Olssens Winery
Carrick Winery
Vineyard at Cromwell
Bannick Brae Winery
Mt Difficulty Winery
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Milford Sound, Alex
Friday, February 19, 2010
Feb 2010 South Island
Alex the hottest spot in NZ. We are including pictures of our 6 weeks here. Views of our wrinkly tin house on the cliff overlooking Alexandra. Scenes along the Clutha River, highest volume river in NZ. The Central Otago Region is a wonderful orchard and vineyard area. Included is a tour of McIntosh Orchard, which has everything but. Steve got the invite while sewing up the owner, Wayne. Orchard established in 1881 and new varieties of nectarines are developed by Wayne's dad. Watched sheep shearing at the McIntosh station and sheep leaping happily out of the pens afterward their trims.
Cromwell, nearby, has great wineries. The main problem is we start our wine tour, sit out on the deck with our glass and cheese samples admiring the view, surrounded by the scent of lavender with honey bees buzzing and the sun reflecting off the river and - we never get to the second winery.
We have been visiting a few places that we missed in 2008. On our way to Stewart Is, we stayed in a back-packers in Bluff - far south end of S. Is. Arrived 9 pm after driving after work from Alex. Sun still up on arrival. Got a felting tour of our hostess's workshop. Sandi met this woman at the Lawrence Festival an hour south of Alex the previous weekend. Felting is
interesting, basically layering different natural fabrics (wool, silk) and working it into one base fabric. It is called Nuno felting. Picture of Sandi's felt project is included.
Rainy and a rough ferry ride to Stewart Is., but sunny after we arrived. We checked into our back-packers here and climbed over the hill to the next harbor where we took a skiff to Ulva Is. 45 hecters of bird sanctuary. Rats and possums have been eliminated and native species re-introduced. Saw about 10 different species, all up close, including a Weka that walked right up to us on the beach, hoping for lunch. I came home with a Weka tail feather in my hat. (found the feather on the trail, didn't have to pluck it) Several beaches, wind swept on the west, protected on the east. Full moon that night. Kiwi come out at night, so did not chase them down but we found a restaurant that served local Blue Cod.
Work was stressful 1st week - only a Canadian doc, John, who had been there a week and Steve for last 2 days of the week, plus an another American - a woman from Wisconsin the first 3 days. Our host/practice owner - fast-talking Welsh import whose husband is the Mayor, gave me a 2 hour intro and has not been seen those two weeks. Another Kiwi partner was here this last week. He wears Haiwaiian shirts, shorts and Keens to work. John and I between us covered call every other nite for the first 2 weeks. There my be a Kiwi GP that works full time, but I have not met one yet. Work was better after the second week as I learned where things were and how to work the forms and the computer - fortunately the same system as Waimate. The biggest problem has been that the only hospital in a 100 miles that has beds, x-rays and lab, is covered by docs that deny that they have an emergency room. The ambulance brought me a 88 yr old guy with a probable hip fracture at 11 pm Sun nite and the Doc at the hospital wanted me to send him back home. I had another little old guy who was dehydrated, that they didn't want at the hospital, but since then they have been more receptive. Must have heard my fine Otago whine.
The good news is that the staff are friendly, helpful and very patient. The Kiwi patients. as anticipated are very easy going, but I am not able to keep up with their smiling and head bobbing when they greet me.
Sandi had an invite from a local woman for tea at her house. She lives here in Alex, on Rose Hill in a lovely home. Her husband was a doctor here in Alex who died unexpectedly about 20 years ago from an infection that started on his hand! Left her with 6 children and this large home, orchard and gardens. She returned to work after he died to support the family. We toured her gardens and had tea and talked for 5 hours. Sandi did some weeding of her rose gardens, as she is unable to do it herself as she needed a hip replacement. Waiting lists for hip replacements can take yrs. She and Sandi took a car tour of some of the back roads and spots we'd never find on our own. Sandi enjoyed visiting with this very interesting woman, ~ 65 yrs young. Her children are scattered from Melbourne, Australia to Las Vegas, and 2 children living in Dunedin about 3 hrs. from here. Interesting to hear about this area from a native. Sandi was at her place picking plums for jam this week and got word through her daughter-in-law that she had her hip surgery this week.
We have been on the back roads to many small towns, seeing old bridges, mining towns, lakes, rivers and sheep. We followed the Rail Trail by car, rather than bike, but hit all the watering holes. Side trip to Blue Lake and Nasby to watch NZ's national sport, Cricket, or is it streaking?!!
Steve had weekend off 2/12-14 so we were off to explore the Fiorlands on the West coast of the So Island. We had a 4 hr drive after work to stay in Te Anau at Steamers Beach Lodge. On Sat. morning we took the 2 1/2 hour spectacular drive to Milford Sound and a 3 hr cruise of the sound. After the drive back to TeAnau we stayed at Keiko's B & B (big splurge compared to our usual back-packer's accommodations) On Sun. we visited a bird sanctuary alone the lake and drove back thru Queenstown and had valentines day dinner at Fergburgers (fond memories of meals there with Ty, Nicole and also Deb and Barb)
On Feb. 16, we celebrated Sandi's birthday with a winery visit on our way to Wanaka. Another hot sunny day in paradise. Dinner with sunset view over the lake.
We had a fine seafood dinner in the high desert at Chatto Creek Cafe with follow Locum Keith and wife, Ellen. The are taking a NZ break before new career in Enterprise, OR in Sept.
Our last weekend in the Otago region we went to Dunedin. We strolled through the Botanical Gardens and watched the party animal parade of returning University of Otago students. We met up with ex-pats, Craig and Lea, from Spokane who moved to NZ 6 years ago. They showed us some new sights including the surfer's beach and look out points. Sunday we spent the morning in the Octagon downtown listening to the national bagpipe competition and shopping for woolens and green stone. In the afternoon we revisited the Royal Albatross Center at the tip of the Otago Pennisula. On the way back to Alex we had a marvelous seafood dinner at Fleur's Place in Moeraki and got an autographed copy of her new book.
We finished out our last week in Alex with an evening cruise along the Clutha River with an informative review of the gold mining area from a transplanted Aussie. Steve has been enjoying morning bicylcle rides along the Clutha before work and did a section of the rail trail.
Cromwell, nearby, has great wineries. The main problem is we start our wine tour, sit out on the deck with our glass and cheese samples admiring the view, surrounded by the scent of lavender with honey bees buzzing and the sun reflecting off the river and - we never get to the second winery.
We have been visiting a few places that we missed in 2008. On our way to Stewart Is, we stayed in a back-packers in Bluff - far south end of S. Is. Arrived 9 pm after driving after work from Alex. Sun still up on arrival. Got a felting tour of our hostess's workshop. Sandi met this woman at the Lawrence Festival an hour south of Alex the previous weekend. Felting is
interesting, basically layering different natural fabrics (wool, silk) and working it into one base fabric. It is called Nuno felting. Picture of Sandi's felt project is included.
Rainy and a rough ferry ride to Stewart Is., but sunny after we arrived. We checked into our back-packers here and climbed over the hill to the next harbor where we took a skiff to Ulva Is. 45 hecters of bird sanctuary. Rats and possums have been eliminated and native species re-introduced. Saw about 10 different species, all up close, including a Weka that walked right up to us on the beach, hoping for lunch. I came home with a Weka tail feather in my hat. (found the feather on the trail, didn't have to pluck it) Several beaches, wind swept on the west, protected on the east. Full moon that night. Kiwi come out at night, so did not chase them down but we found a restaurant that served local Blue Cod.
Work was stressful 1st week - only a Canadian doc, John, who had been there a week and Steve for last 2 days of the week, plus an another American - a woman from Wisconsin the first 3 days. Our host/practice owner - fast-talking Welsh import whose husband is the Mayor, gave me a 2 hour intro and has not been seen those two weeks. Another Kiwi partner was here this last week. He wears Haiwaiian shirts, shorts and Keens to work. John and I between us covered call every other nite for the first 2 weeks. There my be a Kiwi GP that works full time, but I have not met one yet. Work was better after the second week as I learned where things were and how to work the forms and the computer - fortunately the same system as Waimate. The biggest problem has been that the only hospital in a 100 miles that has beds, x-rays and lab, is covered by docs that deny that they have an emergency room. The ambulance brought me a 88 yr old guy with a probable hip fracture at 11 pm Sun nite and the Doc at the hospital wanted me to send him back home. I had another little old guy who was dehydrated, that they didn't want at the hospital, but since then they have been more receptive. Must have heard my fine Otago whine.
The good news is that the staff are friendly, helpful and very patient. The Kiwi patients. as anticipated are very easy going, but I am not able to keep up with their smiling and head bobbing when they greet me.
Sandi had an invite from a local woman for tea at her house. She lives here in Alex, on Rose Hill in a lovely home. Her husband was a doctor here in Alex who died unexpectedly about 20 years ago from an infection that started on his hand! Left her with 6 children and this large home, orchard and gardens. She returned to work after he died to support the family. We toured her gardens and had tea and talked for 5 hours. Sandi did some weeding of her rose gardens, as she is unable to do it herself as she needed a hip replacement. Waiting lists for hip replacements can take yrs. She and Sandi took a car tour of some of the back roads and spots we'd never find on our own. Sandi enjoyed visiting with this very interesting woman, ~ 65 yrs young. Her children are scattered from Melbourne, Australia to Las Vegas, and 2 children living in Dunedin about 3 hrs. from here. Interesting to hear about this area from a native. Sandi was at her place picking plums for jam this week and got word through her daughter-in-law that she had her hip surgery this week.
We have been on the back roads to many small towns, seeing old bridges, mining towns, lakes, rivers and sheep. We followed the Rail Trail by car, rather than bike, but hit all the watering holes. Side trip to Blue Lake and Nasby to watch NZ's national sport, Cricket, or is it streaking?!!
Steve had weekend off 2/12-14 so we were off to explore the Fiorlands on the West coast of the So Island. We had a 4 hr drive after work to stay in Te Anau at Steamers Beach Lodge. On Sat. morning we took the 2 1/2 hour spectacular drive to Milford Sound and a 3 hr cruise of the sound. After the drive back to TeAnau we stayed at Keiko's B & B (big splurge compared to our usual back-packer's accommodations) On Sun. we visited a bird sanctuary alone the lake and drove back thru Queenstown and had valentines day dinner at Fergburgers (fond memories of meals there with Ty, Nicole and also Deb and Barb)
On Feb. 16, we celebrated Sandi's birthday with a winery visit on our way to Wanaka. Another hot sunny day in paradise. Dinner with sunset view over the lake.
We had a fine seafood dinner in the high desert at Chatto Creek Cafe with follow Locum Keith and wife, Ellen. The are taking a NZ break before new career in Enterprise, OR in Sept.
Our last weekend in the Otago region we went to Dunedin. We strolled through the Botanical Gardens and watched the party animal parade of returning University of Otago students. We met up with ex-pats, Craig and Lea, from Spokane who moved to NZ 6 years ago. They showed us some new sights including the surfer's beach and look out points. Sunday we spent the morning in the Octagon downtown listening to the national bagpipe competition and shopping for woolens and green stone. In the afternoon we revisited the Royal Albatross Center at the tip of the Otago Pennisula. On the way back to Alex we had a marvelous seafood dinner at Fleur's Place in Moeraki and got an autographed copy of her new book.
We finished out our last week in Alex with an evening cruise along the Clutha River with an informative review of the gold mining area from a transplanted Aussie. Steve has been enjoying morning bicylcle rides along the Clutha before work and did a section of the rail trail.
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