Central Otago and Western Southland

It's amazing how quickly we slotted straight back into family life and the other activities we usually do when 'at home'. Catching up with friends, walking, cycling etc and the usual day to day domestic humdrum we all get to do.
So fast forward through to the 22nd Nov when we celebrated James and Maureen's Golden Celebration with a lovely dinner at Elegance in Invercargill. Such a great time for them and us to remember the wonderful place special friends have in our lives.
We headed out to Edendale, to visit Dorothy and Ernest, and Mataura Island where we stayed at the family farm. It's always a bundle of laughs with Donnah and Neville.
And then the time came for me to rediscover my roots!
We headed west slowly. David reminisced about his milk collection days and cowshed building days as we drove through the coastal C roads.
Colac Bay was our first stop. The iconic surfer greeted us on arrival as we turned to find our stop over for the night. David tried his hand at surf casting, he's still practicing! The beach was lovely for a long after dinner walk and listening to waves again, as we went to sleep, was bliss.
We explored quirky Cosy Nook and discovered a tiny hamlet lost in time. Monkey Island was next up. I walked out to and up the flight of steps on the island. First impression..... is that it? It's tiny and right on the beach. David had long told a story about his aunt getting stuck on it when the tide came in and needing rescued. I guess not all things on the list are going to be impressive! The area is gorgeous though. Next up I walked from the Gemstone Beach carpark back to Monkey Island. It was a fabulous beach and a really warm day. It took longer than usual as I scoured the beach for special stones.
That night we experienced the biggest wind ever! The motorhome rocked and rolled as never before....I got seasick and had a miserable few hours. The wind was truly incredible. The next day we headed out to Bluecliffs to hopefully get to the start of the Humpridge Track but the wind was still trying to blow us inside out so discretion being the better part of valour we about faced and headed to Tuatapere, the town of my birth.
We reconnected with Helen Todd, the first Helen Rule, and husband David Todd.....I know..... ironic eh! Two Helen and Davids!
We found some great walks and explored cemeteries looking at familiar names and remembering.
It was a bit surreal to have the time to explore the town I was born in and the farming district we lived in. I was little when my family moved away from Eastern Bush but I did have some memories. The mountains, the verdant green land, the road, Mulvey Rd, that lead to our old home and the location of some of the neighbours. It's all just the same and wonderful!
We spent the weekend with Davids cousin and his wife, Brent and Heather, at their bach which sits above the Wairaki River and coincidentally looks straight into the back of our old family farm. It was so lovely to spend the weekend wandering the hills with them and dreaming of what might have been if we'd still been there!
Lake Monowai was a great place for fishing. David land two beautiful Rainbow trout and let one get away with his lure! The walk to The Point had me remembering the days at Borland Lodge, as a teacher, with Menzies kids and David the Southland Girls kids, with Kate, for school camps.
All in all a fabulous week.
Next up is our Top Ten weekend..... such a special gathering of longtime friends which we always look forward to and always cherish.... watch for the next post.Read more