A walk around the Lake Hayes A&P Show

Fi and I visit the Remarkables Market for berries from Dave of Goodies of the gorge, white currants and gooseberries from Don of Dalefield, fresh organic eggs, bacon, black pudding and a lamb rack from the specialist butcher.

Next destination -  Lake Hayes A&P show which has all the hallmarks of yesteryear and some 21st century additions.
The get the feel for the events and the exhibitors...

Come, walk with me

 There are vehicles on display.
I love the fire engine. I haven't seen what is behind the shutters before.
Volunteer firemen encourage the little ones to try out the fireman's seats. The firemen are angels.

 The sheep dog has been at work.

 A lawn mower and digger - for every man.

 The rides with lake Hayes in the background.

 The sideshows...

 The grand parade.
Champions.

 The baking, produce and flowers in the exhibition hall.
First men's cooking

 More Men's business...

 Children's entries...

Flowers

 Prize winning Merino ram

Petting zoo.

Many families enjoying the glorious day.

 

Walking on air

Come, walk with me.

Harnessed up and ready to walk on air.

Brooke and Arjun who are the terrific guides for our group of 8.  

All the other participants are from overseas. 

Curiously there is only one man in the group.

We are separately and carefully connected to the zipline.

Step this way...

You will be airborne before you reach the bottom step.

The brakes ensure a gentle landing.

 Some stair walking to the next level...

 What are these fellow Ziptrekkers watching?

How to take off for an upside down zip.

I have spent quite a bit of my life figuring 'which way is up' so I resist the challenge.

 The views from the zip lines and at the tree huts are terrific.
Cameras can be tethered to the harness but I prefer to keep mine in a zipped pocket. I doubt I'd take a photo as I zip along a zipline.

There is a strong sustainability theme illustrated at each Ziptrek treehouse and  Arjun and Brooke explain the principles. This sustainability focus on an adventure ride is a first for me.
 This Maori whakatauki (proverb)  at the end of the Ziptrek conveys the essence of sustainability.
'Care for the land, care for the people, go forward'.

 Go forward... and up the track to the first Ziptrek Tree house where the zipping began.

What shall I try next?
Mountain biking…
There are some world champion mountain-bike trails here.

Paragliding.  

Ah, but I have done this. A few years ago when we were at the Skyline I casually mentioned I'd like to do it one day. Dick went to get me a cappuccino and came back with the coffee and a ticket to fly!

Luge. I can tick this, too. Perhaps I'll do it again.

People watching and chatting to visitors is a perennial favourite here for me.

The view from here is magnificent. 

Everyone seems to be exhilerated  by it.

I am so blessed to live in this beautiful place

Lake Wakatipu Changes colour - An alpine summer's day in Queenstown

 

The southerly wind bears an antarctic blast.

It is snowing in the mountains.

The wet afternoon lures me to the movies.

I see Twenty feet from Stardom. Worth seeing.

When I emerge from  Dorothy Browns Cinema the sun is shining.

I set off around the hills above the lake. I have noticed the Lake has been more turquoise over the last few days. Apparently masses of glacial flour released in a major landslide on the Dart River and has flowed into the lake. Meanwhile the landslide has created a dam on the Dart river and a section of the Dart walking track near Sandy Bluff is now 20m under water.

I am using a Lumix DMC-G3 camera and have not photoshopped the images. Just in case you are wondering.

Let's see what effect the evening light has on Lake Wakatipu

Come, walk with me.

The evening sun breaks through the clouds and the lake responds.

I spy a rainbow in the distant hills.

I love rainbows and walk on... 

 ...until the arc is at my feet.

A promise...