We’ll really part two was a holiday weekend in paradise! Te Anau threw me the best weather I have ever experienced in Southland and as Russ always said “might as well see the place while you’re here”

The power of the mind, and muscle memory dragged this old body up a mountain! Pam and I took off on an afternoon adventure to tackle the Key Summit track in the Fiordland national park! With lockdowns and human restrictions and for some, the “Fear” of covid, this wonder of the world was devoid of humans, tourists, kiwi holidayers and vehicles.

Yes it was strait up and down, well zigzagging up and down….a few corner rests and taking our breath away – in more ways than one.,.

Waterfalls….

Hobbit trees….

Tarns….

360 degree views….

And Drink stops!

A four hour round trip, and back to the homestead in time to watch the “Blues” snatch a narrow win in their 2nd Super rugby game….again followed by a fresh seafood dinner supplied by the hunter and gatherer “Guy” from his fishing trip to Stewart Island!

Surprisingly enough the legs held up well, maybe a hangover from the last few months of unloading containers!

Sunday, was an excursion into town “Te Anau” a usual bustling tourist town, sleepy and quiet in this whole new world of masks and isolation!

Pam and I soaked up the sunshine and a delicious Pie while waiting for the ferry to come in and catch up with a mate who we worked with 35 years ago in the ski fields! Skipper of the gloworm caves tour transporting the half a dozen punters who are brave enough to venture out!

A cup of tea on the ferry and back to the homestead…to pack up and leave my luxury abode…the air BnB at Pam’s house that she gave to me for the weekend! Anyone heading south needs to look up this amazing accomodation and spend a few nights in “Atriu Apartment” to soak up the mountains and lake!

Sunsets and sunrises to die for! – and no this is not a postcard!

A 400k round trip for Pam to drop me to the Queenstown airport, so I took the wheel (of the truck) on the drive up to share the load!

Pit stop and viewpoint as we rounded the southern end of Lake Wakatipu on our way to Queenstown..a food stop and evening flight back to the big smoke!

It seems ages since I reached out with adventures and there have been so many twists and turns in this world I barely know where to start!

Let’s begin with now, where I stand (or rather lie as still in bed) in the Fiordland world of long time dear friends, waking to the lake and mountains climbing in the ranch slider to my super king bed in their gorgeous AirBNB appartment!

Sunrise this morning promising another Stunning Southland summer day – and it’s Saturday – work trip over.

Wind back….the last few weeks have been tumultuous, as we battle an upsurge in cold like symptoms (omicron or the usual change of season cold?) and the fallout of COVID lockdowns and restrictions, further crippling our economy and dividing friends and family! Here is not the place to share my views but I can say I have happily babysat dog, while my family has been away to support restoring reality to our world!

Work has been busy as we wind up for the year, with online packaging solutions escalating, while more and more retail are suffering under our strict regime and restrictions. Some who are too frightened to leave home, others who are restricted due to their “health” choices, and others who, irrespective of their health choices, are succumbing to this “dreaded” disease and must isolate, with everyone else in their house, for 10 days, even if they are better after 3!

Meanwhile, those who fight for their Jobs, For their families and for their children and health are beaten up by our boys in blue, who, curiously enough, are free to work without vaccines while the rest of essential workers (nurses, doctors, teachers etc) cannot!

Ok, opinions aside, and an opportunity to leave the bubble, flight booked and (negative RATs in hand) Dans sanding mask limiting my breathing ability, a two hour flight and touching down to another world in the Deep South of our country!

Room with a view from my Queenstown apartment, speights in hand as the sun sets over lake Wakatipu – preparing for a busy Thursday visiting clients! My chauffeur(and friend Pam) from Te Anau joining me for the duration.

Next morning it was off to Wanaka, stopping at Cromwell on the way to collect another girlfriend, for a sales trip, girls day out!

Rachel and Pam, at Rachel’s crib on the edge of Lake Dunstan, Cromwell! Certainly off the grid for Thelma!

First stop, a winery in Bannockburn – Te Kano wines…

No wine tasting at 11am, and back on the road to Wanaka…roads quiet, and towns quiet, devoid of tourists.

The gals did their best to support local business, clothes shopping at my first call and lunch and refreshment’s at my next one

And here they are, filling in time while I did my business! Needless to say my chauffeur became the passenger after this stop as I took the wheel.

Temperatures now hitting the higher 20s it was off to the Wanaka landmark!

Tree in lake! The Gals, both being keen swimmers and Southland girls(lake temperatures no deterrent), stripped off and swam! While this Northland girl lapped up the sunshine in this magic spot.

5.00 o’clock looming we headed back to Cromwell and made an executive decision to forgo the booked accommodation (in Queenstown) and continue the girls day out!

Hot tub by the lake, fire lit, bubbles and beer and lots of laughs! As we rolled into boiling fresh lake water before hitting the pillow for a great sleep!

Up early friday morning, back to Queenstown for some computer time, pack up and check out before 11am. A client visit in town, and a couple of successful visits on the way, lunch and coffee and on the road south for the weekend!

Arriving back at Pam’s piece of paradise for the weekend! Yours truly ensconced in their rental apartment (very spoiled) and Guy (Pam’s hubby) arriving home shortly after from a fishing trip to Stewart island, laden with Blue Cod, oysters and paua. I was a little help as the filleting and packing process filled in the next two hours and all rewarded with a fabulous dinner of fresh fish and oysters, before three tired Kiwis retired for the night!