Just had a couple of days away from Wanaka on the strength of a forecast for gale west winds and a solid swell so headed down on Friday arvo and met up with a few of the other sailors from the Queenstown/Dunedin area. There isn't many of us. It was looking quite light on arrival at Colac Bay but my luck was in and the wind filled in nicely to about 25 to 30 knots. This is a French guy called Sev doing some great down the line waves sailing.
Next day dawned proper windy with rain in the slightly dismal little town that is Riverton. After a Friday night in the Globe pub at which we were the only patrons attention turned to the spot known as Monkey Island. The sun came out, the wind blew and the waves rolled in. Great coastal sailing. Lots of jumps and some super fun backside waves sailing. Took a couple of beatings and swims back in to the beach. Hit a seal with my fin going flat out. He looked pretty pissed off poor thing. No sign of the the other local swimming grey bitey wildlife thankfully.
Lovely skies down there.

Softie hands taking a beating on the rubberman.
Here is Louie in his new flax bed.
Some lovely Autumnal colours around Wanaka at the moment. Still warm too. Walking along the new track along the Clutha and a picture from the Outlet track

Managed to get along to the Warbirds over Wanaka airshow today for a couple of hours. It was great. An amazing spectacle flying around the basin her. Above is a P 60 Kittyhawk.
This is the best aerobatic pilot in the world, a Lithuanian named Jurgis doing barrel rolls around a DC 3. He was very good. And below are videos of the Iriqiuos? heli and the the only flying Zero fighter in the world parading past and being interrupted by the Australian F 18 fighters. The Zero were used in the Pearl Harbour attack by the Kamakaze.

Ben came to visit a few weeks ago. We had a great weekend with him and Maria. Good times hanging out a the Rippon vineyard and riding home. We had a couple of amazing sunsets over the lodge. Been great weather here recently as we approach the Autumn and the hour changing. Preparation is well underway for the Epic again this year but doing the pussy version. Only 95km which should be a lot more fun...kinda.

View from Mt Iron