Road Trip Time!

Afternoon pick up of Germie. We got the German safe and sound from the airport and headed out of town.

Lake Lyndon is our first night destination. We all jumped in the lake for a swim, Rowan and Jenna went swimming to the other side while I warmed the place up and made hot drinks. It was super cold. Definitely more winter than summer! Burrr

We are up nice and early, it is super cold and some psycho decides to go swimming. So off Rowan and Germie go back into Lake Lyndon. I am sensible and drink coffee instead. Our first stop is Castle Hill, the weather is pants but a DOC worker tells us it is nice towards the West Coast.

The second excursion is Cave Stream. I have never done it before. Rowan told me later that he has never done it when it is this high. Don’t worry not so high it is dangerous. It was still below where they tell you not to enter and no heavy rain on its way. So off we went, we got down to the entrance when Rowan realised I left one of the torches back at the camper. So he goes back to get it for me. The water is pretty cold but my sharkskin wet suit thing is amazing at keeping me warm. I was a bit panicky at the start but then got into the swing of it. There were two really tricky spots that I failed at getting up the first time. Rowan helped me but I lost my footing and he had to let me go. So I got a good dunk and had to go again. There was another spot where Germie had to put her knee up so I had somewhere to brace my foot, with Rowan’s help I wedged myself through the crevice above the water. It was three bad spots where the water pressure was too much so had to try stay above the water in order to get through. I climbed the ladder at the end and was proud to have made it through. Rowan went up the waterfall, I played photographer. Germie had a lot of fun, she rock climbs so had no problem at all. After we had some lunch and enjoyed a bit of sun to dry off and warm up.

Through Arthur’s Pass and the weather really started improving. The Coast is having a stunning lot of summer. At Serpentine Beach I find a piece of Marsden Jade. After walking the beach we headed to Goldsborough to stay the night. Not a bad first day!