A wedding in Timaru prompted a 3 week trip to Wanaka. Our first stop was in Oxford at Rebekah and Ryan's and their new pool! It was a very hot day and the pool was great. Awesome food and of course coffee. How many ways do you need to make it? Some of theirs are very quirky. Unfortunately arrived with a nasty flat tyre... we decided to deal with it the next day but it was filthy cold and sideways rain. I watched while Stephen and Rebekah sorted it with a trip to a garage and new tyre - phew.
Three days later and to Timaru via the back road and many great river crossings. In Geraldine we bought some fantastic waxed canvas things. We stayed in a great motel which had 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and 3 loos!! Nina and Helen were with us and it was great. The wedding - Sam and Stacey. A great time and a bbq the next day at Sams. Really great to meet Stacey, and Mark's now wife Lisa. I bought a spectacular jersey from Balantynes for the cold as I had packed in 30 degrees... and I wore it a lot during the trip.
Onward after 4 days in Timaru. I wanted to catch up with Nick and Sara and Peter and Jane, so invited them to come have a drink at Evans Crossing where we camped by an old swimming hole from my past. They came with Hamish and gf Bailey and John and so a wee party which was fun. Sadly too chilly for a swim.
Next day to Kurow via Waimate and up the north side of the Waitaki which is a great drive. A stop between the 2 bridges at Kurow is always rewarding.
A night at Kurow camping ground and on to Jo's place, towards Duntroon, deep in the country. She has an awesome place in 5 acres, which she is gradually doing up. Her wee dog Jack is very cute... Loved our stay there - Thanks Jo.
On to Wanaka after a fab couple of nights. A great trip through and the Lindis very Lindisy and always feels great to reach Central Otago. Don't think we held up too many cars with our rather slow uphill speeds! We had a short stop at Tarras where I bought 2 new wine glasses for the van. Loved seeing the Clutha after such a long time. We went down to the edge at one end of the red bridge and what a gorgeous spot.
On to Tom and A Rowley's place they bought after selling Lake Hawea. A huge section with lovely house. They have a large lawned area below a bush bit - which has a cool hut with bed, loo, shower and big outdoor sink. We parked there and plugged into the hut. All worked so well. Great time all round catching up with rellies and a great tiki tour round Wanaka. Gee wizzz... the place is so overcrowded now with no breathing space. Obviously if you have the dosh you can find great spots on big sections. Tom and A's place has spectacular views and no feeling of crowding. Something Tom has really appealed to Stephen - guess from the photos what...
Wanaka done and heading north. Were going to camp at Tekapo but trees all gone round campsite and the place was extra busy. Went on to Fairlie where we had a great stop in their camping ground. Cued the next day at the famous pie shop - well worth it. That day to Christchurch where we stayed at Morley's retirement village place! He had been shipped out to a new higher care place at Russley and Sara was out to clear his house for selling. Had a great evening with her and a catch up with Jeremy. Went and visited Morley in his new home and wow what a spectacular place. Money talks!
Next day to Kaikoura for a night. Busy place again but we stopped in a paddock near the seafood bbq place, which we had been told about. It was a bit too rural smelling... but we bought crayfish for tea - mmmm.
The Kaikoura roads are a bit bizarre after the quake but wow the engineering. The instalment of pou along the way is also pretty cool. A great drive but not much room in some places..
All n all a great drive back to Picton. We slotted back into campervan mode pretty quickly and loved every minute.
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