looking up Lake Pukaki towards the Southern Alps After fuelling up, checking the weather and plotting my course, I departed early afternoon from TImaru for Manapouri.
First up was a scenic diversion past Fairlie and over Burkes Pass. Then across the barren Mackenzie basin to Omarama. A few keen glider pilots were taking advantage of the westerly wave conditions high up, but otherwise the airfield was pretty quiet. Even the eclectic Kahu Cafe was in the process of closing down for the winter.
My final leg was high over Lindis Pass, past Cromwell and along the Nevis Valley. An approaching front had reached into northern Southland, so I ended up having to fly low under stratus cloud around Five Rivers. A few miles later, I was relieved to be able to turn west and climb into clearer skies. After 7 days away, it was very nice to be reunited with my wife at Manapouri.
First up was a scenic diversion past Fairlie and over Burkes Pass. Then across the barren Mackenzie basin to Omarama. A few keen glider pilots were taking advantage of the westerly wave conditions high up, but otherwise the airfield was pretty quiet. Even the eclectic Kahu Cafe was in the process of closing down for the winter.
My final leg was high over Lindis Pass, past Cromwell and along the Nevis Valley. An approaching front had reached into northern Southland, so I ended up having to fly low under stratus cloud around Five Rivers. A few miles later, I was relieved to be able to turn west and climb into clearer skies. After 7 days away, it was very nice to be reunited with my wife at Manapouri.
 calm on the ground at Omarama airfield |  Twizel with Lake Ruataniwha nearby |
