Back to Timaru

Saturday, May 15, 2010-So two weeks to the day after arriving to Timaru from Wellington for very brief stay, it is time to return to the place that we will call home for the next six months. I decided in order to see more of the landscape we should return via a scenic highway. Highway 1 is the most direct route up and down the East Coast of the South Island and that is the way we traveled up to Christchurch. On the way home, we initially headed west and then south along the western edge of the expansive Canterbury plain, just where it starts to meet the foothills of the mountain. It was a beautiful fall day, and we had an unhurried drive through the countryside. The highlights included crossing the Rakaia River just at the exit of the Rakaia Gorge.

We did not have time to participate in the jet-boating, salmon fishing, or trekking up the gorge walkway, but I suspect we will return later to do one of those activities. Just inland from there is the nearest ski area, Mt.Hutt. The Canterbury plain was originally heavily forested before the arrival of man, but subsequently most of the area has been cleared and converted to farmland. The traditional sheep-based economy is now being replaced by fewer sheep and more dairy cattle. This is causing some concern and controversy due to the effects on the environment and lifestyles. Dairy products are one of New Zealand’s biggest exports, and because the price they get for these goods overseas is so favorable, the New Zealanders have to pay more than you might expect for these items. There are few such stands of trees left, such as the Alford Forest and the Peel Forest, and these are favorite spots for walks and picnics and fishing. There are multiple streams which cross this plain, and I’m told they are excellent places for rainbow trout (imported from California) and the salmon fishing. Alford Forest is where we encountered four of the most pleasant words in the English language (at least according to Fayne), “Breakfast Served All Day”. We shared the big breakfast, pictured below.

 As you can see, it was a good venue for meat lovers, lacking only a healthy portion of Spam.
Next stop was Geraldine, a lovely little village about 40 minutes away from Timaru. There were many oddities that we discovered, including the world’s biggest woolen jersey and a mind-bending recreation of a medieval mosaic (not pictured). There were also interesting local cheeses and fruit products including unusual jams and chutneys. We took a walk along the river bank,

and then continued back to our house in Timaru. It was very much as we left it, and it did feel a bit like a home. After some shopping, we were eager to try the local cinema, taking in Iron Man 2, which I would recommend if you liked Iron Man 1.
Sunday we will regroup, try to find the Preakness Stakes on the horse racing channel, go to the library to use the Internet (we still don’t have it at home), and I will need to get ready what awaits me at Timaru Hospital. More on that later.