EC-Rider Travels

It has been tipping with rain all day today so rather than stopping for a walk en route to our next destination, we headed straight to the Kekerengu Valley where we were to stay with more second cousins of Mums, Sue and Chid Murray. We drove back to Blenheim and all its beautiful vineyards and then took a right and headed south (not too many roads to choose from!). Vineyards are even bigger below Blenheim and often all you can see until you get to the beautiful mountains in the distance looking like a backdrop on a stage set.

Arriving about an hour earlier than scheduled we called to ask if we might possibly get to Bluff Station ahead of schedule (nothing more annoying for the host), and in typical New Zealand fashion, we were told the sooner the better. So we headed down the valley following the instructions we had been given. We eventually found a track going up a hill saying Bluff Station. Relieved, we headed up this track, climbing higher and higher and higher and higher, marvelling at the fact that someone could build a house at such a height, when it dawned on us that it would be almost impossible and maybe we were not quite where we should be. Amazingly as we poked our head out at the top we regained some signal and managed to call Sue again.

We had indeed gone completely wrong and she told is to come back down the hill and then follow the road along the river to the left. After taking some photographs of the indescribably beautiful views, we followed Sue’s directions and came back down the hill and headed along the river. We went through gates, up and down hills, crossing a couple of fords, which we were quite surprised had not been mentioned, knowing we were going to find the house around the next corner and again marvelling at the thought of building a house so far down the valley and across two rivers. After about half an hour, we again started to lose our nerve and thinking, just one more corner, we came to gate with a completely different name. So back we went and luckily met the neighbour, who lived in said house, and kindly led us to Chid and Sue’s house …. now an hour later than planned!

They welcomed us with open arms (well not Chid as he had been despatched to find us!) and we settled down with a cup of tea for a really good chat as if we had known each other for years! There had been mention of a few people coming to dinner and before we knew it (6pm!) cousin after cousin started arriving. No thought of changing and Sue appearing to not to be doing anything about dinner.

Everything is so incredibly relaxed here, it is lovely. Introductions to three more second cousins were made: James and Becs Murray (Chid’s youngest brother), Bob and Vicky Todhunter (first cousin to Chid and second to Mum) and lovely Mary Kingscote and her husband Bob. Mary is also a second cousin of Mums and came to look after us fifty plus years ago. She remembered everything, including having to make the fancy dress costume for Amanda and me to be a Zebra Crossing on Amanda’s pony – he being the zebra and A and I, the Belisha beacons – one of Dad’s ideas I have not doubt! We apparently came second.

We all spent much time discussing the family tree (Bob T being a bit of an expert) but suffice to say, they all shared great grandparents with Mum. Out of nowhere Sue produced the most amazing dinner of, what they called, whitebait (not like ours, more like little eels!) and some of their delicious beef. We had such a great evening but aaagh! failed to take a photograph of everyone … so sorry!