Saturday, 16 December 2017

Gold Creek

Today took me out via Gold Creek and then back to town. I met our neighbour, Bill, on the other side of the bridge on my outward journey and he told me I was a long way from home. I pointed out that he was further from home than me.
I discovered where the fire yesterday had been when I saw a burnt out hay shed. It was still smoking and the smell stayed with me for about a kilometer. When I turned on to Gold Creek Road it was a case of onwards and upwards. And just when I thought I had got up the hill... there was another bigger and better.
The horses that I passed yesterday were in a different paddock today but they still listened when I talked to them. There was another which I thought was hurrying down the paddock to  meet me but he was just running to meet his friends in the next paddock so that they could share their news. Being horses they are far to well bred to simply gossip!
It's a great view from Palisade Road across over Gore.
Coming back into town I passed a display of vintage farm machinery. It looked quite busy and should, I thought, have been more widely advertised.
The river is very low. I don't think I have seen it so low so early in the summer. It does not bode well for the rest of the season. A mother duck and her seven ducklings hurried down stream as I came close. She looked disgusted when I drew up beside her and she had to turn back upstream into the current.
As I returned across the bridge I stopped to watch a fly fisherman casting. Hs companion was on the bridge giving directions as to where to cast. A little unsporting,  I thought. The fish was quite large and very well camouflaged.I hope it was catch and release. While I was watching I felt a spot of rain. I had been considering adding a few extra kilometers, but decided that the shortest route might be best. Up Johnson and Thistle Streets, no stopping, a lot of puffing, and only a little bit wet. My hi vis jacket is not waterproof. It does cut the wind though.
I just love the clouds we get in Southland. This is a view of the Hokonui Hills from the Gold Creek Road.

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