5. Geraldine

Juuust one more church in Akoroa, a quick make up job by the local artist ( a Donald Patterson sculpture ) and we were heading back off Banks peninsular .

We took turns at riding the rail trail that starts at Little river. We would swap over after about 5kms and Christine would drive and I'd bike. We were the only ones using it which wasn't surprising as it was overgrown and had several gates to open

It was hot and windy as we headed south across the canterbury plains. Funny to see hedges of gorse but most impressed by the huge dairy farms springing up everywhere . The irrigation systems are enormous with this one stretching back about 600 meters to the cowshed in the distance.

We stopped the night at the Mayfield domain, swimming pool included , which was another pop stop in our movan book

Christine is on the hunt for the land that her Rae ancestors settled on just south of Peel forest. We found it no trouble, and the old school site also , marked by this plaque.

Geraldine is just down the road and we're looking forward to catching up with  Craig and Paulette at their backpacker hostel.

One of the best things about Geraldine is an excellent car and tractor museum where we had fun playing on the tractors.

And what good timing ! It was their 33rd wedding aniversary so we went out to celebrate.