Dunedin, here we come

It was time to move on again, so we drove back over the Presidential Highway again to Clinton, stopping again when something else caught our eye.  Clinton's Clydesdales is a famous five horse sculpture on the main street. It reflects and represents the town's agricultural history. The Scottish Clydesdale draught horse is the gentle giant of the horse world, and was the most popular animal for hauling wagons, and pulling ploughs and other cultivation equipment.  This monument, at Clinton in South Otago, is testament to the debt farmers had to Clydesdales, before they were replaced by trucks and tractors. 

The Clinton Clydesdales

The landscape was gentle rolling farmland, in the typical Otago golden grasslands.  As we drove along many, many motorbikes were heading towards us, roaring by as they made their way to Invercargill and the annual Burt Monroe Challenge.

Rolling countryside

I just love interesting old bridges, and we drove over the Balclutha bowstring bridge, built in 1935 to be earthquake and flood resistant to safeguard  against the two most common natural disasters to occur in southern New Zealand.  THiss bridge, spanning the Clutha River in Balclutha, South Otago, is one of the best-known road bridges in the South Island, and  is often simply known as "The Clutha Bridge".

Balclutha Bridge

Carrying on to Dunedin, 158km later we were at our stop for the next two nights, Woodhaugh NZMCA Park. This is quite small, but has all the necessary facilities, water, dump station and rubbish bins, and is very close indeed to the city.  The rain came down and chased the sunshine away, and the weather turned rather chilly indeed.  Most noticeable after all the sunshine and high temperatures we have had lately. 

Now in Dunedin

The main reason for our visit to this very Scottish city, was to spend time with my old school friend Merilyn and her husband Colin.  We spent an enjoyable afternoon/evening at their home the day we arrived, and the following day they came and collected us to go out for lunch.  But first, they took us for a look around the Otago Settlers Museum.

Dunedin was founded in 1848 by the Lay Association of the Free Church of Scotland.   The city has a rich  Scottish connection. It’s name comes from the Gaelic word for Edinburgh, and Thomas Burns, nephew to famous Scots poet Robert Burns, was among the early settlers.

Museum exhibits

A roast lunch was next, and Colin and Merlyn took us to a local pub.  It was certainly very popular, with most of the tables already reserved, but luckily we managed to find a spare table.  The roast of the day was pork, so that’s what we all ordered, and very tasty it was too.

Me with Merilyn in the pub

.Next we were taken for a drive up to the headland overlooking St Kilda Beach.  But what’s this?  In the carpark beside us were people milling around outside a motor home.  Not only had they locked themselves out, leaving the keys inside, but a baby and toddler were locked inside, and getting rather agitated.  There was nothing we could do to help, and a locksmith was on the way.  Lesson learnt I’m sure, be sure you have the keys in hand when you exit the motorhome! 

We went and peered over the cliff edge at the pretty beach below.  But my goodness, it was blowing a gale, and we could hardly wait to get back inside the car.  Just as well that Robin took his cap off before he stepped outside, otherwise it could have been blown down to Antarctica!.

St Kilda Beach

We enjoyed a final coffee  together at the local garden centre and then  it was time to drop us back at the caravan.  Merilyn and Colin had grand-dog sitting duties to do over the weekend and had to hurry back home.  It was so nice to have such a great catch up with them both, hear all their news, enjoy a lovely meal in their beautiful home, and lunch out the following day.  Old friends are great friends indeed, and Merilyn and I go back to primary schooldays.

Colin and Robin  at coffee time