My tribute to Lyall Campbell RIP

I've travelled with some pretty awesome people on my journeys, and one of the awesomest was Lyall Campbell of Hawea, who recently made the final journey exiting this realm.

At the helm of Elwing in Port Pegasus autumn 2006. She was in her element on this trip... the chance to realise another dream, another expedition. I took this shot just an hour after our return from a traverse of Bald Cone. Not a large mountain by any means but considering the latitude, the route and her age.. well it was a great day out...


Bald Cone...


The day before we'd been on Magog, and that was a long way! Here she is trundling along - the one with the stick...


Gog on the left, Magog on the right...


The view from Magog - our route from Port Pegasus. That's my son Dougal there age about 13 yrs. Lyall in her seventies was an example to us all of what a postitive attitude and a steady pace is all about...


I found her to be the perfect expeditioner: thoughtful, considerate, kind, witty and wise. When she spoke it was always to give us gifts and insights...


Many years ago this was the country, the Olivine Ice Plateau, she chose for her honeymoon with her late husband Bruce...


She squeezed in another expedition in 2008 to Preservation in Fiordland - here she is in the center seat flying out. She was so so delighted to have lived yet another dream - a bonus one I think was how she saw it...


Preservation Inlet - the landing beach that gives access to Puyesgur Point lighthouse. Fiordland National Park...


The view west from the historic Puyesgur Point lighthouse...


I first met her at the Snow Farm, where she was always a real "ski friend" to everyone, adults and children alike. She'd spend hours passing on what she'd learnt about the complex sport of nordic skiing, and being a retired teacher she knew how to do this. Here she is racing in about 2005...

Bye for now Lyall, and thanks not only for the times in the hills, and the inspirational way you grew old, but for the cups of tea, friendship, and home made bread. I for one am going to miss you

See more on Preservation Inlet here

Winter in Wanaka

I regret the silence here - due to writer's fatigue I suspect. And currently after Telecom upgraded broadband in my neighbourhood I've been sans broadband. I apparently need a new modem, so that's in the mail as they say.

The snow and winter are late this year, but I don't mind. Everything has a positive side. So I'm walking a lot every day just enjoying the warmth and views.

A brief trip back to my roots

I spent most of my formative years in North Otago, but it was broad as I was often able to wander the length of the Waitaki Valley and the coastal regions.

Last weekend I had occasion to visit these old haunts in the context of attending my cousin Michael's birthday party.

Stopping to make some photos in nice light on the Lindis Pass...


Over the years I've occasionally stopped by some limestone cliffs beside the Kurow - Oamaru road to look at ancient Maori rock art. In more recent years it's been given the name Takiroa, and developed a little with fence stiles, and a track etc. I'd heard parts of the cliff had fallen down in the recent Christchurch earthquakes. Currently these large chunks interested me much more than the art...

Explanation here

The fenced area top right gives an idea of the scale...

Nearby I noticed this little cross lurking inconspicuously under an oak tree by the road edge. This type of memorial is quite common in these parts, but they're often hard to spot in the grass while speeding by. In this setting I was struck by the contrast of ancient shelter alongside the more contemporary memorial of warfare...


The Moeraki Boulders south of Oamaru are always worth a visit - they've been eroded out of the nearby cliffs by the actions of the sea over many years...

Explanation here