REDWOOD LODGE, 3 WAYNE PLACE, METHVEN. $45 FOR TWIN AS SINGLE
Sunny throughout and quite warm with one or two clouds
No hurry to leave this morning, but had everything packed away well before 10 and set off into town for some petrol & to check the tyre pressures. Consumption is slowly, but surely, creeping up. Was given a token to vote for a local charity & gave my vote to the local lifesavers. Stopped in Fairlie for some internet, and then lunch, which was in a rather central park. Tried picking up some of the last cash, but first forgot the PIN and had to go back and retrieve it. Then it was on to Geraldine, which also appeared to be quite a nice place. Can’t recognise anywhere that I travelled along in 2009, but the whole route may have been new.
Took a look at the eastern route to Mt Somers and that appears doable (4.7 km, 5 hrs!) tomorrow, as would be a visit to the waterfall.
In Methven still rather early, had a bit of a walk around town. Identified one hairdresser (no prices visible) and two supermarkets before heading out to the backpackers. This is a very orderly place, and the residents appear mainly to be temporary workers – fairly quiet here at the moment. Woman from Edinburgh runs the place and was able to get $5 extra off the room, and was able to occupy it after her husband Martin had fixed the bed. Apart from that it is a bathroom share with one other room which is not occupied tonight.
Went back into town and bought some nectarines for the hikes in the next few days, and then two fish and ½ chips for $6.30 at Village Takeaways in the centre of town. Watched some weather on the TV in the rather spacious lounge room (room also has TV, but no chair or desk).
Chatted with some blokes later in the evening & showed them some photos. One guy was particularly thoughtful about the panoramas and how many shots it took to make them.