13:44 Getting out of here – crap weather coming and we’ve got ‘til next Monday – a whole week! Going North and right! 14:47
Filled up in Cromwell (46L), said hi to Kirsty, did some shopping and now on way. 16:10 Omarama, where we stopped in at Nev and Wendy’s and had a couple of beers before carrying on at 17:43. Went off to Lake Middleton (19Km each way off main Omarama/Twizel Road) but didn’t spin our wheels at all. On to Falstone Road, where there are supposed to be some good spots. Parked up in a flat spot at 18:52, but to be honest nothing here as good as Lake Waitaki/Aviemore. Chicken on ciabatta with Caesar salad for tea – YUM. Just chilled and talked, bed by 22:30.7 October 2008
Up at 7:30. Rained heavily overnight, no wind now though. 5.7⁰, and once the cloud lifted a bit we could see fresh snow on the hills all around! 9:16 on the road – seems to have got colder and colder (not really but feels like it) so decided we’d get some heat in Maggie before we have showers etc. Checked out the Ohau C campsite – looks nice. And there’s other places along the road out. Stopped and checked out the free camping area beside Lake Pukaki – few good spots. Still, or rather again, raining.
13:47 Parked beside Lake Pukaki, along Mt Cook Station Road. Got to Tekapo B and carried on along the lake rather than going up th
e hill to the Canal Road. Neither of us have been here before, and didn’t know where we’d end up – turns out we pretty much got to the top end of the lake. Found flattish, sheltered-ish and hopefully (seeing as it’s started to P down again!) not too soft spot after much looking! Miserable weather, now 6.3⁰ and raining. So decided we’ll chill here for rest of the day – read, sleep (?) and play Monopoly, or something like that. 13:38, Had lunch (last night’s leftovers) and decided that the place is not hard enough after Mike put umbrella stand in – all the way! And it’s started to rain even harder, so no dishes, pile all in sink and get out of here. Just as well, because it had got quite slippery getting out. Got round to Tekapo B, but no where nice to park. 
Absolutely pouring and getting colder all the time. Finally found a nice spot, beside the lake, just before the Salmon Farm Road joins the main highway. And then it really started to storm – wind, heavy rain and the temp dropped to 3.2⁰. Now 17:30, and it’s stopped raining and the front has gone through. We can now see the other side of the lake and the hills are covered in deep, fresh snow – lots – to pretty much just above lake level. So much for being half way through spring – it’s like winter out there. Turned out not bad once the front had gone through though – the sun came out and stayed ‘til sunset. Beautiful views, talked to a couple from WA and found some more painted rocks – these from 1999. We’d found the later ones earlier on today. Meatballs and spaghetti for tea, then shower. Now 21:50 and Mike’s still to have shower but me ready for bed!8 October 2008
Up at 8:30 after a windy (NW) and rainy night – well, half night. Going in to Twizel to get some water etc, then probably back here as it looks like it might clear as the day goes on. Filled up with 46.19L of diesel in Twizel, got some milk and bacon, emptied rubbish and filled up with water – got dump site here, right beside Shell station! 13:35 Mike in bed reading, me about to do lunch dishes. Parked below Ohau C, opposite Falstone Road. Really lovely spot, and it was actually sunny when we got here and 10.5⁰, but clouding over again. Decided not to go back to Pukaki, ‘cause the weather there looked awful – too close to the Main Divide. So slightly east. Took dogs for a walk to the point – alternating sun and cold, cold wind and showers. Oh yes, do I need to mention that we are once again parked within hearing of a powerstation?!?!? Mike’s in heaven – once a hydro man, always a hydro man! In bed at 10pm.
9 October 2008
Good night’s sleep – woke up at 7:20 and it’s minus 0.8⁰ out, 2.3⁰ in. Brrrr. But sun’s out (sort of, in between clouds!) Mike tried to catch a fish – no luck yet. Just had brekkie – the old fry-up – and hoping the sun will keep trying. 7.7⁰ at 09:30. 12:20 – been into Twizel – toilet needed emptying (should have done that yesterday!), now back in same spot as yesterday – and it’s drying out time.
After 3 soggy days everything needed airing and drying out. This morning (in the wee hours) the condensation was literally dripping off the ceiling (straight onto my exposed back!), so it’s good to be able to open all the windows and dry out the bedding (on the various trees around the place) as it gets a bit wet around the edges and underneath the mattress. 17:27 – have had a lovely and relaxing afternoon: read paper, tried some fishing and sat in the sun and sunbathed! 26⁰ in the sun, so nice and warm - FINALLY! relaxed some more, tea, bed at 21:45.10 October 2008
13:45 – on way to Twizel, need more food (really need to co-ordinate the emptying/filling/shopping trips into one!). Up at 7:30 and minus 1.7⁰. But now high cloud and occasional sun. Been fishing, no luck. Just relaxing is great though. Will stay here again tonight, it’s a lovely spot. 19:50 – fished played cards, fished again. Now nearly 21:00 and the outside temp is still a very balmy 12.5⁰. Yay – finally a night when you can go out and not freeze! Two very, very tired dogs – they’ve been on the go since 07:30 seeing as we’ve done a fair bit of fishing and so they run around all the time. Bed at 22:00.
11 October 2008
Up at 08:00, 8⁰. Sunny, warm-ish but a bit windy. Lazy morning, but Mike did CATCH A FISH! Nice one, too. Rest of day was spent reading, sleeping (Mike) and fishing. First day we didn’t move Maggie at all!! Now after 18:00 and still sitting outside enjoying sun!!! Diary getting shorter and shorter, and Mike commented that it’s not as detailed as 7 weeks ago. Not going to go into every single detail, but suffice to say we have eaten like kings and queens: full cooked brekkie some mornings, healthy stuff (muesli and yoghurt) others. Sandwiches for lunch, leftovers – never bad. Tea has been spaghetti and meat balls, stir fries, last night steak with broccoli and tortellini, so not bad at all. And lollies and chips for afternoon tea and pre-dinner drinkies respectively
. Wines and beer every night. Gosh, life is tough! This has been our longest trip yet, and we’ve thoroughly enjoyed ourselves – despite some very bad weather at the start. We are slowly getting into a routine, and in some cases have figured out what the routine needs to be – like doing all the stuff you need to do in town all in one go!. Off home tomorrow to do “normal” stuff, like lawns, washing and gardening. PS – we’ve been fishing again in meantime and Mike, the tinny bugger, caught another fish – chocolate, that is! No, a real fish, but as Kirsty would say – a chocolate fish – it was that small. But that’s 2 fish to Mike, 0 to Marielle.12 October 2008
Up at 7am – 1. something ⁰ outside, not a cloud in the sky. Now 09:00, been fishing – no wind and Mike caught a beautiful big rainbow. Looks like the weather is going to be gorgeous, so we’ve decided stuff the lawns – we’re staying another night! 10:48 – had breakfast, done dishes and showered. Now into Twizel to restock, empty etc. 12:50 – on way back to campsite – we stopped and watched the start of Bathurst at Top Hut Bar – not the friendliest reception, especially when we asked for Bathurst but he did chill by the time we’d had a couple – not because we’d chilled – he actually smiled! Spent the rest of the day sunbathing/fishing until sundown. No more fish caught, not for lack of trying. Played euchre. Beautiful day – warm enough to strip off out of wind and still 13.3⁰ outside at 20:05. Just about to get ready to cook tea – chicken green curry. Definitely home tomorrow as Mike has work day after, and it’s been an awesome longish trip but all ready to go home so that we can sort out everything (fan belt (cracked!) gennie (blowing smoke), lawns, washing etc.) for next trip. Bed by 22:00.
13 October 2008
Up at 06:30 – JD woke us up, but Mike had been up earlier – he had a bad night’s sleep. 1.1⁰ outside, red sky, so good time to head home. Going to have another coffee, brekkie and then sort everything out for trip home. 07:52 – on the road. Stopped at High Country Salmon and bought 1 smoked and 1 fresh fillet. 10:00 – just stopped for smoke at Lions Creek beside Lake Dunstan and now checking out Devils Creek – nice but very close to the road. 11:15 – pulling in to Clyde, 22⁰ and NW blowing – perfect for the washing! Done 629kms (255211kms).
