The GPS unit was programmed to take us to Methven, but Robin thought he knew better and didn’t follow the instructions, and merrily drove another way. “Do a U turn, do a U turn”, the voice on the unit insisted. So he did just that, the anonymous voice was happy again, and we eventually arrived in Methven. “Why do you want to go to Methven?”, our travelling companions wanted to know. “Just because we had never been there”, was the reply. We passed quite an assortment of livestock on the farmland on our drive, from the more usual sheep and cattle, to alpacas farmed for their fine fleece. Our next stop was the Rakaia Gorge, and driving down the steep hill we pulled into a lay by to look at the glorious view. Away in the distance was one of the two Rakaia Gorge bridges. While our cameras were clicking madly and we noticed a young couple struggling up the steep road on their heavily loaded bicycles – I don’t think they were having fun at all!
From here it was a short drive down to the river, and we could see the second bridge from this viewpoint – different construction methods have been used for each bridge. There goes another load of timber. Looking across the bank on the other side of the gorge the layers of different sediments are clearly visible.
Our trip continued on to Staverley, the home of the famous Staverley Baking Company sausage roll – or so I read. Goodness knows what the proprietors of the Staverley Store thought when our cars pulled up and 8 people walked into the shop to ask for their special sausage rolls! We ordered coffees to wash the sausage rolls down and sat outside on the picnic tables to enjoy our morning tea.
This little speck in the middle of nowhere is typical of towns which previously thrived, then closed down. These days only the store and the church remain. In the picnic area adjacent to the shop is a statue carved by Allan Coleman “Honouring the pioneers of the foothills”.
After all those sausage rolls we still needed our lunch so we took a short drive out to Hakatere Conservation Park at the foot of Mount Sommers. The DOC hut was just the place for us to sit and eat our sandwiches.
This is a beautiful area and keen trampers can take several walks in the surrounding hills, anything from short walks to others from 6-9 hours hard slog. The Department of Conservation always provides an “Intentions Book” for trampers to list what route they are taking in case they fail to return. Beech trees were plentiful, and with their black trunks they look as if a fire has swept though the area. The black colouration is because the trees secrete honeydew, which unfortunately attracts huge quantities of wasps.
We arrived back at camp ready to put the kettle on, make a cuppa, sit down in the sunshine and relax. Our host restores old cars and has many dotted around his property in various stages of repair. In the morning we will pack up and move on, next stop Geraldine.
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