The freedom of getting off the Highway, and into the “backblocks”…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

We are in the South Island of New Zealand, heading back to Hanmer Springs after a futile attempt at a Picnic at Lake Tennyson (a sudden change in the mountain weather got the better of us, we decided to quit before we got hypothermia).

Then Himself, Kiwi friend and I had a nice climb up a local hill. I would love to repeat this  in the area again when the wind is less ferocious and when I can drag the kids a wee way to up enjoy the view as well. (it will help enormously that Little Mr. will conveniently grow longer legs in the next year or two before our next return visit).

Now we start the drive back to Hanmer Springs and since  I’m on “gate duty” I pop in and out of the car to open and close the gate but also grab some photos whilst I’m out. We stop a few places on the way back too… and this is a photo montage of the journey back…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Yes, yes,  more photos of this area… how many is a photo too many?  there’s only one answer to that: For me,  homesick back here in the Netherlands, it’s simple…there are never enough.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

It’s a testament to the fickleness of mountains that the weather improved amazingly as we drove out…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

alpine flowers…

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

… and back at Hanmer in the Valley below here, we arrive back at the house to hear that here, the temps have been sweltering  all day, there has been barely a cloud in the sky and everyone has been taking refuge in the shade.

(photograph © Kiwidutch)

Friends in Hanmer have been totally oblivious to the conditions in the mountains further in… it just goes to prove that you should never underestimate mountains and mountain weather. Mother Nature  can and does quite happily throw spanners in the works whenever she feels like it.  I for one, am not going to argue with her.