Southern Run around Mid-Canterbury

<p>After a week of extremely doubtful weather, Sunday morning was overcast but as I peered out of my bedroom window I could see that it was clearing from the south.  In fact, that was just what the weather forecasters had predicted but who believes them?  I double checked by phoning my parents who live further south and they reported that it was a fabulous day with clear blue skies so we were on!</p>
<p>Ian and I only live a short distance from Rakaia and planned to be at the salmon early so we could welcome people in but, of course, once again I had underestimated fellow classic motoring enthusiasts ummmm, enthusiasm!  We almost had to fight for a carpark!  It was a bit embarrassing really because we were in our Subaru wagon.  Yes, once again we don't have any working classic cars.   When one has more than one classic car, if one doesn't work you can leap into the next one and you're off.  The problem with that is that eventually you reach the end of the queue and you have to start repairing them so you have wheels again.</p>
<p>We were joined by a couple of cars from the Capri Club which was lovely.  As they swung off the main road and drove past us, one of them turned off their engine which I thought was very considerate.  But the reality was that their engine cut out as they came past us and they had to undertake running repairs before they could set off on the run.</p>
<p>Various tourists were very interesting in the assorted collection of 14 classic cars that turned up.  One Canadian couple were particularly fascinated by the Saab Sonnet of Graeme Sharp and actually took it for a short drive around the block.  I apologise at this point for the lack of photos of all the cars lined up - I completely forgot to wave my camera around at the start, even though I threatened to take photos of the running repairs on the Capri.</p>
<p>The run took the participants up the southern side of the Rakaia River to the Barhill Village.  This was going to be a planned English village around a green.  All the little streets are still there and there is a village church but the development never went ahead.</p>
<p><img class="image-left" src="photos-used-in-day-runs-2007-reports/lunchlineup.jpg/image_preview" alt="Three of the cars on the event" />It was then a (very straight) blast across to the Ashburton River and down to the domain in Ashburton for lunch.  This was where we were meeting up with the members from the Continental Car Club.  Most of us had finished eating by the time they arrived and were admiring the autumn colours in the domain which were truely spectacular.</p>
<p>The day before when we'd checked the route, the weather was so unpleasant that when we called into the domain we barely stopped because it was so unpleasant.  So on the Sunday it was great to be able to sit around in the sun with virtually no breeze and chat with everyone.<img class="image-left" src="photos-used-in-day-runs-2007-reports/lunchbreak.jpg" alt="Sunny lunch spot at the Ashburton Domain" /><br /></p>
<p>People started heading off at about 1pm to go and explore Lake Hood and the subdivision there.  Its amazing how the whole lake has taken off and how many houses are actually there now.  We then went further towards the coast and past the lost settlement of Waterton and its cemetery.</p>
<p><img class="image-right" src="photos-used-in-day-runs-2007-reports/heraldwatertoncemetery.jpg/image_preview" alt="Herald at Waterton Cemetery" />Waterton was going to be a designed town and it was subdivided and sections sold.  It had a blacksmith and a general store, amongst others but gradually the settlement declined and all that remains is the library/hall which is in a very dilapidated state.  The Waterton church was moved to the Plains Railway in Ashburton in 1976 and has been restored.</p>
<p>We then swung through Longbeach estate, where work has been done on restoring the old cookhouse and it is now used as a function centre.  Then back through various other small settlements towards Ashburton and down the north side of the Ashburton River to the river mouth and the settlement of Hakatere.  On the way down, we passed under a lateral irrigator that not only crosses the road but also the ditch beside the road.  Little bridges have been built across the ditch for each wheel!</p>
<p><img class="image-left" src="photos-used-in-day-runs-2007-reports/vauxhallatwaterton.jpg/image_preview" alt="Vauxhall parked at the Waterton Cemetery" />The top road in Hakatere has an excellent lookout over the river mouth, which was surprisingly small, and a view south down the coast.  There are always huge flocks of cormorants washing and sunning themselves on the shingle banks but this time, a few lucky participants got to watch some people trying to extract their 4WD from the shingle as well.  Very amusing apparently!</p>
<p>We passed the amazing Five Star Beef allotment on our way to the finish at the Ashburton Aviation Museum for a cup of tea and biscuit and an opportunity to have a casual look around their facilities.  Unfortunately for one member of the Continental Car Club, his run had finished earlier as he had a very quiet contretemps with a ditch and had to be extracted by the local farmer using his tractor.  No-one was injured but it was an unfortunate end and hopefully it hasn't put them off from joining us on other runs or inviting us down to one of theirs.</p>
<p>We had a very pleasant day out and about in the sun.  It was nice to finish somewhere and have a cuppa and the opportunity to catch up with everyone again as everyone had travelled at their own pace during the day.  I hope everyone enjoyed seeing some of what there is to see in Mid-Canterbury once you leave the main road.</p>
<p align="right">^{<i>Stephanie Royds</i>}<br /></p>