Balclutha to Otara

Saturday I headed to The Catlins to explore the coast. First stoppage was the lighthouse at Nugget Point, Adam had told me it was the best lighthouse in the world, so a lot to live up to; what do you think?

Final destination was Jack's Blowholes. I wasn't sure what a blowhole was, it sounds pure filth to me. I'm still not clear but here's the pictures.

Then it was time to make campage. I happened on a campsite for only 5 bucks a night, free WiFi (though it was a bit shitus) and hot showers for a small fee. Hurrah for Hillview and thank you Kev and Sue!

Would you Adam and Eve it but Kev and Sue hail from Wirksworth! For those of you who don't know, Wirksworth is a tiny town in Derbyshire where Kris and I used to live. Kev gave me free tomatoes and a cucumber from his greenhouse due to our association, big thanks:)

Sunday was spent exploring the coast before heading back to Hillview for an extra night. The weather was blowing a fooking gale and I was freezing my tittingtons off but at least I avoided the downpours that were plaguing the west coast.

First stop Purakaunui Falls...

OMG, I'm thinking of changing my name to Mrs Chubbulous -Cheekington.

Second stop McLean Falls, I've been playing with the effects on my camera, what do you think?

Then I headed to 'The Petrified Forest' at Curio Bay, billed as a geological phenomenon, which is always a tall claim.

I was a tad underwhelmed as the fossilised trees were all lying down and hard to distinguish from your average rockington. Foolishly I was expecting them to still be erectus. The bay is also home to the rarest penguins in the world but this is the nearest I got.

The best chance for penguin spotting is sunset and I couldn't be arsed waiting that long.

This is Slope Point, the most southerly point of New Zealand's south island.

It is the windiest place on planet earth, even the trees grow horizontally.

Final destination Waipapa Point to view the historic lighthouse.

On route to Queenstown I stopped at a fruit growers and purchased the juiciest plums and sweetest cherries to exist beyond Paradise; which is 50km up the road by the way:) The fruit farmer was only from fooking Ripley! For those of you who don't know Ripley is a tiny town in Derbyshire and my first teaching job was there. All I need now is to bump into mad Gary from Buxton and I will have the Derbyshire hat trick.

Today I am gonna take it easy and pootle around QT and tomorrow I am starting on the Routeburn Track, my next Great Walk. I am very excited but the forecast is all a bit poo. I'll be out of circulation for a few days so please don't worry, muchus love and over and out from a slightly smelly Adilady who is in need of a good old scrubbage xxxx

The Taieri Gorge

I arrived in Dunedin late afternoon on Thursday, just in time to get to the touristo office. I booked on to the famous Taieri River Gorge train ride, described as "one of the world's great train trips" by the Beeb's Great Scenic Railway Journeys, as seen on TV.

Then after a brief wander it was off to my free campsite. It was blowing a ruddy gale so tentage erection proved to be a bastardo. Its amazing how people will watch you struggle until the last fooking tent peg is hammered in and then approach you to admire your tent. Why is that?

There was a guy on the campsite with a really loud motorbike and he spent hours driving the squealing kiddies up and down the field. At the risk of being an old grump, it really got on Adilady's small but perfectly formed breasticles. I considered complaining but the children looked all a bit feral and so by jumping to bias conclusions (as I am evolutionary programmed to do) I decided against introducing myself to the parents.

Dunedin Railway Station is the most photographed building in New Zealand. I can see why, it's no St Pancras but for the New World it is pretty impressive.

View across the road of Anzac Gardens and the Law Courts.

The tiles are all Royal Dalton.

Pictures on the platform.

Let me share with you the stunning scenery I witnessed first hand on my rail trip through Taieri Gorge to the small town of Middlemarch. Enjoy, although the pictures do not do justice to the gorg gorge.

 

Middlemarch in my humble opinion is a wasted opportunity. With a population of 200 and the final destination of a tourist train they have a licence to print money but do they utilise it? Do they fook! The craftshop (singular) sells the worst tourist tat I have ever seen; they would struggle to give it away and the pub (singular) is totally uninviting.

The local shop (singular) has a Royston Vasey feel...

And the bank looks like a public loo.

Some more pics...

This pony and trap was selling tours of the town. Seriously? 10 bucks? It only took me 5 minutes to walk around the fooking place. I have time to kill lady not money to burn.

In the early evening I went to see the world's steepest street as verified by the Guinness Book of Records and that McWherter chap. Baldwin Street has a gradient of 1.26 at it's steepest point.

Then it was off to see a panoramic view of the city from Signal Hill.

I arrived back at the campsite to listen to that motorbike thing again and catch up on bookage. What pearls of wisdom can I share with you today? Well I learnt all about the "affect heuristic" which led to the fabulous comment 'it's all about the emotional tail wagging the rational dog.' Want to know more? Then buy the book, I'm thinking of asking for commission. Must dash and make the most of today's sunshine, its gonna piss it down tomoz. As always much love xxxx