We have a date!

Way back in July 2010 I started this blog with the intention of it keeping me accountable for when I trained (haha) for when my sister and I decided to 'do' the rail trail. The blog has gone it's own way, with the occassional nod to my walking and other exercise. And often lack of it :)

But we now have a date!

March 2016.

And we have a mode of transport.

Feet!

We will walk it - hopefully it will take us no more than four days, 

maybe three with luck and a good wind.

We have enlisted my GKB to drive a camper van 

which we'll sleep in at night and he can go fishing during the day, if he wants. 

And as he is a fisherman I don't think he'll have any problem with that.
So now I  need to go walking in earnest.

My GKB has to go walking three times a week 

so I am going out with him but it is more of a stroll than a walk.

.His legs get too painful if he goes too hard at it.

So far we have strolled along the beach once or twice

and earlier this week we went to the lake on a beautiful day

 and walked around the lakeside for a bit.

We've also strolled down the floodbank at the Silverstream. 

My GKB gave up after about 10 minutes, he hasn't learnt to pace himself yet.

 So I took off by myself for a brisk walk to the end of the section we were on.

 On one side was an extremely low Silverstream and on the other the playing fields.

It has been very hot and sunny for the last month but today

 the temperatures dropped and so I went out by myself.

I walked away from town and headed down to a crossroads where I usually turn back 

but today I decided to go a little further, straight ahead.

I've driven down here and knew there were some old homesteads

as well as some new modern homes but have never walked down before.

The picture above is Islington, one of the old homes,
and below is the entrance to Chelmsford, one of the new residences.
You can see the end of the garages through the gate.

Anyway, all that is to say, we finally have a plan and now I need to knuckle down.

Strolling three times a week with my GKB and three times out by myself.

I'll give myself a day off on Sundays.

That should do it - as long as I keep it up!

Have a good week,

Diana

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Camp Waihola

On a nice mild Friday afternoon recently I packed my overnight bag and drove down to Camp Waihola, well my GKB drove me. We picked up a 12 year old on the way and rendezvoused with the rest of the youth group at the camp, along with
the kids from Balclutha.

 

kitchen and lodge

 

My GKB left me there, he is not quite sure what the attraction is in wanting to spend any great length of time with thirty or so young teenagers. He picked me up the next day when I swapped over with one of our other leaders. It is only 20 minutes drive from home so not too far to do the trip twice.

 

 

early sunrise

 

The camp is set in farmland and there is a lake is on the other side of the state highway, which we didn't go to. In the photo above you might be able to see the fog rising from the lake in the distance. (The lake and the highway are hidden behind the hills).

 

early morning fog

 

This photo is taken to the right of the one above, more early morning fog, it burnt off very quickly and by the time we'd had breakfast it was a lovely sunny morning

 

 

informal game of touch rugby

 

Some of the kids played a game of touch while they waited for the first organised session to start, while others cleaned up the dining room and did the chores - there's always those chores to do.

I went for a bit of a walk, touch rugby is definitely not my 'thing'.

 

 

 

Past the playground for the little ones - we had some young families with us as well, their parents helped in one way or another.

 

 

 

Past some ponies in the top paddock...

 

...and in a paddock further down the hill, a very pregnant ewe and another one with triplets,

you can just see the leg of the third one on the other side of her if you look hard...

 

 

They all seemed to have more than one baby to look after.

 

pie fight

 

We had thirty plus very energetic bigger kids to care for...and one of them, a 2 year old, picked a daisy and gave it to me. No stem , just the flower. Cute.

 

very blurry daisy.

All in all it was a good weekend and the kids enjoyed themselves. A lot of fun had by all.

 

I felt great while I was there but as soon as I got home and sat down in my own nice comfortable easy chair I felt extremely tired - I wonder why?

 

 

Diana