3 September 2008 9:07 252880kms – Off to Te Anau. 9:13, 252881 – Forgot chilly bin, so round the block to pick it up! Stopped at Cromwell for diesel (65.41L) and then stopped at Roaring Meg to eat our pies. On to Frankton to swap jug (didn’t have any in stock!). Left there 11:22 after buying digital clock because even though it’s very relaxing, this Maggotting, we don’t like not knowing what time it is, especially in the middle of the night. Stopped for mushroom soup beside the Lake (Wakatipu) before Kingston and then again in Mossburn. On road again at 13:30 – 58 kms to go. Arrived Te Anau 14:27 and spent the afternoon with Silver, apart from a quick trip to find somewhere to park for the night – there are “no camping” signs everywhere.
Found spot at Queens Reach. Back to Te Anau, few drinks at The Ranch with Silver and Chris. Arrived back at Queens Reach and all set up by 18:40. Lovely day – so good catching up with Silver, and with Chris, who’s still here thanks to stitches in his lip and skull. Chris arrived at Queens Reach just after dark and stayed the night, so we had our first overnight visitor and the first time we used the spare double. Hit pit at 22:30.
4 September 2008
Up at 6:45, temp in 8.1⁰, out -.5⁰. Bacon, eggs & hash browns for brekkie. Chris left about 9:30, we took dogs for a walk – awesome spot! Decided to stay round here somewhere again tonight. Left 12:43 – going to say bye to Chris & Silver. Filled up with water first and had lunch on lakeshore. Now 13:31 – got to Silver and Jesse’s place and it looked like Silver was asleep – just about to drive off when we saw Jesse so went in and were immediately put to work! Silver wanted help to bring his log-splitter back, so spent afternoon doing that. Left Silver at about 3:30pm, drove and checked out Rainbow Reach and Balloon Loop – neither any good – Rainbow not nice and Balloon was beautiful but nowhere flat so back to Queens Reach. All set up by 17:00. Quiet night in – pork chops, broccoli and pilau rice for tea then in bed 21:00 – temp outside -.5⁰!!
5 September 2008
Up at normal time of 6:45 and brrrrrr -3.7⁰ outside and 0.4⁰ in!!! Turned on gas (stove) and g
enie and at 7:12 it’s now 15.5⁰ in. Took dogs for walk, poached eggs/toast for brekkie, left 10:39 to Te Anau to fill up. 11:31 336kms done (253217) filled up with 42.8L. Lunch at Fraser’s Beach, Manapouri. Absolutely stunning day – no wind, no clouds, not that warm yet though. Left 12:30 and called in and saw Steve and Sally Pearce, left there 13:13. Stopped Kingston for smoke and stretch. 14:40 Quick stop at Noel Leemings to collect jug – not there – and in Cromwell to fill gas bottle. Home at 16:47 253492 kms. Another awesome maggot trip of 612.4 kms!
