Mooching in Moeraki

Dear all

Today was everything you could imagine in such a magical, tranquil place. We woke up to find that most of the wind had abated and the sun was shining. The whole bay and the crib were bathed in a beautiful light.  We spent most of the day sitting in the window enjoying the view, reading and sampling  the local fish and chips. We managed to locate the visitors book which has been in use since the crib was first built 80 years ago. It is interesting to read the guest comments and the change in use of language from over the years.  There are a couple of entries I thought really pertinent and have half inched them into the blog to share with you all.

A little crib on a hill, where geraniums riot and flaunt their brilliance against the green.                Red shingles beaches and sparkling sea. Sit on a sun warmed rock and dangle a wet line to catch an unwary fish. Pleasant in anticipation. Charming in reality. Fragrant in retrospect. Moeraki! Thy name is tranquility. -  NW Corbett January 24th 1945.

Another one:

Sun and wind and laughter, and the wave swept shelly spaces

Dusk and starlight after and the smile of friendly faces

There we share, as we fare in Moeraki's pleasant places         

'Adapted' - Kate McKenney Xmas 1946       

I think these really sum up the place and you can really feel the happiness and tranquility  around the place.

So this afternoon we walked down the hill from the crib and took the windy millennium trail along the village out onto the point where we climbed & were buffeted up to an old whaler's lookout  and then we crossed to another equally windy headland where the trail ended at a memorial to mark the 150th anniversary of the foundation of the settlement. We saw a few seals, but no penguins.  Walked back to the local tavern so Dean could get his 'tonic' and then back to the crib about 8.30 in plenty of time to watch dusk fall over the bay. Stunning relaxing day.....................

Hugs

Sara