We awoke to sunshine and blue skies which bode well for the rest of the day.
After breakfast our plan was to go to Albert Town and walk the Newcastle track along the Clutha River - an undulating 12km one way track - so by the time we finished we had completed 24kms or 15 miles. The scenery was beautiful - a backdrop of snow capped mountains against a blue sky, trees in full leaf and the clear glacial blue of the flowing river. We passed farmland with a large herd of dairy cattle and a noisy bull patrolling his harem looking for opportunities, saw plenty of rabbits, except where landowners were poisoning them and indicating the dangers of touching the bait by strategically placed signs, a group of paradise shelducks, and a mother duck with four ducklings who feigned a broken wing when we walked behind them to take our attention off the ducklings! The little birds- chaffinches, skylarks and yellowheads amongst others were in great melodious voice which helped make it a lovely summer Sunday walk.
When we reached the end we had our rolls before heading back - the round trip took 5 hours and we back at the car by 1430. Enroute back we promised ourselves a coffee sundae at Patagonia - we had eyed them up yesterday but decided you needed to have earnt them as they full of calories - they were really delicious and we'll worth waiting for!
Today I hope will be the last day of walking and exercising with a cast on my hand - the photo is a reminder.