Legendary pie Tuesday

Gill's notes:

Bad cold!! Glentanner - Akaroa. Rain all day. Set off - Fairly Bakery for lunch - famous pies - mince and kumara top. V. wet on road, mist and fog. Got to Akaroa about 4pm. - went to local shop & boucherie - sausages - pork sage & ginger - v. good. Beautiful studio app. V. good view.

We woke to rain, the spectacular view of Mount Cook out of the dining room glass gable had disappeared, replaced by low thundery looking clouds. We had a long drive facing us, from here to Akaroa, our final destination in New Zealand was almost 240 miles.

I don't remember anything of the drive at all, just that it was very long, very rainy and very wet.

The only notable moment was a at lunchtime. The Fairlie Bakehouse's pies have legendary status. This is how our Lonely Planet Guidebook describes the place:

"Famous for miles around and probably the top reason to stop in Fairlie, this terrific little bakery turns out exceptional pies including the legendary salmon and bacon. American doughnuts and raspberry cheesecake elbow their way in among Kiwi classics such as custard squares and cream buns. Yum."

By the time we arrived the place was already busy. Two tour buses were parked nearby. Clearly it's a well established lunch-stop  for  tourists heading for Southland or Mount Cook from cruise ships berthed in Akaroa or Lyttelton. As for the pies themselves....

they were good, exceptional maybe, but to be truly 'legendary' sadly its not deliciousness that confers such an accolade but likes on Tripadvisor or gushing prose from Lonely Planet.

 It had been a miserable drive. We were glad to arrive at the Akaroa Waterfront Motel, 0ur final destination in New Zealand. Though hardly swanky the place was a little more up-market than most of the accommodation we booked. For our last couple of nights we promised ourselves an ocean view;  it was great.