15⁰C, 13:44 with 267842 kms on the clock (the difference between this entry and the last is that in between time we used Maggie as a moving van, to move Kirsty to Queenstown. Very handy too, as there is no way we could have got all the boxes, heaters and other junk on the trailer or in the Terrano!) and we are off while the sunny weather lasts. It’s supposed to turn re
ally, really cold on Saturday (today is Thursday) and it’s the first day of the fishing season – so we are off up to Poolburn. Shopped and filled the gas bottle (only 4kg needed – gosh, that Truma heater is efficient!) and then up to the Dam. Stopped at the same spot as back in March, but bugger, there’s a bus parked there. So round to between the ADC hut and Whippy’s hut. And that turned out to be a good choice in the end, because Whippy’s veranda is a good wind break (of course it’s blowing – its Poolburn!) and Marielle caught a beautiful 3.5-4lb brown trout. YAY! On the worm, just off where we are parked. It’s been cloudy with occasional sun breaks in between and 13⁰C most of the afternoon. Now 18:15 and 11⁰C, getting cloudier and wind picking up. Bed at 22:30 after going to visit Goldie after tea (slow cooked pork and salad). Had a good time chatting with him – good yarns.2 October 2009
Up at 07:20 and a balmy 5⁰C out. Really, really good night’s sleep – we always seem to sleep so well on Maggie, and this one was even more amazing because Mike finished night shift yesterday and normally has a really horrible sleep the first night. Up once during the night due to
the wind rattling the vents but that was at 04:00. Sunny but windy. Pork leg steaks, eggs and mushies for breakfast at 09:30. Rods out – worming – Marielle did try the fly but it really got too windy. Turned gennie on for a couple of hours to re-stock battery. Marielle caught another nice fish, not as big as yesterday but still nice – didn’t put up as much of a fight, either. Graeme Sainsbury and Phil arrived to open up the ADC hut, expecting a few more bods to arrive. Talked to them and helped them get their gear organised. Wind really picking up at times. The rest of the gang rolled up throughout the afternoon/evening and spent the evening having a party at the hut. Had chicken korma for tea at 21:30, Marielle then went to bed whilst Mike carried on partying – of course! Bitterly cold by now – only 1⁰C at 21:30.3 October 2009
Up at 07:30, minus 0.1⁰C. During the night it was minus 1.5⁰C at about 3:30. Southerly hasn’t arrived yet, but w
e can see the bad weather approaching. 09:10 – SNOW
ING! 10:15, now minus 1 and snowing heavily. We had decided, about 10 minutes ago, to stay for another night, so Marielle had emptied the toilet into the long drop in preparation for another night – and then the snow came in. Had a smoke while we thought about our options – and decided to head for home. Ok, so there’s plenty of 4WD vehicles here, but it’s snowing heavily and at 3 tonnes empty, if there’s a foot of snow on the ground tomorrow a 4WD is going to struggle to tow us out. So commonsense prevailed! Stopped at Muddy Creek for one of their famous pies for brunch and home at 11:45 (267971kms).
