Home of the Rohirrim

Thursday 4th. The land where we are staying now is so vast! We are surrounded by hills but there are vast tracts of land between them and us. Today we thought that we would make a short trip to Poolburn Dam which was the film location for the small village where Morwen sent her children to safety before attack. 

After half an hour of driving along gravel roads and climbing up the equivalent of Cader Idris we arrived at the lakeside. 

In one respect we were disappointed because, having not seen another living being for 30 minutes, we came over the crest and found freedom campers (Motorhomes) and fishermen's cottages by the lake - and we thought we would be the only ones there! 

The expanse was so great that it was somehow frightening. You could look 50 km in one direction and have no power lines, no houses, no roads, just expanse. We were very small people in a very big landscape. 

We spent quite a time there taking in the size and beauty of the country. 

As it happened, Poolburn wasn't the best place for us to stay for the whole day. The sun was high in the sky and, even though there was shade by the rocks, a brisk wind was blowing across the lake. We may have been able to search out a better stopping place but the freedom campers had already nabbed the best. So we set off back toward Alexandra for lunch. 

The drive there, the most direct, took us over the hillside on a spectacularly windy gravel track with plenty of twists and turns. Not for those of a nervous disposition! Back in Alexandra we soon found the shops and bought a few things for Brigid, just to calm her nerves, you understand. 

Lunch followed at the old courthouse. 

We then took a walk alongside the river Clutha, one of the fastest flowing in the area. Having said that, there were several youngsters swinging off ropes and plunging into the river where it was safe to do so. 

Found the home of Bilbo Baggins and sat there for a few moments enjoying the views. 

Back home where we made our own pizzas for supper. Gilly had the dough all ready - all we had to do was roll it out and add our own toppings. Awesome!