Walking with the Wind Machines

A common walk with doggie in the late evening is along the river bank downstream.  Sometimes because of the looming darkness, walking back up the river bank is not so easy.  Then it's useful to cut up through the long rows of the vineyard and out to the road passing these huge machines standing up high amongst the vines.

10 meters high perhaps.  Propeller additional.  Notice the sky.

A late frost in the springtime can knock back tender budding grapes and thus destroy the harvest due months later at the end of summer.  Basically it's an emergency.  But the propeller creates a wind, stirring up the cold layers of air that settle and form a frost.  As the heads rotate in all directions, the layering is broken and the damage to the buds can be prevented.

Highly powered.  This engine unit is about as tall as a person.

When things this powerful start up there is quite a fuss.



Dusk over the vineyard.  The last of the sun is on the Dunstan Mountains.  That 'nipple' is 'Leaning Rock'

Some months in springtime, anytime after midnight these machines can start to roar, with the blades adding that chopping sound of helicopters.  With about six of these directly across the river, two next door and several real helicopters roaming the neighbourhood it's anything but peaceful in the small hours.  Add to that lots of flashing lights,  people roaring around in vehicles managing it all, and 4 am is not a dead hour.

It really helps having one of the most insulated houses one can have.  Sound as well as cold stays out.

Walking the long rows at evening.  I love the evening skies

This vineyard is the "Roaring Meg" vineyard of the Mt Difficulty Winery.based across the river.    It's totally Pinot Noir  grapes for which Central Otago is rightly famous.  Mt Difficulty winery is a combination of many owners and vineyards here at Bannockburn.  The "Mt Difficulty Roaring Meg Pinot Noir" wine is made separately and labeled separately under the Mt Difficulty label and you will be able to find it worldwide.

If you are so lucky you will find it rewarding

The mountain itself, Mt Difficulty is the one to the right, northern buttress of the Carrick Range.

It's a privilege to walk in this landscape.