So Long, Farewell...

Thursday 12 March

Another glorious sunrise as we took Harley for an early morning walkies. Got back and

settled in to watch the horses on their morning gallops over breakfast and a cup of tea. They generally cantered 2-3 laps solo or in pairs, then put in a gallop sprint on the final lap - extending long & low as they thundered past. In the centre of the track and round the outskirts of the racecourse, the youngsters & trotters were being exercised mainly behind a ute, but occasionally being led by a jockey on an older horse.

Had a lovely chat with the couple in a neighbouring van who had a fascinating back story including a daughter who had been a jump jockey and now trained racehorses in Whanganui, a job building & flying microlights (they once flew into Wings over Wānaka in convoy with half a dozen others - now that would have been a sight!), an epic several months holidaying in Alaska and so many more adventures!

The Fernandi were just finishing work and packing up for the big drive north when news came through that their ferry had been cancelled, next available booking 5 April! Panic stations as Russ has to be back at work on Monday and Nickie has her uni course and nursing contracts to fulfil. Yikes! Said our farewells and gave them all the advice we could find as they set off on a 7 hour drive to Picton to see if they could blag their way onto a stand-by sailing ASAP.

Shortly after, we said goodbye to Abby & Harley; sad Harley - feeling a bit lonely with only Abby for company now, and she’s working so no time for smooches and scritches!

We set off south then west up the Waitaki Valley to Longslip Station POP - via Duntroon (another lovely selection of home grown veggies at the Duntroon veggie shed - we got zucchini, new potatoes, a tiny carrot and broccoli for dinner and popped a donation/koha into the honesty box) and Otematata. Pulled in at a real fruit ice cream stall at Otematata and promptly recognised Denise, Robbie and gorgeous Ali the Goldie who we met a week or so ago at Pukaki! Such a small world. Turned out that Tracey who ran the stall was Denise's cousin and that Kaye & Keith at Glenmac (where we often stay) were old family friends... the world just keeps on getting smaller!

Had a lovely catch up, met Tracey who runs Real Fruit Ice Cream Co Otematata and scoffed a yummy ice cream under Ali’s watchful gaze!

A short hop on to Longslip via Omarama where diesel was $2.72 per litre at Challenge and $2.18 per litre at Tasman (no prizes for guessing where we filled up) and we settled in at the POP in a howling wind but in glorious evening sunshine.

Busy tonight with 8-10 other vans parked up - we are so lucky to be able to camp here thanks to the NZMCA & the owners of Longslip Station 😊

BBQed a flat chook for dinner, served up with Ella's “Tromboncino” (heritage zucchini) and Duntroon veggies 💚, blogged and star gazed until bed time 🥱😴