14:21 259073 kms. Off to Ohau C, via stop in Cromwell to watch Kirsty and Chris being picked up from the Gold
en Gate Lodge by a helicopter. They are off to Auckland for the weekend, and Kirsty has no idea – she knows she’s being picked up by chopper, but no idea that she’s then off to Queenstown Airport to catch a flight to Auckland. Weather overcast, muggy, 19.5⁰C. Have Benny with us for the w
eekend, as we are “babysitting”!Leaving Cromwell at 15:42, filled up with diesel (62.57L 259098 kms). 17:03 Arrived Omarama. Filling up jetski (oh yes, we’ve borrowed that for the weekend – tows fine) and then on to Nev and Wendy’s for a beer and to fill up with water. 18:17 Off to park, 19:00 all set up. Went to bed at midnight after a lovely mild evening sitting outside. Very much enjoyed relaxing, even though that was somewhat interrupted when Bev, a very keen amateur photographer, asked if Marielle would do a “photo shoot” for her whilst flyfishing. Had mini chicken roasts, homegrown beans and home grown new spuds for tea. Last thing we did before going to bed was spray half a can of flyspray around, as it didn’t seem to matter how quick we
were – getting 2 people and 3 dogs in and out just let hoards of bugs in.
31 January 2009
Up at 7:30 - 20⁰C. Relaxed, had coffees and breakfast (cooked) then off to launch the jetski around the other side
of the lake, at the boat ramp. No problems at all, except that the jetski is impossible to see behind Maggie, so Marielle had to get on so Mike could see where he was backing. At 12:50 it was 34⁰C, partly cloudy and not a breath of wind. Mike went over to Holdom Camp on jetski whilst I tried a spot of fishing. Mike finally back after just over an hour, having decided he’d go and check out the rest of the lake! The “waterpolice” came and told Mike off for going too fast close to shore – on Lake Dunstan you are exempt from the rule of 5 knots within 200 metres of shore because Lake Dunstan is not that wide in most places, but of course round here it is – and it’s enforced (although not after he’d gone – then there was people zipping along close everywhere! Obviously the locals recognise the guys bo
at!). Marielle also went for a blat on the jetski - simply to cool off (and 'cause it's fun!) Have 3 exhausted dogs – poor old Benny is not used to running around all night and all day, especially not on rocky ground, and he can hardly walk. Roxie has chased rocks all day, and still going strong, except for w
hen I went to finish getting tea ready when she lay down and fell into a really deep sleep straight away. Mike decided to go for another ski, seeing as the wind had got up and created some good waves for the jet ski. The wind got up from opposite direction, so we ended up turning Maggie around to use her as a wind break, and make the most of the last of the evening sun, which had disappeared altogether for a while when the squall came through. Bed at 23:40 after tea of spaghetti and meatballs.
Up at 7:30 - 20⁰C. Relaxed, had coffees and breakfast (cooked) then off to launch the jetski around the other side
of the lake, at the boat ramp. No problems at all, except that the jetski is impossible to see behind Maggie, so Marielle had to get on so Mike could see where he was backing. At 12:50 it was 34⁰C, partly cloudy and not a breath of wind. Mike went over to Holdom Camp on jetski whilst I tried a spot of fishing. Mike finally back after just over an hour, having decided he’d go and check out the rest of the lake! The “waterpolice” came and told Mike off for going too fast close to shore – on Lake Dunstan you are exempt from the rule of 5 knots within 200 metres of shore because Lake Dunstan is not that wide in most places, but of course round here it is – and it’s enforced (although not after he’d gone – then there was people zipping along close everywhere! Obviously the locals recognise the guys bo
at!). Marielle also went for a blat on the jetski - simply to cool off (and 'cause it's fun!) Have 3 exhausted dogs – poor old Benny is not used to running around all night and all day, especially not on rocky ground, and he can hardly walk. Roxie has chased rocks all day, and still going strong, except for w
hen I went to finish getting tea ready when she lay down and fell into a really deep sleep straight away. Mike decided to go for another ski, seeing as the wind had got up and created some good waves for the jet ski. The wind got up from opposite direction, so we ended up turning Maggie around to use her as a wind break, and make the most of the last of the evening sun, which had disappeared altogether for a while when the squall came through. Bed at 23:40 after tea of spaghetti and meatballs.
1 February 2009 
Up at 9:20 – Mike was up at 6am, but came back to bed. Rained heavily off and on during the night, but now clear and looking to be another warm on, although morning temperature definitely cooler than yesterday. Got ready to leave, went round to boatramp to get jetski, now 11:07 and heading off to Omarama, then Cromwell to drop off the jetski, then on to Queenstown to pick Kirsty and Chris up from airport, then home. Got home at 18:20, 259556kms – that another nearly 500km trip (483kms)!
Up at 9:20 – Mike was up at 6am, but came back to bed. Rained heavily off and on during the night, but now clear and looking to be another warm on, although morning temperature definitely cooler than yesterday. Got ready to leave, went round to boatramp to get jetski, now 11:07 and heading off to Omarama, then Cromwell to drop off the jetski, then on to Queenstown to pick Kirsty and Chris up from airport, then home. Got home at 18:20, 259556kms – that another nearly 500km trip (483kms)!
