Awakino

After the dump, we drove to Awakino, a small ski field up near Kurow up the Waitaki River North West of Oamaru. Its a really nice spot, forgotten it seems by most skiers in New Zealand. It doesn't seem to get as much snow as some of the more popular areas, but it would be a great access point for some pretty special touring after good snow.

A night at Dansey's Pass

Sunshine and I drove out through Palmerston and along the Pig Route to Dansey's Pass. We took the skis with high hopes, but as always they closed the road to the Pass way below the snow line :(

The hotel is a lovely quiet place to stay with good tastey food, a bar and a big open fire. The drive along the Pig Route is one of our favourites. And Palmerstone was a lovely place to stop and look around the second hand shops and antique stores.

Sunshine's surprise trip for Leigh's birthday

Sunshine's an angel. She researched and organised a road trip for my birthday. Taking us down to Bluff and Invercargill, and back up through the amazing Catlins, stopping in on some really nice walks along the way. I had a lovely time Sunshine, inspired and refreshed. Thanks so much.

Photos


Video


Map (click this link for better detail on road routes)

View Dunedin to Bluff and back via the Catlins in a larger map

Rhubarb

Stuart and Gabrielle give a good tip for growing rhubarb and making cocktails from a rhubarb cordial!

Rocket stove mass heaters!

Another very inspiring idea I knew nothing about, until Keith blogged it that is! Rocket stoves with mass heating.

I'm seriously considering building one of these downstairs. We have a log burner upstairs, and we need to install some thermal mass around it to make it more efficient, but downstairs has no heating! On the one hand we could extend the log burner downstairs, but I think I'd rather build the rocket down there for my learning's benefit, try and make it so it effectively heats down and upstairs, then consider uninstalling the log burner and selling it to recover costs... permits will be an issue :(

Here's a great video Keith found:

Here's the book that the video refers to, but I'm gutted to find my local library doesn't have a copy :(

And here's a really good illustration of the functional design from Erica, along with many other photos she took during a build in the US. Thanks Erica!

Here's another photo documented installation with some adaptations by Michael Blaha.

Update:
I started a Wikipedia article to see where it might take me information wise. Also, an Appropedia page to document our progress and hopefully meet experienced people.