Jordan's pacific travel blog

Week 6/7 Aug 19 - Sept 4, Geraldine

We spent two weeks in Geraldine, staying at "The Crossing". The Crossing is a well known homestead just outside of Geraldine, which will be a century old in 2008. Capernwray currently manages it, which puts Dale and Pattie in charge. It's normally run as an upclass bed and breakfast, but then it's turned into a small school for second semester students from Monovale. (North island Capernwray)
There hadn't been enough applicants to the course, so there was no course while we were there. But all seven of us filled the place well enough, and we lived in this luxurious place for two weeks!

One day we had lunch at the Horne's place, and this is the view from their backyard! In winter the trees shed their leaves to reveal the snowcapped mountains.

We had alot of fun with the St. Andrews youthgroup. We hung out at a shed called "the Lighthouse".

Uniquely New Zealand (well not Canada anyway) is a weekly event that many churches participate in, called "Mainly Music". Moms bring their babies, and they dance for an hour and a half, singing basic songs with exaggerated actions. Not my thing.

Also we organized a few kids clubs, and helped out with a friday night rally.

One weekend us guys went on a hunting trip with the youth group (Boys only) and caught a few rabbits. The valley we were in, or the area, was Mesopotamia. It's the same valley where the Lord of the Rings crew filmed Edoras of Rohan! Also Helms' deep was around this area. Gorgeous scenery. Here's Adam guarding his treasure...

...and the travel team posing on Allie. (Our van.)

On my birthday, we went tramping up Mt. Peel! As you can see we encountered a fair amount of snow!

Our last saturday together, the team went to Christchurch for the day. Me and Chris bought these shwagsmen hats. (Does that make us shwaggers?) Shwaggers are hired Aussie farm hands who go from farm to farm.

Then we took the long drive home. This is the ferry ride back to the north island. The north island is behind me, but there was a strange wall of haze, so you can't see it.

Labels: Pacific Travel

posted by Jordan Olson @ 2:34 PM