All is in bloom!

Spring at Bergli is glorious. For us, the plum blossom and first daffodils flower in August, but it is still cold. September is when our cows  have their calves, and the rest of the fruit trees blossom. Beautiful warm days with glorious blue skies...perfect for walking, kayaking, sailing, biking....you just have to be outside!

Here is our apricot tree with a promise of lusious fruit to come. Max is worried about how few bees we have...we will have to see. The strawberries in the garden have flowers, and for the first time Max hopes to have raspberries, and has dug a big potatoe patch. Cross fingers for good crops!

Our third new calf is called "Shocker" and this is why:

We came home to find that Moko (This is the Maori facial tattoo) was having her calf, so we cautiously approached to check that everything was going as it should be. It wasn't! The calf had rolled down the hill, through the electric fence, and into a hole in the forest. Poor "Moko"So we helped her get back to Mother Moko. Because of this she is now fearless of us.

After coming back from Canada, Europe and Japan (see the 2009 newsletter) we found time to go climbing at Mt Cook, which Max loves because he was a mountain guide there in the 70's. Mt Cook is about 5 hours drive from Bergli with lovely views along Lake Tekapo.

Some excitement came to Bergli, when the Swiss T.V. came to interview Max about his life here, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of his climb with 4 friends, of the first winter ascent of the north face of the Eiger.

We always enjoy visiting local places with guests, and here we climbed on the incredible rock formations at Castle Hill, west of Bergli, on the way to Arthur's Pass. The rocks are very special , as it is a sacred place to the Maori.

Then we carried on to Cave stream and here we are all ready to brave the dark and the wet and the cold!

 Inside the cave the water came up our waists, as we pushed through the surging water and admired the incredible shapes of the rocks, formed by the power of water.

We had many guests, and Rowena was especially pleased to have more woolcraft students. Here Noriko displays the felted table mat she made depicting the Gotland sheep who gave the wool for it.

We went walking (trekking) with friends who have a B&B in Purau, hoping to find a good walk linking the two. At 8 hours it is a long day's walk,but very lovely. Here we met horses as we walk up to Mt Bradley. On the crater rim there aremany wonderful walks, from an  hour long stroll to more demading walks.

And now, back to work preparing for the start of another farmstay season. Here Rowena paints the front of the garage, and the garden always needs work.

We look forward to meeting all the guests and students who come from all over the world. We love to share our beloved Bergli with them, as well as many of the local attractions and activities.