ANZAC Day

Friday 25 April

An early start as we headed up the hill to the Lake Coleridge Billiards Club to join the ANZAC Dawn Service. It was beautiful and very moving - particularly in light of the fact we have lost 3 friends and wee Jock in the last 10 days 💔

Back at Banjo we made bacon sarnies for breakfast then Louis went off cycling and I explored the Hart Arboretum - trees, fungi & a flutter of fantails. A notable power station superintendent (1923-53), Harry Hart, was interested in New Zealand's forestry potential and experimented with planting exotic trees, particularly conifers, around the village. The collection grew large and diverse enough to be called an arboretum. Many of these trees are still standing and you can follow the Harry Hart Arboretum Tree Trail - though TBH I was probably more fascinated by the fungi!

Wandering back through the village I found a wonderful stand of accessible blackberries but unfortunately was not carrying a poo bag so could only harvest a handful. And I took a detour to peek at the Hikorangi Electric Cottage which was built in 1915 to demonstrate how the electricity from the new power station could revolutionise the average home.

Packed up late morning and set off to take the gravel road across to Lake Lyndon which we had checked out a couple of weeks before.

It was a bit corrugated in places but generally pretty decent and we soon arrived at Lake Lyndon (very dry) and stopped for lunch in Banjo.

Pressing on towards Arthur’s Pass we passed Castle Hill Rocks, Cave Stream & Lake Pearson before pulling into Cass Settlement. We were staying at Barrie’s place and got a great pitch with power as we were first in for the day.

He invited us all for Happy Hour at 4.30 where we sat in the bar(n) watching the sun go down and chatting with the other campers. Barrie is an absolute legend with tall tales to tell about his 37 years here at Cass. Fascinating!

Dinner back at Banjo and a fairly early night after our dawn start - but still late enough to see the stars in the darkest of skies overhead.