLY want to
see the whales at Kaikoura (nth of Christchurch on the east coast) & we have a temp booking on the ferry for the 19th. The weather looks like it could/will be getting feral in the next couple of days & the thought of trying to cross the mountains to see Frans Joseph Glacier & then maybe getting stuck there for more than a couple of days isn’t sitting well. As most would know, I don’t do windy/steep/mountainous roads on a good day without an ample supply of drugs, so to do it when the weather is foul will just mean that we are going to look at something without enjoying the journey. So, I guess we will have to keep an eye on the weather- if it goes foul, we will go south & then back up the east coast. We can always go to the nth island earlier, as there is plenty to see up there. Have to go to a town called Upper Mutri, near the top of the south island before leaving, as Ray’s grandmother lived there for a few years, so would like to take some photos for her.
So, for the end of day 3,
that is about it. Going to relax & chill tomorrow with no driving & then see what the weather has to offer. Whilst the mornings have been overcast/misty, the sun has shone every afternoon, so what more could you ask..............more time here maybe? Realistically it is autumn & the colours are gorgeous.............have to get a few close ups of the flowers growing wils- I’m sure Mum will be able to tell me what they are when we get back, but they are in various shades & very pretty.
So, good night & love to all after another wonderful day in NZ................didn’t mention how friendly the locals are & eager to help/chat...........puts the aussies to shame!
Love to all
Ray & Terri
P.S. - have read your replies tonight & it is fantastic to hear from you- thankyou & it makes it feel much better & as though some one is interested! The possum fur is great Trish0 you have to see it to believe it & it makes up for the little mongrels pissing & shitting all over your house...& eating all your plants. Carolyn- have crossed 2 of the shared bridges- piece of piss Raymond says!!! Shall
add a couple of photos from today, but noat as many as previous. Thanks for all your comments- we are loving them😊
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Cherie
non-member comment
Hello
Well sounds like you guys are enjoying it and Dad has coped with finally leaving the country. You're pics remind me a lot of the ones I took in the Rocky Mountains - trees, road, more trees, odd sign, some water, trees and more road lol. Can't wait to see that poncho. Oh - think I forgot to mention Tanya (Jaensch) - had a baby boy just after midnight on 30 April. 11 lb 8oz (what does she eat during her pregnancies) and another home birth!! Charlie Thomas Richardson. Anyhoo - at work and should get something done. Have fun :)