The End of the Line

With some long awaited sunshine, my parents' visit today also included a brief trip round the road to Little River for a coffee and cake at the Little River Store and Gallery.

With a break to the seemingly endless cabin fever, it would have been remiss not to take the camera with me, so I threw my little lowepro pack on and hobbled around the old Little River railway station whilst Mum and Dad perused the gallery.

With the trains long since silent (the last passenger service was back in the 1960's) the railway now has been replaced by the Little River Rail Trail Cycleway. This has become a popular recreational route and offers a chance to experience the vistas, fauna and flora of this part of Banks Peninsula.

The railtrail's route near its end winds past Lake Forsyth/Te roto o Waiwera and Lake Ellesmere/ Te Waihora. There's great views, the chance to view a rich variety of birdlife, and, depending on spring weather, a chance to sample up-close the swarms of lakeflies that rise like tunnels of smoke above vegetation. If you're planning on riding it in September or October, I recommend goggles....

The talk of snow in the next couple of days continues, but on a beautiful sunny day like today it seems improbable. I'm not taking any chances though - my generator is getting tuned by a local expert to ensure it runs first time should it be called into action and I'm on the look out for some bales of hay, just in case the sheep and pig need it. Can't be too careful when you live out in the country eh?