All in a days work

This is pretty much the only day here with Mike in Methven and he is determined to show us his favourite sights on this beautiful island as we just haven't got the time to do it all. He has shown Becky and other friends on Facebook the pictures of the mountains that surround him and presumably make this the skiing resort that it is, but there is absolutely no sign of any mountains and we think he's just been putting pictures from books on for all to see - hmmm!

So when he picks us up for a day trip to see views, we don't hold out much hope of seeing much as its just like a day at home only not quite as cold as it is at present, more like a cold cloudy summers day! We pick up some breakfast on the way and, being a truck driver, Mike knows all the places to stop for the best food and his local supermarket is apparently one and doesn't disappoint, greasy and cheesy as it is -yummmm. This is also how he knows which views to take us to see so we are completely in his hands! As we drive along, I am amazed at the long straight roads, they are like the roads home in England, if you got someone on each end of the road and pulled and pulled until its straight and seemingly three times longer! The roads go on and on and on and then you come to a junction and turn left or right and then they go on and on again! Why didn't we build our roads like that a couple of hundred years ago when then were just dirt tracks? The weather is still grey and it starts to drizzle, even more like home and its not looking good as we approach some mountains where the roads actually have a few bends in them - flat = straight and hilly = bends - all quite straightforward really!

After driving for a while up and down, and through drizzle/rain, we suddenly emerge into blue sky and a beautiful sunny day, barely a cloud in the sky and Mike says "get ready, just around this bend" and as we go around, the most beautiful view of the bluest lake you've ever seen appears like a mirage and it is truly stunning. We head down towards Lake Tekapo and turn off on a track to stop and just admire the view.


Then we head towards the small town and stop to admire a statue of a Collie Dog. Now, we love dogs, but a statue? But apparently this is Mackenzie's dog who Mike tells us used to go off at night and round up the neighbours sheep and bring them back - now that's a clever dog! Whether that's true or not I don't know, but the plaque is to commemorate the collie dog's importance to the huge farms of the area and it seems a fitting tribute, so Becky decides to clamber up to have a photo taken with the dog.



Climbing down from the dog, we walk onto the beach here, on the edge of the lake, and notice many piles of rocks - the rocks that make up the beach in fact! These piles, upon further investigation, turn out to be called Cairns and I have seen them before when I've been away with John - France I think but could be anywhere. Some of the piles are really impressive and so - of course - we make our own which probably won't stand the test of time, or even a bit of a gust of wind, but still, we have a go and it's still standing when we leave which in itself is quite impressive. We do tell Mike that when he's next out this way truck driving, he needs to check that it's still here, but I doubt he'd recognise it again!


Our pile of stones:

There is a small church near the statue so we go inside for a moment of religious reflection, or actually to admire the view from the window which overlooks the lake, and it is the most beautiful place to put a church. God gets all the prime spots of land!

After this, Mike wants to show us Mount Cook which I don't know about so think 'oh well, if you must' but after another half hours drive we arrive at another beautifully blue lake and we stop to admire the view which, at the end of Lake Pukaki, is Mount Cook. It's worth the journey and we are more than happy to have been shown these lakes and the views. Thanks Mike, good job you're a trucker and drive all over the island, just so you can show us the best views in town, but I guess it's all in a days work for you!


We head back to the town and stop for a look around for post cards and gifts, and find somewhere for lunch before heading back. We are very warm, layers have been removed whilst looking at the views and its hard to imagine that it'll change, but amazingly it does as we cross those mountains once again and before we know it, we're heading back to Methven and its drizzling again and very grey and those layers start going back on again. Becky and i find ourselves nodding just a little and the eyes close, even though we try to stay awake to be company for Mike who tells Becky she'll get whiplash if she keeps waking herself up like that!

We get back to the Motel with an hour or so to freshen up before going out on the town!!! It really isn't much of a town to go out on, but about the most impressive thing is the Brown Pub on one side of the road and the Blue Pub on the other side, like they stand there daring each other to just try it, go on, just try it! We visit the Brown Pub for a quick drink before dinner at the only restaurant in town (I think) which happens to be a Pizza Restaurant - tough luck Becky, just can't get away from your Pizza!