Tekapo Time

Our first 'bank holiday' weekend and we headed south to Lake Tekapo. The journey took about three hours in a car laden down by four bikes. We were staying in a 'bach' (or holiday home) with another Christchurch family and their two boys. Tekapo is famous for one of the views of the South Island. On the edge of the village and at the southern end of the lake stands the diminutive church of the Good Shepherd. There's no need for stained glass in this church as the panoramic window takes in the full glory of creation
.

Naturally enough, every tour bus between Queenstown and Christchurch disgorges its load who swarm around the church. So early morning and evening were the times to visit and wallow in the splendour of the setting. Close to the church is a bronze statue of a collie dog, honouring those tireless workers whose help was essential in opening up the MacKenzie region during the 1800's.

We climbed to the top of neighbouring Mt St John on Saturday and had a drink at the summit cafe, which is part of the University of Canterbury Observatory which sits atop the mountain and makes best use of the crystal clear night skies. An unsuccessful attempt to catch a couple of trout finished off a fantastic day. Sunday was a lazier day, spent partly at MacGregor Lake (below) and partly at the hot outdoor pools by Lake Tekapo.


A cycle ride past the hydro-electric scheme (busman's holiday?) on Monday was followed by lunch and packing the car. We left as the first drops of rain started to fall. It rained continuously until we were back in Christchurch, but at least that saved me from having to cut the grass once we were home (so it wasn't all bad!).

Sorry, folks but you've got a piccy of me to finish with, this time.

Time passes quickly and our first 'road trip'

Is it really over two weeks since I posted an update?

The boys have been on holdiay from school for the last two weeks, so Ali's been busy arranging days out and meeting up with friends. The boys had a sleep over last weekend and we then went to the Christchurch model railway exhibition, which was brilliant and included slot car dragster racing, which Matt won (Josh having taken the honours in the Scalextric racing.

On the middle Sunday of the holiday we revisited Ilam Baptist Church and are keen to get involved there. It's very friendly and reminds us of G2 (our church in York that was part of St Michael-le-Belfrey) in many ways.

I had a couple of days in Auckland last week with work, which gave me chance to explore the 'big city' in the evening. In typical fashion, I escaped the bright lights and took a ferry out to Waiheke Island in the gulf for the evening.

This weekend we headed up to Nelson at the top of the South Island to visit friends, Jo and Andrew. We'd planned to go there via Lewis Pass (894m), but with snow forecast down to 200m we took the coast road via Kaikora and Blenheim. The weather was atrocious as we drove through alternating snow and lashing rain. But at least it gave us chance to see the seals just north of Kaikora as we huddled in the car eating our pies (a great NZ institution).



Fortunately the weather on Saturday and Sunday was brilliant and so we spent Saturday morning at the arts & crafts market in Nelson and the afternoon on the beach at Rabbit Island. A leisurely Sunday morning at the 'hands on' aquarium in Mapua was followed by a stunning drive home that included a quick snow ball fight at the summit of Lewis Pass.