I kind of wanted to get out of bed to take pictures of the sunrise, because it would light up the mountains, but somehow couldn't get up. It rained in the night, and I had already packed away the awning because it was blowing hard. The wind came and went but continued to blow until morning, rocking the van. We got up about 8, and then hatched a plan to walk around the lake - I'd estimated it at about 8km. We left about 9 or 9.30, should be plenty of time before Charles's ETA.
Things started off well, the path was pretty easy to see, and the lake stretched away in front of us as we started off in a clockwise direction. After a bit the path moved away from the water's edge, and turned into a 4X4 track, marked by orange pipe on metal poles. The swampy end was supposed to be marked by white pipe, and it was - we managed to skirt the end pretty easily, keeping an eye open for the rare crested grebe nesting there. Maybe we saw one, hard to tell. Lots of other waterbirds though.
Once past the end of the lake, the path got hard to follow. We didn't want to stick with the 4X4 track as it seemed to go too far away from the lake, so eventually we cut down towards the water and found what seemed to be a path. Great. We followed this for a bit, then ended up having to go upstream of a small brook that fed the lake - we had already crossed the main stream from the west end. Again we struck out from the 4X4 track, and again we were brought back to it by the need to cross streams. That track was so boring though! We were not even opposite the hamlet though - this lake is much bigger than it looks! the GPS was still working, even with a single bar of battery, which surprised me, and it revealed we'd already gone quite a way.
Heading towards the top of the lake, the eastern end, it went much further up than we'd realised from the hamlet, and again we had to follow the 4X4 road. Eventually, we crossed a very broad brook feeding the lake - 4X4s ford it, but we used a single plank and log bridge, which Jen found a bit challenging initially, but managed ok. Then it was basically metalled road back to the campsite, which was hard going and thirsty work by this time. Total distance walked 7 miles!! Big congrats to all. And although it was 11.45, Charles was still not in evidence, although we'd seen several cars/SUVs. A good walk, with some interesting challenges in navigation.
I rested my feet - the cut heel felt pretty good and no sign of the little toe blisters again. Jen's were good too, she'd worn her trainers. Looking out for a possible Charles vehicle, I spotted a lady painter up the hill, working presumably on a painting of the view across the lake, also a family in a Delica hanging around outside the loos - what was that about?
Charles, of course, turned up on time pretty much, unexpectedly driving a monster Mercedes Sprinter LWB, in silver. He greeted us effusively - nice guy, easy to get on with. He moved his van over to the rigging spot in the day area, and opened it up. What an Aladdin's cave!! He totes around about 13 boards, 13 sails, loads of masts, 4 booms, all the family's wetsuits, booties on a drying rack (cool!), all racked up and ready to rock. In moments he'd assessed the current wind, and launched into rigging four sails (two each) and a selection of boards. Incredible! Refusing my help on the grounds that he knows what he's doing, I left him to it to take some pictures. Apparently Micah Buzanis is going to be told to rack his vehicle up like this…
The lake was pretty windy, although apparently not from the optimum direction, more N than the preferred NW. I sailed a 5.3 NP Firefly and 93l JP Freestyle Carbon board - yum. Worked really well, and the flat (for me!) water was a fantastic opportunity to practise gybes (normal + duck), 360s and fast tacks, as well as blast along trying hops off the small chop. Apparently when it really honks they do get some swell, but clearly it's not going to be Jaws! What a fantastic place to practise freestyle - people should definitely get up here and have a go, Cribby especially. It was great to be out, and I was really glad of the wetsuit - not cold water, but prevents unwelcome shocks! My hands blistered a bit - working too hard, and holding on too hard too early when not confident of the kit.
Eventually we stopped for lunch and a rest. Charles went up to his house - amazingly, it is the one on the point, in the pole position! Wow. I napped after a sandwich. When he returned about a hour later (4.30-ish) the wind had dropped a bit, so I switched to a FS107 and 6.1m - all the same stuff, just scaled up a bit. I was a bit more tired and sleepy than I'd thought, and the wind more flukey - quite hard work really. Then it dropped off a bit more, and Charles got out, indicating that I should too. The wind was about to change…
First it dropped completely, and the clouds to the west disappeared, replaced by clouds to the east. A large blanket of cloud formed over the hills opposite the hamlet, then it started to swirl around, standing up in the face of a slight NW/W. Then the wind came up really strongly - from the south, really ripping through the trees and kicking up some serious chop. Glad we stopped and didn't get caught out! The wind swung further, and the easterly clouds hung around.
Meanwhile Charles had packed all his stuff, and invited up to his place for dinner and wine. We walked up about 7, and what a nice place… Incredible views across the lake, you can see Mount D'Archiac which is quite a way away. The cloudscape and rapidly changing light and colours in all directions was astonishing, and we used Charles' nifty telescope to take a look around. Dinner was beef with olives and lots of lemon and green beans, with mashed potato. Wine was one of "his" Sauvignon Blancs for a starter, with a Pinot Noir or 2 then more Blanc. How different the Blanc was from that acidic stuff we had back in Blenheim! Apparently it's all bottled and sold too early, because the NZ tax system doesn't allow it to sit untaxed. Hmm. Mistake.
We sat and talked until 11 or later - had a look around the house systems, PV solar electricity, solar heating, flush loos, shower, bath, gas, phone, huge 2KW inverter so the fridge and freezer run continuously for free (after the $10k investment…) - very much a rich man's green place! Lots of talk - politics, education, apparently Caroline is related to John Britten (RIP)- my total engineering hero - and next time we visit I can go to the factory, meet people (even maybe Aaron Slight eek!), and eat at JB"s self-built house of spectacular engineering madness e.g. turned columns he did himself. So if I didn't want to come back before, now I really have a reason! And there's so much more to do - next time more walks, I really would like to do a long multi-day walk somewhere remote.
Staggered home under a moonlit but overcast sky, fell asleep, g'night all! Big thanks to Charles for putting in so much effort to meet and greet, it was really appreciated.
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