Christchurch to Lake Ohau

Kia Ora!  This is today (Wednesday's Post). 

I finally got my pastie.  I stopped at a bakery and had difficulty choosing among the 12 to 15 different ones.  Finally, I picked the beef with cheese. Imagine the best tender roast you have ever tasted, the type your grandmother made for special occasions. And then pause to wonder how they got perfect gravy inside a pie crust. Indescribably melt-in-your-mouth tasty.

This was the view of my pastie lunch. On a clear day, like today, you can see Aoraki, aka Mount Cook, the highest mountain in New Zealand.  Aoraki is the ancestral mountain of the Maoris. Aoraki was the ancestor who traveled down from the heavens in a canoe with his three brothers - Rakirua, Rakiroa, and Rarakiroa.  On the way home, the canoe crashed into the ocean, forming the South Island of New Zealand.

Lake Pukaki

I loved this bit of Maori wisdom.

Finally, after driving 360 kilometers, I arrived at the Lake Ohau Lodge.  It is beautiful in a rustic way.

This is the view from my room.  And when I saw the spacious bathroom, I was ecstatic. A BATHTUB! I know that 90% of you probably prefer a shower, but I love a bath - a glorious muscle-relaxing bath.  Ahhhhhhhh.

But before the bath, I wanted to hike - somewhere - anywhere. I drove an additional 25 + miles, mainly on a slip-sliding gravel road. Shades of the Dukes of Hazard.  I never found the trailhead I was looking for, but the scenery was an artist's rendition of heaven.  I was really sorry that Dennis went home today.  I would have loved to have shared it with him or any of you.

I must have taken a hundred photos, each one equally stunning.

So when I reached this gate - I got out and walked for an hour, soaking up the glory surrounding me. Oh, my. God was at his best on the day he created this bit of New Zealand. This was the most beautiful scenery of the trip.

I had a wonderful group dinner here at the lodge.  I was seated across from a young (40ish) man who was scouting the area for a possible television show. Most interesting. And a big, happy-go-lucky type man who was here with building some new homes. He was lots of fun. We started with creamy cauliflower soup and homemade bread.  Next, we were served a mustard crust beef ribeye that was superb.  It was accompanied by truffle parsnip puree with balsamic roasted beets.  Yum!  Dessert, as if I had room, was sticky toffee pudding with caramel sauce, topped with vanilla ice cream.  I suffered through and managed to eat my whole dessert.  I will not waddle back to my room.

Hugs and kisses to you all.