G & J away from home

Saturday, 30 May

Woke up to the lovely view over the lake, and sunshine! It looked like we would have a good drive up to Scotland where former neighbours were now settled in Ayr.

Morning view

We stopped at Nine-Mile-Bar for lunch and then carried on, pleased to see that the GPS was predicting we would arrive at 2pm - exactly as arranged.  Then we discovered our road of choice was closed for road works.  Not just delays, but actually closed.  Diversion signs pointed us off to a tiny road on the right and almost immediately that little road turned back and we were driving down the other side of a small lake, going back the way we had come.  The poor GPS was going spare and we had to - horrors! - unearth the map book and have a look at where we could possibly be heading.

The only choices were to cross the lake on a small bridge and back-track for miles before taking other roads, or carry on on the small road and eventually reach roads which did go in the direction we wanted.

The road got smaller and smaller, and then down to one lane with passing spaces.  The country we were travelling through was beautiful with many interesting things we might have stopped to investigate and photograph but when the GPS had finally accepted our choice of route it had told us that the journey was now going to take another hour-and-a-half!

Finally we found Ayr and Rowena and Bob's place.  The road was busy so we decided to park on the side road nearby - which turned out to back on to their house and there was a back gate there and plenty f room to park.  What a good idea.

It was great to see our neighbours of 6 years who have been in Scotland almost 2 years now.  The girls have grown up so much!  Despite the blustery weather we all wandered down to the beach which is only about 10 minutes walk away - something Palmerston North couldn't boast.

Gary and Rowena at the beach

The town of Ayr is a little smaller than Palmerston North but has larger cities close by so the family seems to have the best of all worlds.

Looking across the beach to the rest of the town

Bob and Gary on the beach

Who are these grown up girls?

The reason we were down on the beach was to walk the new family member - Morris a Staffy-Lab cross who is quite possibly the friendliest dog in the world.  He was a sweety and here he is cuddling up with Rowena after we got back.

Rowena and Morris

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