12 January 2016
13:40, 331697kms, 28 degrees. After a mammoth session getting the watering system extension to outside the back gate finished this morning we're off to go and fill at McKeown's & then do some shopping before heading towards Roxburgh/Lawrence. 16:40 - all ready for a party for 2 (it is my birthday, after all!) at Grey's Dam. The delay between leaving home & here was getting a haircut, finding a card/pressie for Mark and filling the gas bottle (just as well we did, only 1kg left!). Spent an enjoyable afternoon outside, relaxing in the warm but overcast day. And at exactly 19:00, as forecast, it started to drizzle. By 19:30 it had turned to rain. So maybe the Angus beef patties for our burgers & fresh corn might be cooked in the frypan, not on the bbq. Went to bed about about 10pm, fell asleep to the sound of rain - for once a nice sound as it's been so long and desperately needed.
13 January 2016
Up at 06:18 after a good night's sleep, interrupted only by a heavy downpour at about 3am. Noticeably cooler with 6.5 degrees, a light southerly and overcast conditions. Dumping before finding somewhere for breakfast and then hitting the road. Had a nothing spectacular but pleasant enough (& cheap) breakfast at The Wild Walnut (eggs bennie with ham for me, omelette for Mike) and now off to explore in the direction of Lake Mahinerangi. Oh, bought a wee knitting kit for a cute possum wool teddy bear!
11:55 - parked up beside the Lake Mahinerangi Dam, after a bit of an adventure getting here! The climb out of Lawrence to the top was decent - but we drove past the turn off to the Dam (it's not marked at all) and ended up being committed to carry on, despite a sign saying "road not suitable for articulated or longer than 9m vehicles". Ended up in Waipori Falls village where you now can't get down to the power station at all - & that would have been the perfect place to turn around. Oh well, 3 point turn round a corner & up the road to the village, followed by a very, very steep (1st gear in some places) climb back out. Took the road to the right opposite the sign that said "Lawrence". Single lane, gravel road but it looked promising as it was at least going in the direction of the lake. And after a kilometre or so of suspense: yay, the beautiful Mahinerangi Domain Picnic area. Found a spot sheltered from the nasty southerly and the sun is now out and 23 degrees (although the thermometer is in the sun!). 20:00 & it's 8 degrees outside - brrrr! Spent afternoon totally relaxing: sleeping (Mike), knitting (me) interspersed with the occasional walk. Had a couple of mini showers and the wind stayed chilly all afternoon but we enjoyed the afternoon nonetheless! Having identical tea to last night. Planning to stay here tomorrow. No cell coverage at all (which made us laugh about the sign on the dam saying that we should dial 111 in case of emergency) but still keen to go exploring - with care - on my bike for a bit tomorrow! Hit the pit at 22:20, temperature had by now dropped to 8 degrees.
14 January 2016
Up at 5:30 because Roxie needed out, 5 degrees so back to bed! Up again at 07:15 - only 8 degrees! Wind has turned and now coming down the lake directly at us, and we are considering moving after we've had breakfast, as it's now 09:15 & still only 12 degrees even though it's a beautiful sunny day. Forecast is for today to be hot in Central, so will head to lower altitudes to enjoy that while we can because the forecast isn't great for the next few days! And then the wind dropped and things heated up so decided to stay put after all. It is a gorgeous, peaceful spot so why move if the weather's good?! Spent another wonderfully relaxing afternoon enjoying the weather! Tried to catch a fish - nothing. Had chicken, sweetcorn and potato wedges for tea and went to bed at 21:30.
15 January 2016
Up at 06:20 after a somewhat restless night due to high winds. Only the really big gusts hit us, but the forest around us just roared at times. Quite a change weather-wise to yesterday - overcast but 18 degrees this morning! That was until we left the shelter of our camping spot! We left at 07:30 & away from the shelter of the trees it was only 13 degrees. Needless to say our shorts & t-shirts felt very minimalist when we stopped to read the info board about the old Waipori Township, which was flooded in 1920 to create the lake for power generation. Got to Middlemarch just after 9am, after some very steep hilly roads! No 4 Square or anything. Checked out the Kissing Café but didn't do it for us - nothing much on offer and the whole place stunk of red onions - so round to the other Café we'd seen as we were casing the joint. But despite an open sign on the footpath, they were closed. So off to dump, & wash the mud off everything on the trailer, before going to the dairy to buy at least some milk & then we'll park beside the start of the railtrail to cook our own breakfast! Oh, & I was keen to ride from Middlemarch to Hyde but it's just miserable outside. 15 degrees isn't so bad - but with a serious southerly it's not great either. And ok, it would have been a tail wind the whole way to Hyde - but I reckon it would have been a cold trip, so will save it til the next time! And we didn't cook breakfast - had pies instead! And while eating them the rain arrived! And then: new territory. From Middlemarch to just past Hyde to check out a potential park at Tiroiti then up and up and up to Macraes Flat. Unfortunately it was wet, cold & inhospitable at Macraes - both outside & in the Stanley Hotel! Were thinking about having lunch but the smileless "we've had a big order so it'll be a long wait" made us decide to carry on. Got a phonecall from Chris who said beersies were on at Deb's & Mark's place tonight so a quick call to Deb organised our overnight stop for today! After a steep descent we joined the road to Palmerston. Filled up with diesel at McKeown's in Dunback & carried on to Moeraki for lunch. Walked to Fleur's Place but we didn't have a booking so no room for us!! Who books when 1/2 an hour ago we had no idea what we were doing for lunch!?! Anyway, their loss, our gain because we had a seafood chowder at the Moeraki Tavern that was right up there with the best! And a stunning view over the bay.
But, one downside: the rain arrived while we were eating and we are now parked by Hampden Beach where we tried to take the dogs for a walk but it's too wet, windy & cold. Will stay here for a while hoping the weather eases enough to let the dogs have a run. And it didn't, so had to concede defeat and walk the dogs in the rain. In fact, it never stopped raining for the rest of the day! Got to Mark & Deb's place at 17:00. Had delish bbq tea, bed at 23:00.
16 January 2016
Up at 06:30, 8 degrees, damp and misty. Headed into Oamaru at 10:30 to do some shopping, find somewhere dry to walk the dogs (no success there) and then go to Steampunk as Ellen (one of Bailey Cain's friends) works there and got us in for free in exchange for us taking her out for lunch! Steampunk was an eye opening experience.
Mike loved it - & for me the highlight was the penguin chicks being reared in the bottom of a piece of discarded machinery! Had lunch with Ellen, Bailey & Chris at the Galley - very good! We each had a delicious and massive pork belly burger - so big we could easily have shared one. Took dogs for another walk and then went & dumped which took ages because some rude, arrogant old prick just barged in and started using the dump station while Mike was doing the toilet and I was filling our water!
Anyway, got to the Maheno Rugby Club at 17:00. Mike relaxed while I went for a 40 minute blat on my bike. Now 18:40 and Mike's off to get the keg going properly while I finish my beer! Had a great night - ran into a few old acquaintances and yarned the night away, getting back to Maggie and bed at midnight.
17 January 2016
Up at 07:45(!) to another damp, misty morning and 12 degrees. Left the Rugby Club grounds at 9am with the intention of going inland to Aviemore. But, while having really good eggs bennie at The Roost Cafe in Oamaru, I saw a poster for Wings and Wheels which said the open day is today. Given that we would have gone home tomorrow as the weather is packing up again (not that it's anything to write home about at the moment!) we decided we will go home via that. Might as well do something different! 12:20 - just come back from a walk along Warrington Beach. When we first left to go through the dunes to the beach we were greeted by a not-so-happy seal! Glad we had the dogs on a lead (did that because the place was packed!). 15:40: parked at the Mosgiel Rugby Club grounds. Stopped and had Pita pit for lunch in Dunedin, also went to Spotlight for some embroidery cotton and had a look round a furniture place across the road. By the time we'd also got some fuel we decided we'd have a look at the show but it was huge and we decided that 1.5 hours (it finished at 4pm) wouldn't be enough time to look around. So drove round the block twice looking for a park in Puddle Alley but it was horrible.
Also checked out the Wingatui Racecourse and it didn't do it for us either. The rugby club isn't fantastic either but we are over driving for today and given that the weather has got overcast and cold again we wouldn't be doing much else than what we're doing now - sitting inside - no matter where we were, so here's good!
17:00 - no it's not! Dead end street it may be but it's like a bloody highway - on the road and through the carpark we're in. So, despite putting $6 in the iron maiden & knowing it's $8 at the racecourse we are going back to the racecourse!! Watched people come and go from a function, & watched shitter vans arrive - how do they know about this place? 1 did pay, & it's a good thing they're here where there's toilets, but still - pretty sure this won't be listed in any camping guides! Had a light salad for tea - all we needed after today's breakfast & lunch!! Bed at 22:00.
18 January 2016
Up at 06:30 after a good night's sleep to another overcast and gloomy day. But at least it's dry - not warm though, 10 degrees at 08:00. Dumping at the rugby club and then on our way home. Stopped in Mosgiel for a coffee - yuck - & a mousetrap - yuck! Then Mike dropped me off in Lawrence so I could ride to Beaumont. Just under an hour later Mike was all set to come and meet me but I arrived too quick so we carried on down the trail for another 5kms before turning around. Got home around 2pm-ish, just beating the rain. 332501 kms on the clock - a trip of 904 kms.
