For the past few weeks, Steve and I have been exploring more of the area taking day trips through the countryside and visiting small towns. The countryside is beautiful with rolling hills, and rock cliffs. The paddocks have lots of sheep, dairy cows and deer farms. Crops grown around here include barley, wheat, corn, berries, and grapes. They have tree plantations to supply lumber. There are many sites of ancient Maori rock drawings dating back to 16th Century among the cliffs. We have seen a few but sometimes they are on private farmland or just too difficult to get to. February 6th, was Waitangi Day, a NZ national holiday. We visited the towns of Fairlie and Geraldine. North of Geraldine is the Peel Forest We hiked up into the forest to view podocarp (conifer) trees including a huge 1000 year old Totara tree. Further up the valley, on a hillside surrounded by sheep, is a little stone church built in 1869, Church of the Holy Innocents, with lovely woodworking and stained glass.
There are so many sheep here that shearing is done all year round. They look so naked once they are sheared, but are pretty and white again. We learned a lot about different types of wool from a woman spinning wool into yarn at the market in Geraldine. Merino wool is valued highly because the tight crinkles it has make it softer. Sheep raised in the mountains have the merino wool. Here in NZ there is a species of possum that has fur which is highly valued and it is spun into the wool and makes a very soft, lightweight yarn. No, they do not shear the possum.
Waimate has a lot of activities going on for such a place town. So far this year there has been the bike races, Busking Festival, Vintage Car Show, and upcoming Woodcrafters Exhibition. Waimate is bordered by rivers on the north and south. The salmon are running so we went looking to find where the Waitaki River meets the Pacific Ocean. The ocean is about 20 minute drive from here. The beach is covered with flat, round rocks from the rough surf and rip tides. Not a swimming spot by any means. There are lovely beaches further up and down the coast.
We have been eating quite well as there are many fresh vegetables, fruits and berries available at the grocery store and Saturday market. There's a good selection of whole grain breads and cereals available at the grocery store. Lots of good cheese and wine here too. The South Island produces very nice pinot noir and variety of white wines. North Island produces more of the reds. Lets just say we haven't met a bottle we didn't like yet. Dunedin, a larger town 2 hrs. S. of here, has a Cadbury Chocolate factory and Speight beer brewery, and is our destination for this upcoming 3 day weekend. Speaking of nutrition, a few things of interest:
* Vegemite, the concentrated yeast extract spread that they love here, is packed with B vitamins....and tastes as awful as I'd been warned.
*Manuka honey is sweet and strong tasting, haven't had the opportunity to try it for wound healing as the Maori have for generations.
*Nutrition information on food labels are given as % of Daily Intake, based on average adult diet of 8700kj.
*Oven temperatures on the stove here are in Celsius, not Fahrenhiet -- I broiled a couple dishes in the oven before that dawned on me.
*Two major brands of food products are Watties and Sanitarium.(Watties I like, the latter conjures up not so good images). Several different types of baby formulas are available, mostly Nestle brand. I believe breastfeeding is favored, Yeah.
*There are lots and lots of Gluten Free products available. I haven't determined if this is due to many people truly being gluten intolerant, or some fad diet.
Happy Valentines Day. Kia ora. (Goodluck/good health)
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