John and Chris Smith led this trip to an area that, although very close to the Cass Field Centre which we visit regularly in mid-winter, was unknown to most of us. Accessible by rough farm tracks, these two attractive little lakes are not far from the road. Although used by fishers, we saw no one else on our weekend walk. John and Chris sensibly decided to postpone the trip from Saturday to Sunday, when Saturday turned out to be damp, cold and very windy. Our numbers were whittled to seven with the change of day and illness, but we enjoyed a calm, sunny day that encouraged us to leave a layer or two of clothing in the vehicles. The tracks were a bit muddy in places, but I managed to keep my feet dry.
Although conditions were optimal for a pleasant walk with magnificent views, the light was not fantastic for photography. Nevertheless, in addition to tussock and mountain landscapes, subjects included southern grebes, black swans, and curious sheep and cattle. This is a destination well worth another visit. It might be interesting in winter, or perhaps sooner than that to secure an image worthy of entry into our upcoming exhibition. Thank you, Chris and John, for a companiable and memorable day’s outing.
Pol Syrett
