March 1-2
Hi All,
Wow…..4 weeks now on the roadtrip…..it seems like a year ago for sure!!! Yes, we have stayed very busy with only 1 down day so far. I would say we are holding up rather nicely although Kathy is making noises about how she hates suitcases…only 4 more weeks so we shall see:))))
The drive over from Haast was a bit gnarly…..heavy rain, winding mountain roads until we got over the Pass and then the skies lightened and we were treated to some spectacular views of Lake Hawea and Lake Wanaka. We found our “apartment” and for the first time we were a little disappointed….we thought we had views of the lake but not to be…a partial view of Mt Alta…but it does have an outdoor hot tub so all was forgiven.
Our plan was to walk the Rob Roy glacier trail so we went to the DOC visitor center to get the info. The lady asked when are you going, we said tomorrow, she said have you checked the weather, we said yes – not looking too good is it and she nodded and said nothing….hmmm…..so what do you think….she said risky….what do you mean….well, there are 9 different small streams you need to forge in your car on the drive to the start of the hike…..yes, we read about that, is there a problem…..do you have a rental, yes, well, you might get stuck….say again….well, the forecast is for heavy rain in the mountains and the streams might become impassable….oh, not good…..your best bet is to wait a day or so…..but, get up in the am and give us a call and maybe the forecast will change…ok, but as we left the word risky kept repeating in our heads….arghhhhhh!!!
So we found a nice pub for a late lunch…..blue cod, a local light white fish caught on the west coast paired with a pilsner beer…yummers….and thought about Plan B…..hmmmm, we are in Otago wine country where there are some really, really good Pinot Noirs….PK nodded and said that will work…..we will make a game time decision in the am but hmmmm…..you should have seen her look, decision made……so back to the apartment and into the hot tub for a very nice soak!!!
Well, Mr Weather won again. We woke up to very threatening skies with forecast for heavy rain. Walk in the rain again with the possibility of getting trapped or getting the car stuck OR tasting wine with a nice lunch….you decide:)))))
Wine tasting was great….the car is now restocked. Most of the wineries were around the Cromwell area…..Wooing Tree, Rockburn, Akarua, Carrick, and Aurum!!! We had a late lunch at Carrick winery….OMG…..several CO’s for sure!!!! We shared a starter of “Silver Fern Farms beef trio; Hereford carpaccio, enoki broth, beef croquette”…..this dish actually was a finalist in the Silver Fern Farms Premier Selection Awards 2014. Then I had the “Oven roasted Fiordland Venison, warm roasted carrot, parsnip and rocket salad juniper vinaigrette” and Kathy had the “Corn-fed Chicken asparagus & tarragon risotto, cripsy mushrooms, grana padano”!!!! This was the best food since Heaphy and rivals the best we have had in NZ!!!!
Restocked and refortified, tomorrow we are off to Bluff to stage for the Stewart Ferry the next day. We will spend 3 days on Stewart Island and meet up with our good friends Adam and Cindi on sv Bravo…let the games begin!!
Hope all is well!!
John
Mystic Moon
Dark threatening clouds over the mountains…..hiking in the rain or wine tasting…..easy decision!!
View of the Otago gorge from the Carrick winery
They cover the vines to protect from the hungry birds!
Silver Fern Farms beef trio; Hereford carpaccio, enoki broth, beef croquette
Corn-fed Chicken asparagus & tarragon risotto, cripsy mushrooms, grana padano
Oven roasted Fiordland Venison, warm roasted carrot, parsnip and rocket salad juniper vinaigrette
Hmmmm – can we send back????
Whaaaa- all gone:((((
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