Where wayfarers wax lyrical

Press, 18 February 1989, Page 14

Where wayfarers wax lyrical

“If what we see could have been taken away, it would have beeen stolen long ago.” — Visitors book in a Lake Tekapo motel My employer once told me the three things everyone thinks they can do better that the professional are teaching, writing and selling real estate. For my money, teachers, who get blamed for absolutely everything by just about everyone, are the best value around. And many people who think they can manage without a real estate agent eventually find they cannot. But with writers, I have never really been quite sure — especially since my sojourn at Lake Tekapo. Visitors’ books generally record comments like, “Lovely view,” “An enjoyable stay,” y ‘Very relaxing,” and each new visitor agonises before adding, “Lovely view,” “An enjoyable stay,” or “Very relaxing.” Except at lake Tekapo, where every pilgrim is a literary person often communicating spiritual or emotional euphoria. So many equated the place with Heaven one could be excused for telling the children that when we die we go to Lake Tekapo. New York: “This is the spot where the presence of God can be clearly felt." Oregon: “There is only one place better than Lake Tekapo — heaven!” Melbourne: “All this and Heaven too!” Auckland: “Holy! Holy! Holy!"

Rosaleen M c Carroll

Japan: “I could see the Hallelujah come.” Victoria: “Heaven!” Some, like this Wellington doctor, shared their private pain: ‘Near enough to the perfect landscape,” he wrote of his first view of Mt Cook, where his father was killed in 1960. And a wayfarer from Quebec: “Forever engraved — my most precious memories. Lake Tekapo you will be remembered as a friend, for your were there to listen to me in my hour of need.” Others shared thir private pleasure. Darwin: “Got engaged in this flat!” South Africa: "We could not have chosen a more beautiful spot to . get married.” Auckland: “How many children have been conceived in this bed!” And many copywriters pass this way leaving their gems behind.

Oregon: “Lake Tekapo is God’s turquoise jewel.” Christchurch: “Tekapo — Jewel in the crown of the Mackenzie.” And nature writers too: Christchurch: “The warmness of this extraordinary community reflects one’s peaceful bond towards the surrounding natural environment.” Christchurch (written in the faltering hand of a child): ‘The water-is like a glass split in two and the gap is where beautiful Lake Tekapo stands.”

How many writers of publicity brochure could top this from Victoria:

“The ultimate in a room with a view.” Some who felt their own words were inadequate quoted - the Psalms and many pilgrims were also poets whose lyrical responses filled many many lines like this one BlenheimL “We came tired and weary,

“Not knowing where to go, “We prayed away late in the day. “We saw this place and lo! “The best we could imagine, “Of everything we love. “The peace the place, “Away from the race, “We knew that God above, "Was bringing us to Heaven." (abridged) But reflective musings were not confined to verse. Victoria: “The inspiring scene without inspires reflective thoughts within.” England: “Such beauty and tranquility can never be ruined by man’s stupidity ... or can it?” And every hack who knows how much more difficult it is to express oneself briefly will envy these: Oamaru: “Loathe to leave.”

Whangarei: “What are words!” Queensland: “Bloody beaut!” Canada: “Unforgettable!” Gisborne: “Wow!” Although I could not see Lake Tekapo (we had arrived at midnight- in. a downpour), I already knew how to improve our literacy and communication skills. Just prop the kiddiwinkies up in front of a beautiful lake and there will be no stopping them. But then I caught sight of the inscription on the flyleaf which brought me down to earth. The ingenious owner had written: “There will be a prize for the best comments and observations.” Ah well! At least now I know that everyone responds to an incentive. Otherwise they would still be content to write: “Lovely view,” "An Enjoyable stay” or “Very relaxing.” .