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It rained all night and was still doing so as we stirred and prepared for the forthcoming day. Fortunately it had stopped by the time we left for our first destination all of 1km up the road, a hardware store.
Hayes is no ordinary store, it is massive and sells anything you could need for maintaining your home, garden, forest etc. But that was not the reason we popped in, oh no. We popped in to see The Fastest Indian. For the uninitiated, like me, Indians were a famous brand of American motorbikes in the 1920s. In the 1960s, a Kiwi biking enthusiast by the name of Burt Monroe took a 1930s Indian bike and, in his garden shed, adapted it to build an attempt to break the motorcycle land speed record. The result resides in this store. In fact, the store also acts as a store/showroom for the owner's collection of classic bikes and cars. Amazing. Reflecting on speed, if you're interested in the story of The Fastest Indian, it's been made into a film.
Once I managed to drag my brother out of the store, we made our way to the historic town of Riverton. This is one of the earliest European settlements. Te Hikoi, which translates as The Journey, is a museum which reflects on how Maori and European ancestors adapted to survive on nature's edge. The museum is without doubt one of the best and well laid out I've ever seen. Highly recommended.
By the time we moved on, the sun had come out. We took advantage by reflecting on the beauty of the local coast as we stopped at various locations - Howell's Point, Back Beach, Tihaka Beach, Colac Bay, Cosy Nook and Monkey Island.
We called in to the Orepuki Beach Cafe for a late lunch. In a land of cheerful and friendly people, the proprietor Carol was one of the most cheerful we've encountered. Bro had his first ever flounder, while I had a truly scrumptious burger topped with bacon and camembert. A reflection of the lovely cooking and great hospitality we've encountered in New Zealand.
When we moved on, the weather had worsened, clouding over with a strong wind coming in from the sea, something that is reflected in the landscape and windswept trees. Nevertheless, we still stoped at Gemstone Beach, where the storms sometimes wash up various semi precious stones. Unfortunately, we were not lucky enough to find any. Before leaving the coast, we stopped at McCracken's Rest for seaward views, though it was a bit too grey to see far.
Heading north inland, the weather cleared again and we stopped at Clifden Suspension Bridge, which replaced a punt in 1899. Although simple in design compared with the likes of Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol, this is a remote area in which to undertake such a project, so is a reflection of the ingenuity of the era and the people.
Now we were climbing into Fiordland and paused at Lake Manapouri and Lake Te Anau to reflect upon the beauty of the mountainous scenery before our eyes.
Before leaving Te Anau, we stocked up with supplies and started our journey to our accommodation halfway along the Milford Sound road, stopping at many places along the way. Just before reaching our destination, we stopped at Mirror Lakes. As the name suggests, these are crystal clear lakes that on a still day act as perfect mirrors of the stunning local scenery.
Arriving at k*** Flat Accommodation, we checked in with the friendly proprietor, gawped at the amazing views outside our cabin, and reflected on how lucky we are to be in this awe inspiring part of the world.
Today we drove 285km.
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