Author Archives: Ross

Out on Okarito Lagoon – Kayaking

Even before we got to Okarito, we’d begun talking about hiring a kayak to get out on the lagoon. And once we got there, we went to visit the nice people at Okarito Kayaks. We were too late for the … Continue reading

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Onward to Okarito – Population 27

After extricating ourselves from the Hokitika Gorge carpark, we headed back towards Hokitika and then south. South of Ross the highway heads inland with quite a lot of not very much at all. Except lots of lovely native forest. And … Continue reading

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At Last – The Hokitika Gorge

After our companions  from the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail had headed off back home, we headed south to Hokitika. After visiting their scenic waste dump station we spent the night parked up on the south side of the Hokitika … Continue reading

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Up The Coast – The Rest of the Wilderness Trail

Our last day on the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail dawned grey and threatened rain. We’d had a charmed run with the weather, and if we had to have some wet then this would be the day to have it. … Continue reading

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Into the Wild West – Biking Day 2

After our rain-free first day on the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail last week, we had more rain overnight at Lake Kaniere. And it was still quite gray in the morning of our second day. We decided to ferry the … Continue reading

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Into The Wilderness – West Coast Bike Trail

After a night of rain, we woke to no rain. Which was a pleasant surprise. The forest was dripping but the sky was blue. It looked like we were off to a lucky start for our three-day ride. Before heading … Continue reading

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Off North to the West Coast

Wyn had signed up with her Mosgiel tramping group to bike the West Coast Wilderness Trail last week and after the Waipori ride a few weeks back I was keen to join them too. A week off work plus Labour … Continue reading

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Old Haunts Become New Hangouts – Dunedin’s Exchange

These days I catch my bus home from work outside what I still think of as the old Chief Post Office. It’s a long long time since it was a post office. But it was. Now that I remember, one … Continue reading

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The Big Red Part 4 – Leaving Tom Price

Once upon a time, in the faraway part of a land nearby, I spent six months working as a TA (Trades Assistant) with a fine and very diverse bunch of fitters near a town called Tom Price in the North … Continue reading

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Sunrise of the Week – Red Sky in the Morning …

We’re parked up again at the A&P Showgrounds at Mosgiel, with dog obedience classes and horse activities to watch. And always with a view of the hills, Flagstaff and Swampy. As I write this there’s a dramatic light show playing … Continue reading

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On Our Bikes – Up the Waipori Gorge

We enjoyed a lovely bike ride on Saturday; from the Berwick School up the Waipori Gorge. Wyn had signed up to ride with a group along the West Coast Wilderness Cycle Trail in a couple of weeks. Saturday was a … Continue reading

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The Sun Goes Down and the Sun Comes Up – From Burnside

We’ve been house sitting around several different parts of Dunedin this year. It’s been fun trying out different suburbs. Different aspects and different views. Different houses and different pets. Burnside is just over the ridge of hills that rings the … Continue reading

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Ko Whanaupaki Tōku Māunga – Flagstaff is my Mountain

For Māori, whakapapa (genealogy) is not just about the family tree. It is about a wider context, including linking us to our land and waterways. I think it is something we can all take something from as we lose touch more … Continue reading

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Voting for a Great Leap Backwards

I used to like elections; well loved them really. Although I’m thinking more of the local government ones which most people find extremely uninteresting. But not me. I enjoyed them, especially being a candidate for something. Elections for the community … Continue reading

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Well We Woke Up This Morning ….

We finished another house sitting gig yesterday near Mosgiel, and moved out in the rain. We were heading for our usual hanging-out place just out of Mosgiel, in the gathering gloom. The rain had been persistent all day, and we … Continue reading

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