A Blast at Haast.

Spook and I do not have his and her jackets - he just borrowed mine as it was raining when he went fishing. Now it is covered in fish slime. The fish that made him so happy came out of the Makarora river - the story goes, that 3 bigger ones escaped.

I was just happy because it was such a great day. The weather changed with the vicinity. We went for a walk in a rain forest where it rained, and there were more shapes and sizes of ferns than you could imagine. No wonder it is their national emblem.

We drove to Jackson Bay because we somehow picked up over the year that it was a lovely place. In reality, it was some run down houses and a run down pier and we could definately hear the sound of two banjos playing in the distance. We turned and drove back to Haast for coffee and to reconsider. We past this wee Father Ted caravan perched on the stones to avoid a high tide. I can't think that it would survive many high winds. This was the whitebaiting river. Spook was invited to join Hugh McPhee here this weekend as he has hired a boat and somewhere to stay with a pile of mates. It could have been this caravan. I think that Riverdance would be a must on such an occasion. But he has to work and say goodbye to his family, so.........that is probably a good thing!

I would defy anyone not to feel happy when they arrive on this beach. Perhaps 10miles and no-one else on it. Full of mother natures amazing sculptures. Roaring waves and great light. I just grinned from ear to ear. I don't see seas like this very often and it is only 90minutes from Wanaka.

We felt guilty about not making a big enough effort with the packing, so there was a big family push tonight and Meg feels much better. So do I. She is having a wee after school session for her friends to come and plunder the items she can't squeeze into her case. I have to make cake, buy drink and vaccuum. She has done everything else after all!

grateful for:

digital camera. It is fantastic to click everything you fancy and see it as soon as you get home. Imagine the days of a 36 exposure and all the dud's you get back a week or so later. And you use up the last one and come round the corner to find some horse women rounding up the cows in the middle of the road. (Haast today - must have been mates of Hayley's).