Autumn in Paradise - walk from Shotover Bridge to Lake Hayes with Anne

Autumn has arrived in Queenstown.

We have returned from our motorcycle tour in Tasmania.
On with the walking shoes.

We set off over the restored Shotover bridge and along the Shotover and Kawarau Rivers.
We reach Lake Hayes and find a ride back to the car.

We have struck gold today.

Come, walk with us.

 Hick's Cottage and farm sheds on the trail.

 Cloud atop the Remarkables.

I haven't hitchhiked since 1968.
Anne reminds me how it is done.
We get a ride.  Thank you Jonathon.

It is wonderful to be walking the Queenstown Trail with Anne at this time of the year.

We stop for lunch at the Boat Shed Cafe on the Frankton Trail. We had a lively conversation.
We talked of many things including guardian angels.

Afterwards I go to the supermarket - but can't find my credit card when I go to pay at the Check Out counter.
I suspect  must have dropped it in the carpark, if not I'll go home and get another card.

I arrive home just as Sherri Jo arrives.
She needs to take her bike, Tony to the Motorcycle shop.
It is near the place I started walking with Anne.
I take Sherri Jo to the motorcycle shop and decide to check out the area where I parked the car in the morning before we set off over the bridge.
No card.

I begin to phone the Bank to cancel the card.
At that moment I get a phone call from Anne. "Have you got your credit card?"
Her friends have found the card on the trail and contacted her because they remembered she had mentioned my name.

I call her friends.
It turns out they live about 500m away from where I have parked and have my card at home.
I pop in collect my card - and two new friends.
Thank you Maryvon and Ken.

How I love it when something like this happens.
Goodness and guardian angels.

Oh, and I did get to collect my groceries.

Riding and Walking in another land.

I have swapped back to my motorcycle boots and Dick and I are on a ten day motorcycle trip in Tasmania.

If you are interested click on my  Pearls on Wheels blog. I am posting there while we are on this trip.

Good Friday walk

The Cross.

A reminder today of Jesus crucifixion.

In my  mind, as I walk toward St Stephens Chapel, I hear my father singing There is a green Hill.

This is the site of one of the first churches built in New Zealand. 

St Stephens chapel was built in 1856 for the signing of the Anglican Church of New Zealand Constitution in 1857.  

Services are held here each Sunday at 9am.

Beautiful white Flowers 

symbols of purity, love, unity and strength

Roses, cosmos, water lily, winter rose and camellia. 

reach out their petals today.

John 3:16
For God so loved the world that he gave his only son, so that everyone who believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

Easter is in the news.

Waitemata Sunrise - tranquility on Hobson Bay.

The golden sunrise lures me out.


High tide.
Calm water reflects the morning sky.

Bright seed pods and flowers say "look at me".

Come walk with me.

 Agapanthus seed pods

 Late flowering pohutukawa and seed heads.

Fuchsia  remind me of the Patagonian fuchsia.

 The remnants of the golden sunrise and the shimmer of the sun on the Waitemata Harbour.

A quiet time on the path today.

A time to contemplate in a beautiful place.
The occasional sound of a bird, and of
a man on the road calling out "Happy Easter" to passersby,
but otherwise all is still.

Queenstown Trail - Kawarau River

We began today with breakfast with dear friends Kathryn and Garth. 

This afternoon I walked along the Kawarau river and thought about friendship...

Friends are a like gold.

There is a hint of gold in the trees along the trail today. 

The grand Remarkables mountains form a backdrop.

Come, walk with me.

Deer Park Hill the location of many film scenes lies to our right...

 Autumn berries

Soon these trees will become a golden riot.

 Plenty of places for children to play.

 The river is a very low.
The fisherman is optimistic...

 the peaceful scene...

 changes as  a jet boat roars by.

 Shortly the sun begins to set...

and it is time for dinner at Gantleys.

We will be leaving this New Zealand paradise today and beginning another motorcycle  and walking adventure in Tasmania next week.