Our lives have a number of obvious best days: weddings, birthdays, even an epic New Year’s Eve or three. However, these are really punctuations. Between those obvious days there are so many more that may not, on first blush, seem like contenders for the best day ever title. For me, they are days like this:
It was late April in Wanaka. Incidentally, the same weekend my husband and I got married a few years earlier. Unlike that weekend, this Saturday was an absolute stunner. The azure sky was being reflected by the crystal water. A couple of clouds danced around the mountains and the trees were beginning to blaze. There was an autumnal chill in the air, but still plenty of warmth in the sun. It was a day begging to be revelled in. I donned my active wear, sneaked some treats into my backpack, and bundled Oscar and Raff (my two favourite furry friends) into the car.
We drove out along Wanaka-Mt Aspiring Rd. It was quiet, with the odd car and a few early cyclists. We pulled off the road into the empty Glendhu Bay carpark. I let Oscar and Raff out of the car and they immediately went hurtling after rabbits. It was like doggie heaven! I put my cap on, did up my backpack and set off. I could hear the dogs in the scrub and they frequently crisscrossed the track ahead of me. They often paused and looked back at me as if to say "are you coming or what?!".
We meandered our way along the water and up and down the lakeside cliffs, each new rise giving us a slightly new and more expansive view across the sparkling lake. We then dropped down into a beautiful little bay. Oscar and Raff padded into the water, lapping it up and wallowing to help cool down. I spotted a perfect piece of driftwood to sit on. I then pulled one of the freshly picked royal galas out of my bag and took a big bite.
There are few things more delicious than a new-season royal gala. Sweet, crunchy and perfect for sharing with furry friends. As I sat munching on my apple, I could not help but be struck by the beauty of where I was and the simplicity of the day. A run with the dogs and an apple. Simple, and perfect!
- Bridget Irving is a partner at Gallaway Cook Allan Lawyers.
