Each day has been a different experience and our drive up to Green Bush Hut yesterday had us pioneering for lunch in the huts open fire. Cauliflower, Kumara and coconut soup warmed our insides and Falafels and coucous to follow., A far cry from the old pioneers tucker.

We have only been away 4 days but the experiences hold the time so close, it seems like eons.

THANK YOU:
To the Mead whanau, thank you all for a very blessed journey. May your fantastic holistic contribution to the land and never ending guardianship be a model for those of us to strive towards.

To Karen, Colleen, Sharan, Gabrielle, Nivonne, Jeanne and Marg:
For taking the steps outside your comfort zones and going with the flow. For the music, the laughter and the dance.

To Sharon, Richard, Bruce and Wayne
For your driving skills and making our trip even more memorable. Keep you on as dishwashers.

To Kate;
For your boundless energy, your ‘got there before me’ work in the kitchen hub and your wonder woman hands.
Best wishes for your future study.

And to Steve;
For all the hard work behind the scenes, your outdoor knowledge, McIver brain and knowledge of this mountain history.

Until next time
Arohanui
Anah

The inaugural big bike race day from Hawea return via the Dingleburn. A seriously huge mountain bike race. We were very priviledged to be a part of this piece of history. Scones, cream and cups of tea proved to be a great diversion for many of the competitors at the Station. Well done Brigie and Nicky.

Today saw us walking up the Dingleburn river, time for the lungs and legs to truly get a bit of a work out. Wet feet and a lesson on the great advantages of merino clothing.

A bit of pampering for the girls, aromatherapy,open fire and candlelight, soothed by Kate,s massaging hands.

Anzac Morning in the mountains looking out over the head of Lake Hawea towards the high peaks awaiting sunrise…,

10 ‘Road less Travelled’ women, five men and a dog, greet the dawn with the haunting sound of the voice of Eva Cassidy, ‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’. It is the morning lest we forget, and together we celebrate the selfless contribution of those who came before us, in conflicts on far away shores.

The morning is filled with the cold morning air and as Colleen shares her poem from her Gallipoli experience, we feel their pain, tears escape, and in the mountain hush of the dawn, we remember.

Time to stretch the legs after some more homemade eats, and with our outdoor man in front and me, tail end Charlie, we head to the Dingle’s very own hydro electric generator. A piece of old history. Up we go, to the left, to the right… cabbage trees,rocks and picture perfect views, and then around a corner, a spectacular waterfall, the source for power for this high country merino station. Time for pics and laughs.

Canyon Creek walk in the afternoon tested our confidence with stepping stones and the importance of choosing your stones well.

Bonfire night on the beach with the Mead whanau, mulled wine and marshmellows to toast, we bathed in the firelight, comaraderie, and star gazing.

As Anzac day heads into the twilight zone, time for sleep under a sky of agelessness.

Lest we forget…we will remember them.

What a magnificent day, clear blue skies and a wonderful crispness in the air for our 4wd adventure to the Dingleburn to begin. Colleen, Karen, Sharan, Gabrielle, Marg, Jeanne and Nivonne join the 4wd crew, Sharon, Richard, Wayne, Bruce along with Steve, our outdoor man and Kate our massage therapist, for an outdoor journey of a lifetime.

In convoy we travelled to Lake Hawea, stopping for homemade eats along the way, girls meeting girls and boys. Yellows of autumn colours heralded our way to Benmore Dam, the largest earth dam in the Southern Hemisphere. What a spectacular day.

Greeted with a magnificent view at Windy Point, Lake Hawea, we were blown away with a scene from a picture postcard and a road on the edge!!.

Fresh smoked salmon in the shearers quarters and we settle in for the night at the Dingleburn Station.

The good chat begins.

As our nights begin to get longer as we head towards winter, I am reminded of the firelight stories and games we used to play when TV was not a distraction or a need.

In a weeks time, Sharan, Jeanne, Nivonne, Karen, Colleen, Marg and Gabrielle will join me and my fantastic support crew and drivers on a 4WD ‘out of this world’ experience to the top of stunning Lake Hawea.

This outdoor experience for me is very special and personal, as we begin our Friday morning with a dawn Anzac service, in our own way, with the mountains, the backbone of the South Island our quiet listening audience.

Although May 2009 may seem a long way off, we all know how quickly each day goes by, as we care for our families, friends and homes and then shift into other mutiple roles during one day. Whew!!
 
Thank goodness for Superwoman, Samantha/ Bewitched and their band of merry friends who add magic to our days.

As always thank you to our men, partners, families,friends and work mates who allow us to be Women. Just the way we are.

Bali (approx) May 13th -28th 2009 is in the making.
 
I am currently sourcing accommodation and activity options.Panchoran Retreat, Linda Garlands Estate just outside Ubud the cultural heart of Bali on a large secluded riverside property will be our home for 4 nights.

We are going upmarket for this wonderful ‘total senses’ experience at Linda’s. Google – ‘Linda Garland’ and find out more about this incredible woman, her design work and The Bamboo Foundation.

I already have a number of women keen to join me in Bali for this trip. Please contact me asap if you would like to be on this listing.Estimated cost ChCh return will be about $4500.00. More details will be sent out as accommodation,tours and experiences are finalised.

This will be my third escorted Bali trip and once again the journey will have key unique exciting differences.