13:30, 19.5 degrees and sunny. 317630 kms. First major trip with the trailer loaded with boat, quad & bike. Oh, and Maggie has new front shockies - what a difference! No more clunking and more importantly, no more waddling like a duck. Back ones get done next week because apparently they are too small for a campervan our size (thanks Otago Motorhomes - they installed the back ones when we bought her!). Quick shop at Cromwell and lunch at The Lion. Got to Omarama & Mike turns and says "Wildlife". So a jug at the Pub and sitting down to enjoy beer and music at 17:35.
Spend next couple of days doing what we do best - relaxing! Hot on Wednesday, 30 degrees, ahead of a forecast front. But, no overnight rain and woke up to a beautiful morning on Thursday. Well, where we are parked anyway as it's blowing a complete southerly gale and we are pretty sheltered. Very cold round the other side, anyway. And sitting relaxing after lunch when all of a sudden there's a "bloody hell, where's my boat!?" yell from inside Maggie. Sure enough, no boat visible. Fortunately, it had blown into the reeds on the right of our little bay! Despite many hours spent trawling the lake, Mike only managed to catch one small trout. But no-one else has been having any luck either, so I guess we shouldn't complain. And several hours a day spent in the boat have shown the little motor to be very, very economical.
Woke up on Friday morning and it was cloudy, so we decided to pack up, and move somewhere else via lunch at the Wrinkly Rams. Checked out Sailor's Cutting as the caretaker told us he had set up spots for overnight campers (as opposed to season
ticket holders) right beside the lake, but it didn't spin our wheels. Had seafood chowder (heaven!) at the Wrinklies, then onto Lake Pukaki. Gorgeous day by now as the cloud burnt off as we got to Omarama. Mike took the boat out and went exploring - including the island - and quickly realised that Lake Pukaki is a huge lake when you're in a little rubber ducky!
Up to another cloudy day on Saturday, but it's supposed to burn off. And while I was watching the dogs, I heard a massive splash. So stood and watched for a while, and sure enough, I saw a fish feeding. Well out came the rod, 6 casts later I had a nice feisty little rainbow on! Who says there's no fish in Lake Pukaki??!? Don't believe everything you read, is all we can say! Took the dogs out in the duck - no problems. Came home on Sunday after the usual brunch stop in Omarama.
Up to another cloudy day on Saturday, but it's supposed to burn off. And while I was watching the dogs, I heard a massive splash. So stood and watched for a while, and sure enough, I saw a fish feeding. Well out came the rod, 6 casts later I had a nice feisty little rainbow on! Who says there's no fish in Lake Pukaki??!? Don't believe everything you read, is all we can say! Took the dogs out in the duck - no problems. Came home on Sunday after the usual brunch stop in Omarama.
