Waimakariri Golf Course to Oxford via Sheffield & Springfield

It was drizzly right through the night at Rakaia Gorge Camp with grey clouds still layered across the sky in the morning. With all the rain further up the mountains the river was also grey and murky instead of the beautiful, brilliant azure which makes such a spectacular sight when you drive down into the gorge.

We took our time leaving our awesome campsite allowing time for some breaks in the cloud. This time our direction was towards the Waimakariri Golf Course, a quiet but well looked after country course with some wide views out to the river and the alps.  

Gorge-ous!

Another one ticked off!

As with most other country courses the clubhouse was closed up, being a Monday, and we only saw about 6 others players besides a voluntary groundsman.
It was a nice temperature to play in with cloud still covering most of the sky and we both had quite good games, Len winning match play on the 17th. 

Ball flying onto green!

At least I'm getting closer to him these days on match play!

We stayed at the course overnight with our intention the next morning  being to retrace our steps slightly and go to the CAP (charges apply property) at Springfield which has good reviews and apparently water and washing facilities.

Driving through tiny Sheffield, even though it was a hot sunny day again, we spotted the many cars parked outside the "world famous pies" cafe and the queue of people inside so we decided that was a must do. As I write this we haven't eaten them yet as it's not quite lunchtime and Len is now trying his spinner out on the Waimakariri River. Might be fish for dinner again. Yum. I'll have to report on the pies later!

After leaving Sheffield we soon arrived at the Springfield camp which seemed a quiet peaceful site. The campground manager who lives in a caravan wasn't in as his wife had a bleeding nose requiring medical attention but one of the other campers explained what was what. They have a dump station and water but only one washing machine which was already grinding away on a long cycle. No drier or preferred clothes line but other people did have lines strung discretely between the trees. However because I have a big wash this time with sheets, pillowcases, duvet cover, towels etc - maybe 2 loads to wait in a possible queue for and then hang out we made the call to move on towards the Ashley Gorge Camp which should have more and better facilities. We'll probably stop for the night in Oxford where we'll do our grocery shopping and then go to the Ashley Gorge - the washing can wait till tomorrow!

That's how we have ended up back at the Waimakariri River as it is enroute to Oxford and we're in no rush. 

Looks like we'll have to break into the meat pack!

Len hasn't returned back to the bus with a fish yet though so I need to go and investigate. He'll be getting hungry for his pie!