But driving back on the high road out we could see some magnificent sandy bays also reminiscent of Cornwall.
We then headed west towards fiordland wild camping overnight at a quiet site next to a stream (not quite deep enough for swimming sadly). We would have been in the forest nearby but for all the logging trucks passing by.
They seemed to start work at 0500 so we packed up and headed on to find a quieter spot for breakfast. This we did a little way down the road and sat with our bacon butties watching an ever changing show of lenticular clouds over the nearby Takitimu mountains (there were also some mammatus formations for the cloud spotters among you).
We are now enjoying a quiet day at the delightful Possum Lodge campsite on Lake Manapouri in readiness for a cruise up Doubtful Sound tomorrow. According to all the Kiwis we've met it's 10 times the size of the more well known Milford Sound. So stand by for a WOW blog tomorrow evening.
What a shame the Albatrosses were fogged in. Good to know the loggers on the South Island start as early as they do up here!!
ReplyDeleteWho/what is the stone maiden at the top of the blog, under the Header pic?
ReplyDeleteThis blog is going to pay dividends when you get home and your friends say,'Tell us all about it and show us the pics.' Then all you'll need to say is, 'Take a look at the blog!'
Been away for a few days, so good to catch up with the Hamp's blog! What wonderful photos and certainly looking forward to the next blog from Doubtful Sound! Seen amazing photos and heard wonderful things about Milford Sound ~ so can it top that? You look absolutely at home in your camper ~ impressed with the bacon and avocado breakfast, Colin!
ReplyDeletePhill and I have just come back from a couple of days in London ~ courtesy of the children for our big birthdays last year! We took in a show but Phill's highlight was a tour around Lords!! I have to say, I really enjoyed it too. The Guide was absolutely brilliant and gave so many interesting facts about cricket, Lords and cricketers! I even found it quite emotional sitting, standing where some of the cricket greats have sat, stood and imagined them walking out onto the pitch! It's a brilliant old building and full of English tradition. However, I thought of you, Nikki, when we went to the Nursery end and through to the Cricket Academy. It was full of children probably no older than 7, all in their cricket whites and pads, some playing small games and practising skills and then others in a match, with a full commentary on loud speakers ~ not kwik cricket. Wonderful to see so many youngsters, perhaps our future England cricket greats, really enjoying the game.
Thanks for the email too ~ yes the swimming gala is next week. We have a few good swimmers ~ 2 boys and 2 girls in particular but with the Aquasplash event (not sure what it entails yet) all interested children are competing in something. It's at Ferndown this year and just the East Dorset part! Hope the organisation is better than last year!!
We are meeting up with the Stoodleys for a quiz next week ~ all I will say is ~ you WILL be missed!!!