Takaka

The drive from Picton (ferry) across to Nelson was pretty varied - mile after mile of beautifully laid-out vineyards and orchards, followed by driving through steep-sided mountains - covered with the ubiquitous dark green velvet. However, I'm not a steep mountain person and found that bit of the drive hugely oppressive and claustrophobic. Didn't break the journey at Nelson as I rather wanted to get on to Autumn Farm. The drive over Takaka Hill (somewhat MORE than just a hill...) was also mountainous, but here the mountains didn't crowd one quite so much. It was reminiscent of the drive up from Merthyr to Brecon in many ways - only much bigger and greener - but also the road along the Amalfi coast - with lots of sheer drops! Sadly it was very misty/cloudy so the views weren't brill. one or twohouses for sale up there - WHAT a place to live that would be!
Autumn Farm is delightful. An old wooden house with verandahs everywhere, one huge central room - dining, kitchen - with bedrooms off it and a huge garden. It really IS a 'homestay' - one is quite free to treat it as one's home. Some lovely people here too: we all had one big multi-cookup meal together last night which was great.
The weather finally broke yesterday - solid, torrential rain all day, so stayed in with everyone sitting reading by the fire or snoozing, or whatever. I'm not racing off hither and yon to see this or that spectacular natural wonder - I'm finding it much more important to me to sit in the garden, or drive down to the local spring with a couple of other guests or, as this afternoon, walk down to the local river and just sun oneself on the rocks with some new friends. totally peaceful and quiet - just us and the river...

Thanks for the comment Allan - I'm glad somebody IS reading this waffle!!

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