South Island trip week 1 -

 Week 1

MArlborough Sounds, Abel Tasman National Park and Golden Bay

Our first night at nNgati Toa Domain Plimmerton  24th February - closer to Wellington for me to catch the ferry the next day and i couldnt wait to set out. 

Crossed over from the North Island to the South Island on Blue bridge ferry

- over 20 campervans and motorhomes on board. very calm crossing. 

The next day I met up with peter and Sue Somerhalder who had crossed over the day after me, - they have been friends for over 50 years and we parked at Havelock Holiday park - and had a delicious feed of fresh mussels at the Mussel Pot restaurant - gorgeous fleshy mussels. We met up each night that first week, and did 2 boat trips - one the Pelorus Sounds Mailboat cruise and the other the Abel tasman National park

On the Marlborough Sounds mail boat trip leaving from Havelock. Stopped at lots of homesteads and delivered mail and people. Most had no road connections. 

One of the lodges in Pelorus Sound. This one had a restaurant for boaties.

An idyllic setting for a home and farm.

The pets came down to meet the boat and were obviously always given a treat. The pigs were drooling while they waited. 

Tui came along for the ride and was very well behaved. Peter Somerhalder and his wife Sue were with me on the mail boat.

A "stretch your legs" stop - I camped here some 20 years ago on a kayaking trip round the Sounds.

Walking beside the Pelorus river - beautiful and clear

Pelorus river

We parked with Peter and Sue at this private property - a church converted to a private residence - possibly a wedding venue - it was beautiful - one of the NZMCA "POP" Park over Properties - free usually and not crowded.

Peter and Sue in the yellow bus and I at old Macdonalds Holiday Park in Marahau - the start or end point for those walking the Abel Tasman track. We had a very pleasant dinner at a restaurant in Marahau.

Kaiteriteri - where the tours and cruises leave from - would be gorgeous on a blue sky day! Really busy tourist spot. Because of the weather on ly 6 on our cruise but we were given a really personal commentasry and comprehensive look at the whole park - did see seals but no dolphins. 

                                                                                   

Split Apple Rock - quite unique!

Not my photo - but this is one of the beaches - perfect kayaking area. 

 
One of the lovely beaches on the track - we dropped a couple of trampers off here

One of the super curious weka - they would steal anything shiny or food like.

 

Then over the Takaka hill (awesome climb) -  to Golden Bay - walked through a Nikau grove with interesting rock formations at Clifton near Takaka.

I drove up to the base of Farewell Spit but signs in the car park "No dogs allowed even in cars" so I didnt think it politic to go for a walk and leave Tui in the van - hefty $10000 fine! - the Spit tour was not happening because of inappropriate tide times - need absolute low tide to take the vehicles up the Spit 

But Idrove back a bit to where there was a walk through to the most northern part of the West coast - a very deserted piece of beach.

Kaikoha - on the west coast - a 2 km walk across farmland and wetlands to get there

The Langford store, Bainham,  is nestled in the heart of the Aorere valley 15 minutes inland from Collingwood on the way to the Heaphy Track. The general store and post office has been in one family since 1928 and  is full of memorabilia. Serve a quaint tea and scones experience and also expresso coffee for those who prefer.

My last stop that day was to the Te Waikoropupu springs which are the largest freshwater springs in NZ, the largest cold water springs in the Southern hemisphere and contain some fo the clearest water ever measured. 

They were beautiful - and a lovely walk. Lots of NZers enjoying but no tourist buses!

We stayed at the NZMCA park at Port Tarakohe - just out of Takaka - apparently penguins often come ashore here but I didnt see any although i did go for a walk at dusk to see if any were round. Possibly not the right season - apparently it is moulting season. 

The harbour and breakwaters were originally built for shipping out cement from Golden Bay Cement works but further development is planned to cope with  potential of increased mussel markets.

Golden Bay was well worth the trip and  while the dreaded Takaka Hill must have been ghastly in the days when it was a gravel road  it is now reasonable although very steep and some big drop offs and hair pin bends. ( IT was easier when the cloud was down and i couldnt see over the side).  The campervan drove it easily and there were no slips on the road that week although major road works were doing repairs.

So ended week 1.

Late January - beaches and farms

 Well the weeks as usual are flying past. I have been busier than I expected as the last few days I have been driving Jonathan out to the farm every day to assist him with feeding and checking on all the animals. Amy unexpectedly has landed up in hospital and I am glad I have been able to help. yesterday was a bit of a challenge as the vet/dentist came out and had to check up on and gridn donkey teeth. Quite a challenge - she used a power drill with  a long stick piece with a gridner on the end and with assistacne from her helper and joanthan the donkeys were mostly good with it. One seemed to have a sixth sense about vets and didnt want to get his halter on so that we could lead him to the vet but we got there in the end. Amy was directing operations from her hospital bed ( no decent diagnosis as to source yet but a major  gastric/bowel infection which was causing huge pain and vomiting etc. She is on the mend hopefully). Trying to make her rest will be difficult. 

Jaasper was being a good boy inside the barn

Winter was very suspicious and in the end we did him by trapping him inside the race with Jonathan holding his head 

Haymaking was very successful this year - 351 bales and they sold 90 straight from the paddock which saved at least one trip and stacking. Kids were helpful on the second day - picking up all the loose bits which can be onsold in bags for people with rabits or guinea pigs.  Jonathan estimates he lifted and stacked 2 ton of hay bales - helpers did the rest. I rolled a few downhill to an easier pick up point but didnt volunteer for the lifting. 

Weather is very windy and wet with gales and squalls this week but last week was great and so I had the chance to take the kids out to the beach at Himatangi and they got to try out their Boogie boards - hard to get them home again - i thought four hours in the water was enough. Nana was tired.  hopefully it will be sunny again next week and we can go back for a repeat performance.

The weekend before I had taken Callum with me on a road trip to Tauranga to see my cousin Linda and visit a textile art exhibition. Callum had a great time in the surf - very hot and gorgeous weather for being at the beach. I loved catching up with Linda - she is one very lovely lady and we were made most welcome. It was also a pleasure to have one on one time with Callum. we stayed in Kawerau on the way back - beside the Tarawera River - lots of memories of long ago canoeing trips to the river!

Callum was in awe of the cliffs on the Rangitikei river at Mangaweka

On the boogie board at Mt Maunganui

More on the beach at mt Maunganui

Callum cuddling my friend Rona's nervous(supposedly)  pet greyhound

Then Robyn came down for a few dog shows in the local area and stayed here with two silkies - Tui was very good - the silkies gradually settled and stopped being bossy. Nice to have a visitor. She borrowed my campervan to stay overnight at the dog show venue. There were lots of people there with very fancy motorhomes and dog trailers - huge change from the old days when we used to go.

Indy and Abby in their sectioned off section of my living room.

I also went to a Sewing day with about 10 other ladies - fairly quiet - it was about getting on with your own project rather than just a gossip session - nice people. They made me most welcome. I look forward to going again. We used a local community centre and there was lots of space and plenty of tables to put work on.

Sewing day at the Awapuni Community Hall

Christmas and New Year seem a very long time ago. It was a quiet Christmas but very pleasant. Amy's parents were up and so we did have a traditional dinner ( Jonathan insists on his turkey)  and then did it again the next night on Boxing Day when the children came back. 

Amys parents Peter and Jean Hutchinson

My little family - Jonathan and Amy

I havent got much other sewing done this week but kids come back tomorrow so it might get even busier.  

BAck to work Lizzie - need to plant some spaghetti squash which jonathan has raised from seed ( getting a bit like his father methinks).

Theyear is racing past!

 I thought I had better do another post before it is December! - Golly Christmas is creeping up on me this year. 

This morning it has rained steadily - drizzled rather than downpour but the back deck is a big puddle. 

We had some lovely days recently so I shouldnt complain!

This weekend i took the kids down to join Jonathan and Amy at the Levin Christmas parade where the combined Levin Christian churches have a group which asked J and A to bring a donkey and join the parade as Joseph and Mary. they provide the costumes even the padding to make Amy look really pregnant and Joanthan's beard is looking quite the part. The kids join in too - the girls as angels and Callum as one of the Shepherds. ( They get to give out lollies to the spectators).

The chidlren are up on the truck at the back 2 andgels and one shepherd.

Jonathan and his two angels Cordelia and Annabel ( Callum was a photoshy shepherd)

The weekend before i had been away in the campervan ticking off another one from my bucket list. I went down to Cape Palliser which is the most southeasterly corner of the North Island. Lighthouse has 255 steps and is quite steep. held the handrail tightly on the way down!

Yes - I climbed to the top! Got steeper the higher you got.

View west - campervan in the car park at the bottom 

Its a rocky coast!

Ngawi fishing fleet! mostly crayfish boats I am told

 

Bulldozers and boats!

Then after an early breakfast and a wee walk I drove back to the Putangirua Pinnacles reserve where I wanted to walk to the lookout to see the famous Pinnacles. This was going to be quite a walk so I took my walking poles and wore my best boots and set off early so that Tui wouldnt not get too hot in the campervan. And yes it was a walk - harder than I had done for ages - took me an hour to get to the lookout on the ridge track - shady bush but a steady uphill climb and the steps got steeper nearer the top. Gorgeous views though, and I walked back down the steep downhill track to the stream bed and then a gravelly rocky walk back along the stream. Legs felt like lumps of lead by the end and very glad of my sticks but pleased I made it. dont need to do it again. Lovely reserve to camp in but I believe there are mozzies so glad i stayed at Ngawi the night before. 

Putangirua Pinnacles reserve

The road hugs the cliffs all the way round...

A steady climb along the ridges but it gets steeper 

yes, it was a glorious view of a unique  rock  formation - 

That is the stream bed at the bottom - 

After a refreshing cup of tea and a sandwich I drove back to Lake Ferry village where Denny , a quilter i had met in Auckland lived and we spent a lovely hour chatting and me admiring her needlework - she does great needlework as well as enjoys quilting. 

Thisis a Sue Spargo design from her book Homegrown - made as a pin cushion and given to me by Denny

I was feeling quite pooped so took it carefully as I drove back north and through Martinborough A fellow campervanner friend advised me to continue to a lovely spot on the Ruamahanga River called Morrisons Bush - a large grassy area with some trees , private owned but made available at very low cost for camping to the Motor Caravan Association members - definitely need to come back in the summer. 

Morrison's Bush

Then after a very peaceful and long sleep I drove quietly back to Eketahuna and stayed at the camping ground there - Diana was still there and it was good to catch up again. I have made a new friend in her and that is great, she is a very intersting lady and a fountain of knowledge having lived in her lovely motorhome for 12 years. 

Home again by lunchtime on Monday afternoon, ready for the school run. 

It has been a busy few weeks as the children have had several sports commitments that i volunteered to get them to - so Mondays is Cubs and Keas, Tuesdays Callum has soccer coaching at Ashurst and Annabel has judo, Fridays both the girls play for a school Touch rugby team ( hilarious fun - not very serious although they do learn good skills). So that is three afternoons a week that i am a bit of a chauffeur but I am enjoying the close contact with the kids. This last week I also went along to the Rose City quilters and heard a very interesting speaker who was a quilter who had been trekking in Nepal to Annapurna BAse Camp, and the Garden Club had a Christmas lunch  bus trip to Foxton beach. Nice group of people and I was able to get to know a couple of them a bit better chatting on the bus and over lunch. 

Next weekend i am heading up to Auckland for a residential weekend so need to get some of my computer related tasks done - the publication  i am putting together to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Auckland branch of the School of Philosophy will be a pleasure although a challenge. And i am also proof reading the PhD thesis of one of jonathan's students.. not a difficult task for this one - her English is quite good. 

Well back to some housework - the family is coming over for a roast lamb dinner tonight and the rain is still drizzling down... Time for a cuppa! and the heater is now on. 

View east from the lighthouse

After my afternoon hike to the top I went back to Ngawi the little fishing village where freedom camping is allowed on the shore - the wind was very light at that time so i felt safe but the shape of what trees there were made me realise I wouldnt want to park on the seashore when it was really blowing. The crayfishing boats are pulled by little bulldozers - apparently they need caterpillar treads to cope with the sloping gravelly beach rather than the usual little tractors you see pulling boats on these shores. The wind picked up a bit during the night but not too bad - chilly though - straight from the Antarctic. The cliffs are gravelly soft rock and slips are very common - the road was passable at that time but a few narrow spots where i was glad I wasnt driving in the dark. 

Ngawi