A worthwhile interlude

On the shore of Lake Tekapo- Not a bad place to open the thermos flasks of coffee.

The hills around Tekapo.

Blobbing out at Lake Dunstan

We are on holiday away up the Rangitata River Gorge, in a house about 10k from Mesopotamia Station, the very end of the road in the foot hills of the Southern Alps.  The holiday has been planned since before Christmas and we were to spend about nine days here. We interrupted our holiday to drive about 800 kilometres to visit family. Not long before we left to come on holiday we received an invitation to my sister-in-law’s surprise sixtieth birthday party, to be held at Cromwell on the Saturday about the middle of our stay at this house. Our initial reaction was to say we would not go, we were away in the back country, it is a long distance to drive, we would have to stay away a night which would be more accommodation costs, it would be tiring, and after all we are on holiday from a busy “people-filled” lifestyle.  In spite of all these thoughts I did not click on “reply” because I felt uneasy about saying “no”.  This sister-in-law has had a rough ride to sixty, with several battles with cancer and other health issues. She has raised a big family in the process, and also extended love to a number of other needy children and young people.  She now continues to be a big part of her grandchildren’s life. They are sixty significant years of living to celebrate. So a day or so before the event while we were within cell phone range, we rang to say we would be there. Accommodation was arranged with another brother in Clyde and we decided we would take the opportunity on the way home to spend time with my wife’s brother and sister-in-law in Geraldine on the way back. It would be two days out of our blob-out “stay-clear-of-people” holiday. I was pleased we went for two reasons.

Family are to be valued

We arrived in Cromwell early in the afternoon and touched base with my brother at his work. (He is a real estate agent) After some refreshments we cruised around the area then lazed around in the sun on the shore of Lake Dunstan, arriving out at the hall early. (It was a barbecue meal) We assisted the daughters and families to decorate the hall and then as guests arrived spent the night eating, meeting and talking. I had conducted the weddings of the two daughters who were busy organising things. It was great to see them now as mature women, caring for their children and carrying on the same loving tradition as their parents. I caught up on nephews also, spending quite a bit of time chatting with one who is single, with challenges in his life, but just so upfront, straight forward and friendly. After assisting a little with the clean up, we drove through to Clyde and spent the night and much of the next morning with my brother and his wife there. It was good to have time to chat; we enjoy their company and perspectives on life. Loaded with gifts from their vegetable garden, we headed back to our isolation, stopping to catch up on my wife’s brother in a rest home in Geraldine. He has been an active man, but in the last couple of years his health has taken a turn for the worst. He talked of the process of recognising that so many of the things he loved doing and had dreamed of doing he could no longer do. Other residents, who in spite of difficulties were still making something of their lives, had been an encouragement to him. We spent a brief time around with his wife, who is working on “down sizing”. 

All these people are family. If I got into a theological discussion with some of them we would differ. They live different lifestyles than I do, most are much more affluent than I am. There are, however, lots of shared values, and these people accept me as I am. At the sixtieth one man spoke saying that his association with the Brown family went back to primary school days. That’s what I got to thinking. These people we were visiting are family. We have journeyed the journey of life together. We have had the same sort of childhood experiences, we have celebrated together, cried together, seen our children grow, been there and heard about each other’s tough times and good times. While we lived in different parts of the country, and led different lives there is something special about that long-term history. It was good and worthwhile to make the effort to be with them. I enjoyed their company. Family is important and I am fortunate to have an extended family made up of some lovely and loving people.

Amazing scenery!

The car’s speedometer told us we travelled just under 800 kilometres. We drove from our isolated but very scenic river gorge through to the small mid-Canterbury town of Geraldine. There is some lovely farmland all around. From there we went inland again and over Burkes Pass to the beautiful blue lake of Tekapo. Rugged countryside with a backdrop of mountains surrounds this lake. We sat on the shore and had a picnic of coffee and biscuit bars.  Travelling further inland you drive along with a panorama of the Southern Alps before you. The beautiful blue of Lake Pukaki emerges, with Aoraki/ Mount Cook glistening at the head of the lake. (This mountain is the highest in NZ) The steep rugged hills of the Lindus Pass, with sign posts to various sheep stations give an almost frontier feel to the area. Coming out of the Lindis, you breakout into flatter Central Otago countryside. There are increasing numbers of vineyards all around you, Lake Dunstan in the foreground and rugged mountains in the background. Cromwell is situated on the banks of Lake Dunstan, which used to be two converging rivers until the big hydro-electric dam at Clyde turned it into one big, scenic lake with two arms to it. It is a playground for water skiers, fishermen and boaties. The whole area has a gold-mining history and then featured lots of fruit orchards. Now it is becoming a centre for viticulture and wine making. The final part of the journey was to travel down the lake to Clyde. The return trip travelled the same roads, but the kilometres travelled were no hardship. The scenery was simply magnificent and we once again appreciated the uncluttered and beautiful country we are fortunate enough to live in.