Feeling at Home Back in Glenmac

Friday 27 March

Oh what a beautiful morning 🎶

Stunning sunrise over Scottland but sadly we had to pack up and move on. Not before having a lovely gossip with some of the few remaining campers, chatting with Bill the owner and buying some supplies from their farm store - I bought apricot jam, black boy peaches and fruit leathers for walking & cycling snacks. Saw dozens of quail on our way out - surprised that they seem to coexist well with the feral cats!

From Bannockburn we dropped into Cromwell for a quick food shop then set off up the east side of Lake Dunstan (moody & silvery under the clouds), to Tarras (traditional stop & a burst of sunshine) then across the Lindis Pass (through mist & low cloud) before turning down the Waitaki Valley and into glorious autumn sunshine and trekking down past the lakes.

The Real Fruit Ice Cream Co Otematata was sadly closed so we trundled along past the dams to Kurow and on to Glenmac Farm - with an ice cream reprieve at Waitaki Orchards - happy Louis! 🍦Such a huge ice cream we scooped about a cupful into a tub and popped it in the freezer for later!!!

It was lovely being back at Glenmac - we made ourselves at home by the Musterers Quarters and were greeted by swallows and a very vocal piwakawaka in the next door shed!

Soon after us, three utes pulled in towing UTVs so I went and met our new neighbours and Kaye our host. There were 5 guys and a golden lab called Flo, all set to go hunting up in the hills behind Glenmac for the weekend - hoping to bag deer, boor or possibly tahr.

While they headed to the hills I made use of the kitchen - baking an apple & blueberry crumble and cooking us pork belly for dinner… nom nom! Sadly had to endure NZ All Whites losing to Finland in a friendly at Eden Park on the TV (Sara & Hannah were there in person). Took a walk in the fading light, met some scaredy calves and got bombed by a few squeaky squawky piwakawaka who seem to be very active around here!

Caught up with next two episodes of “Last One Laughing” then had an early night - Louis still feeling rotten with his cough & cold.