kiwibird: Clyde

Last Sunday (8 days ago) we left Invercargill and headed towards the sunshine in Clyde, Central Otago. This was not exactly true as we left the sun shining way down south too. But Central Otago is definitely warmer. No one can deny that as a fact.

On the way we stopped in Gore for a welcome cup of coffee, before we took the correct road to Clyde. Last time we took the first road, ignoring signs of course, and headed east. We travelled along the road for some time before we realised it was not the correct road All due to my trying to invent the correct place names for the incorrect road. No sense on dwelling on past mistakes, and the fact that we arrived at David and Catherine's for a very late lunch. But last Sunday we were fired up with with an enthusiastic zeal for accuracy. So we took the second road, there being only two roads to chose from anyway.

But before we set off, a photograph of the 'big fish' was a must. The river running through Gore, is well known for brown trout fishing.

Central Otago is known for its fruit growing, and at this time of year there was an abundance of plums, peaches, nectarines and apricots. Yummy. So we bought a few kilos of apricots from this huge container. I have never seen so many apricots! All waiting for jam making and preserving and eating. When we got to Clyde we found they were only $1.40 kg. We should have waited. I wish I could have taken some back to the UK. No nectarines for me though, after a session of cold sores on my bottom lip, through eating too many nectarines. They were the ones hanging over the fence of the walk way by Darren's house. Stolen fruit?

After greeting David and Catherine, we set off to have a look at their new holiday house, which they have purchased, but is currently being used as a show home at the moment. It is light and airy and so new. One day they hope to live in it permanently, but in the meantime it will be a very comfortable holiday house for them and their family.

Walter looking very comfortable in the lounge room.

The ensuite bathroom in the main bedroom. Very smart.

The main bedroom has windows on three sides of the room, which magnificent views of the surrounding mountains.

Already settled in! Unfortunately the furniture belongs to the building firm, who are displaying the home.

But back to their current holiday home, which is currently for sale. A view across the garden to the comfortable chairs on the back verandah.

The studio flat at the end of their garden. A lovely sunny spot.

We went out for lunch at The Orchard, a lovely restaurant set amongst gardens that seems to be modelled on Sissinghurst. Long paths, enclosed with hedges and vistas at the end. The owners assured us the garden was their own creation.

David and I taking a moment to sit in the sunshine and enjoy the garden.

Admiring the plants.

We also went for a drive up into the hills above Alexandra. The area was covered in pine trees which are not native. Together with the pine trees and rock outcrops we thought we were in the Rockies in America. We expected to see cowboys ride over the ridges any minute.