St Bathans

Amazing and incredible landscapes here, behind me is the Blue Lake, which wasn't looking so blue today but equally as beautiful.  Love this area, an old gold mining area - take a look at the link, which gives an idea of its beauty.  But I couldn't go past this scene as we drove away from the lake, a storm brewing, and incredible light.  And, the colours are like this. 
After this we spent a hour in the local Vulcan Hotel having brunch, the fire cranking.....another gem with a resident ghost (so the story goes). 

Anyhoo....back to the start of the day, what a gorgeous start too.  The skies gave us everything.  After yesterdays iPhone photography day, it was really nice to walk around the cute/quirky town of Naseby early this morning with camera in hand.  Took heaps of images of the buildings etc.  
Then with the Wellington family in tow we headed off to St Bathans and the Blue Lake, another place they had never been too.  The weather turned stormy but we wandered around, taking in the amazing landscapes and all the history available  We found the very old cemetery up on a hill, the gold mining era was such harsh times back then, so many young people not making even to middle age. 
An extra of Janelle, Ella & Harry with the lake in the far background.
This is where we parted company, the family off to Queenstown for a few days to go skiing, us to have a a wee tour around the Maniototo area, brilliant country, so much to take in and that we did.  We do love exploring these more remote places.
But we had to get home, driving through the Danseys Pass again, this time in awful weather which made for a very interesting and slow trip. I've put a photo in extra of the early stages of the Pass, before the weather really got bad and the road got very slippery. After that there wasn't any stopping. 
This coming week is going to be very busy, I've got 985 photos to judge on-line in a National Creative competition - four sections.....I've got a headache just thinking about it.  Needs to be done before the family return later in the week.
I'm off to bed soon, I need sleep !! 

Rainie