We glided into Geraldine, finding the camping ground just
off the main street. We found ourselves in a park-like-setting with lovely well
established trees and generous space for the van. Just through the back gate
was the main street.
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| Geraldine Camping Ground |
Geraldine is picturesque. Set in the shadow of the Four Peaks, being the foothills of the Southern Alps; it’s quiet - you can hear the silence and the Rock Pigeons in the pine trees cooing. The main street is quite upmarket with nice cafés and boutique shops.
Geraldine in many ways was significant for Wayne. He spent 5 years living in the area, moving to Christchurch when he was 8. Wayne used the time to visit the museum and library, the car and tractor museum and chat to locals.
We enjoyed glorious days in the sun; cycling to Woodbury and Rangitata. This was the route his Dad cycled when courting his Mum in the mid-forties. His Dad must have been keen, as it took us an hour to get from Woodbury to Rangitata, part of the trip requiring the use of gravel back roads, through a ford – this being a river crossing without the modern convenience of a bridge or culvert. And then his Dad would have had to cycle home again, probably in the dark… no street lighting out there.
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| St Thomas Church, Woodbury - Wayne was Baptised here in 1957 |
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| Outside St Thomas, Woodbury |
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| Ford Crossing |
A tasty find in Geraldine was non-water cured bacon produced
by the local butcher. It was just like what Wayne’s Dad, Ken used to make when he
worked on a farm in the local area over 50 years ago. So scrumptious and it had real rind, just
like bacon should.
A drive up to Peel Forest resulted in a pleasant walk up
Fern Track where we were treated to Fantails and Bellbirds. Fantails are cheeky, flirtatious little birds
who like to play hide and seek with you. Their erratic flight, which catches
your eye, is full of twists and jerks with tails fanned. They are full of
chatter and ‘cheet,’with a rhythmical song of tweet-a-tweet-a-tweet-a-tweet.
The bellbird is hard to spot among the trees, blending well with their greenish shades. Nonetheless, it’s loud, liquid ringing notes with grunts and wheezes can be clearly heard and recognised, much to my delight. The book The Hand Guide to the Birds of New Zealand, by Hugh Robertson & Barry Heather has been a useful guide.
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| Fern Track |
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| Flirtatious Little Bird |
A drive to Pleasant Point was a good reason to stop for a
cuppa and partake of a delectable cheesecake… as one must!
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| Delectable Cheesecake |
Our drive also revealed some local history including a Historic Lime Kiln and a memorial for the late Richard William Pearse (1877-1953), who was our first NZ Pioneer Aviator.
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Richard William Pearse Memorial
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| Historic Lime Kilns at Kakahu |
A few days later this article appeared in the Otago Daily Times.
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Did he Beat the Wright Brothers?
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Quiet days were requested to write post cards and read. A
box of ‘stuff’ was sent home – and items requested. I even deposited a couple
of pairs of old trousers I had inadvertently brought along with me into a Red
Cross box… sharing it around. I stumbled
upon a knitting shop which displayed the BIGGEST jersey ever knitted; it’s
recorded in the Guinness book of records… fancy that!
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| BIGGEST Jersey Ever |
On our final night, Wayne cooked! His speciality was fish
and wedges and a whitebait paddy for me. How thoughtful! All from the local
fresh fish shop. Very appetising as we sat
outside making the most of the setting sun.
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| Whitebait Paddy |
We woke to a clear day and then, without provocation, a mist
rolled in. It had a reassuring feel, almost comforting as it blanketed the town.
Perhaps a farewell gesture to push us on our way. The exit north barred, our only route out was
south… onward and upward to Fairlie, over Burkes Pass and down into Tekapo. A
new chapter about to begin.
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