Geraldine

Tuesday 27 December; Geraldine. First day of our holidays started with a couple of chapters in bed followed by a leisurely breakfast, so rather than the scenic inland route that skirts the edge of the Canterbury Plains we belted straight down the State Highway 1, finally turning inland for Geraldine which is nestled at the foot of rolling hills. Lunch at a local hostelry was followed by a visit to the Geraldine Vintage Car and Machinery Museum. There's an interesting display of cars, bikes, tractors etc. Its no Beaulieu, but was an interesting stop on the journey. Highlight for me was an old 1926 wagon that John Britten, of motorcycle fame, in his 20's had converted into a gypsy carriage type motorhome and toured the west coast in the 1970's. Alex really liked the bi-plane becuase is looked a bit like his kite.


Leaving the town on SH79 we immediately started to climb the hills and the views just got better and better. We stopped off at the Opuha River to let Diesel stretch his legs.

Between Geraldine and Fairlie the green rolling foothills of the Southern Alps are a contrast to ...

... the dry, brown, almost barren land past Burkes Pass of Mackenzie Country.