Back from a wee break- Party Time; Part 2

Real-time

Continued on from Part 1

After arriving home from Melbourne we had a couple of days to adjust to NZ time and get ship-shape before family started arriving from out of town to help Mum & Dad celebrate their Diamond wedding anniversary (60 years). We held a function at the local RSA for everyone on the Saturday night. We all had a ball, there was lots of laughs as old family stories and tall tales were told. It was lovely to see so many happy, smiling people enjoying themselves.

A lot of the credit for the fun and laughter has to go to my two cousins (twin sisters) who acted as MCs for the night. They added to the high-jinks and really helped make the night one to remember.

Mum & Dad were married in 1958 and one of the twins' daughters owns this 1958 Morrie so the twins arrived in the carpark making one hell of a noise with the rattling cans dragging behind and signs on the windows. My uncle, who'd caught a ride with his daughters, had slunk down low in the backseat, highly embarrassed- he collects classic Chevs!

Here's one photo I wanted to share with you; females reign supreme on Mum's side of the family, she is the oldest of eight; 2 boys & 6 girls. Most of the siblings had girls and their daughters have also had plenty of girls. Johnstone girls are high-spirited, fun, loud, energetic and some (most) of them can talk the bottom off a tin can. Here's a photo of the Johnstone cousins that attended, my brother was the only male there. That's my sister on the left, me, then three groups of sisters- you work out who belongs to who.  

We hosted a BBQ lunch at home for everyone the next day as Mum was also celebrating a significant birthday. It was a good chance to catch up with the extended family that had arrived from out-of town and some of the younger family members that weren't at the party the night before. 

Across the generations- Mum's reading the Queens 60th anniversary message to her great-nieces, Eva, Rosa & Lucy. Mum & Dad also received congratulatory cards from the Governor General, Prime Minister, Minister for Seniors and the local MP. 

Once we'd wound down from the festivities and seen the last of the family back to their home town, David & I set about arranging to have some of  the fifth-wheeler's interior refurbished. After six years, the upholstery and carpet were getting a little worn (in fact I'd worn a patch of carpet away below the dining table- it's where I sit at my computer). 

I'd found Douglas Auto & Marine Upholstery in Hastings on the internet, we had a chat with them, were happy with the quote so booked the van in for the 5 days they needed it for. We emptied our gear into Mum & Dads' garage which was very convenient, we wouldn't have managed without it. David then removed the bed bases and dinning bench seats so the carpet could be laid under them. Mum & Dad had a spare bed for us but we had to go to Tauranga for a few days so it worked out well, we drove up there and stayed at a friend's B&B while 'Out There' was getting a makeover.

We also decided, while we were at it, that we'd replace the concertinaed blinds and heavy material pelmets which I've had a tolerate/hate relationship with since the beginning! We were hoping that by removing the pelmets it would open the room up and make it more airy & spacious. With so much wood and the beige walls (American's love their dark wood and upholstery) we decided not to move too far away from the original colour scheme, just freshen it up a little. 

David located a great place in Onekawa, Blinds 2000 Ltd, they measured and ordered the blinds after we decided on the type and colour. The only fly in the ointment was the three week delivery time frame. Originally we were going to be heading off at the beginning of August and we thought they'd have to send them on to us for David to fit but in the end we decided to stay put (winter colds helped make that decision) and the blinds did arrive a week earlier than expected anyway.

You'll probably not notice too much difference but it really has given the interior a pick-me-up. The upholstery looks quite pinkish in some of the 'after' photos but it's not, that's the camera playing tricks. It is a lot lighter than the old material though. Here are the before (2013) & after photos, I now think it's time to change my cushions and floor rug!

And with the blinds closed-

These are Thermacell blinds, the honeycomb effect traps air and provides a barrier against the cold but the best part is that they have 'black-out' colour inside the concertinaed pleats, it's now lovely and dark which may mean I might miss a few sunrises!

We also replaced the two venetians in the kitchen, they now drop from under the cupboards making it look like we have a large back window.

We are both thrilled with the changes and very pleased with the service received from both companies. I'd have no hesitation in recommending them if you're looking to do some interior work. Douglas' also do awnings.

Back 'Out There' .....

.... just as the itchy feet started to return we headed to one of our favourite camps with our motorhoming family for a few days. 

Glenfalls DOC Camp is on the banks of the Mohaka River, 50kms north of Napier and 8kms off the Napier-Taupo road. Over summer it can sometimes be a very busy place but in the middle of winter there was just one other motorhome and us three. 

Mind you, the site wasn't looking it's best due to a winter storm that has flooded down the nearby stream from the range behind and spread silt, rocks and mud out over the track at the southern end of the camp. Someone in a digger has 'helpfully' tried to clear the track but has instead dug it deeper and got bogged down dumping the silt. And it was also a boggy mess at the northern end too! The middle though, where we usually go, was just right- high, dry and flat! 

And then there was one! We stayed on for another day just as the sky cleared and the trout started biting. 

It'll be another week or so before we're back on the road, so until the next blog here's a photo to keep you going- freesias and bees, a sure sign that spring has arrived!

Nine Weeks in Napier- Part 1; Out & About

Catch-up (don't worry there aren't 9 parts!) 

I wondered how I was going to bring you our exploits from the last nine weeks parked up in suburbia, but actually, once I sorted the photos it's turned out to be rather easy! Helped by the fact that we haven't done too much in the exploring mode, more in the family, maintenance, and computer work modes. This is probably just as well, as despite the lack of activity, I still have three Napier blogs to post! Apologies if I jump about a bit though, it was never going to flow like a normal blog post, there are too many subjects!

Fishing as the sun goes down

We said goodbye to our Tauranga family, a little less sad this time as we'll be in the North for awhile and will see them again soon.  We breathed a huge sign of relief as we pulled out of the busy (and about to get even busier) Mount campground and headed south towards Napier. Next stop Glenfalls, one of our favourite DOC camps which is off the Napier-Taupo Road and beside the Mohaka River.

We'd allowed ourselves a couple of nights to rest and relax before the next round of family gatherings in Napier. And there's nothing more relaxing than a warm sunny day, the smell of freshly mown grass and the gentle burble of the water flowing past. Summer had well and truly arrived.

It didn't worry me when I opened the door to fog the next morning; I had no doubt that it would soon burn off.

Across the river the setting moon was just about to disappear below the ridge.

And as I predicted the fog soon lifted, the sun beat down and a steady stream of river visitors arrived; these guys are a little overdone in all their fishing garb (and probably overdone (cooking) on the inside too). 

They crossed the river at it's deepest point which created a few problems for them, one in particular didn't have his airtight belt on (it goes around your middle to keep the water out of your waders). He managed to turn around and head back to get it, just as the water started to pour in over the top. I'm not sure why the local lodge owner who brought them down (that's him and his best mate on the raft) hadn't pointed out a shallower crossing, in places it was only thigh deep. 

The day turned out to be one of the hottest we've experienced for a long while and we both ended up having several very refreshing dips in the river (perhaps we've just got used to Southland summers).

We had a chuckle when a number of vehicles and people arrived later in the morning and started setting up camp- was our tranquil camp about to be invaded? I thought it might have been a local family claiming their site for Christmas (still 2 weeks away) but when a busload of kids arrived not long after we realised it was another school camp! 

What an awesome bunch of kids and teachers they were, very polite and a credit to their school. They were from a Napier primary school and were so excited to be camping. The teacher told me that many had never been out of their suburb let along camping and rafting. The games, singing and happy laughter later confirming they were having a great time.

Refreshed and ready to take on the world....well OK, Napier, we left Glenfalls and headed off to our very own private POP (park over property) beside Mum & Dads' in Greenmeadows. Once family catch-ups, Christmas and New Year were out of the way, David got to work doing a whole lot of maintenance on the van.

Sunrise

It's been great to have some down time and family time but the one thing I do miss the most about being parked up in the suburbs is capturing the stunning Hawkes Bay sunrises and sunsets from wide open spaces.

Sunset

The weather has been magnificent, 30-35 degrees for weeks on end, one day we had 37c outside the van. It's been hot and humid but thank God for the air-conditioning in the van....and a power supply courtesy of Mum and Dad. And while I'm at it, thank God for Mum's home cooked meals, a few of Dad's specialties too, shared happy hours and lots of laughs.

Of course after hot humid weather comes the thunder storms, and we had a real beauty one afternoon. I captured the brewing storm rolling in and had only just got back in the van when the loudest thunder clap I have ever heard, right over the top of us, shot me out of my seat in fright and then the lightning and torrential rain started. It lasted for 40 minutes or so and then it was gone. The sun and blue sky returned leaving a little surface flooding here and there to tell the tale.

And this is where I start to jump about a bit...

Dad has a regular special bread order with a local bakery; it used to be quite handy in nearby Onekawa but has sold and opened up in the old fire station at Whakatu (half way between Napier & Hastings). Whakatu was once known for it's freezing works which closed in 1986. 

There's a large industrial park, coolstores and a cycle trail in the area now, and with construction work started on an important arterial route nearby, the bakery/tuck shop is in an ideal position to service passing traffic and nearby workers. Dad now has to travel a little further but the bread, pastries and savouries they make are well worth the extra miles- Dad shouted us morning tea and I can highly recommend the doughnuts! 

Meet Izzy, the cutest little pug puppy ever! This 8 week old little bundle of energy was on the go for ages before she stopped still long enough for me to snap her. Izzy belongs to Mum's brother and his wife and is the last in the line of many pugs they have had over the years, including two older pugs that are ruing the day that this little squirt arrived in the house. Isn't she just gorgeous.

We visited the Hastings Farmers Market on a couple of the weekends, sampling the wares, filling our bags with lots of fresh produce and relaxing with a coffee for a short time while watching the world pass by. I did a blog post on the market a couple of years ago, click the link if you'd like to read more (I just read the weather was hot then too!).

Napier's Marine Parade has recently had a major revamp and it's fantastic, it's been very well done and will be a major asset to the city. The 'Reef Garden' include whalebone sculptures, a reflection pool, water features, a basketball court, skateboarding area and seating. We went for a stroll along the waterfront on another hot summer's day.

Jets of water play around the edge of the pond and are lit up in different colours at night. 

It was great to see all the wide open paths and spaces with enough room for everyone; cyclists, scooters, skate boarders and walkers.

Here's a photo that will perplex a few people. This two block section of Marine Parade near the Sound Shell has had a makeover too. It used to be two lanes heading south, now there's a single lane in both directions and the other side is now a parking/service lane. For someone Napier born and bred, I can tell you it feels very weird crossing here. Be very careful if you remember the old road layout, it's very easy to step out without looking both ways.

Some of you may remember the blog post I did when I was tour driver & parcel carrier for Mum and five of her girlfriends when they went on one of their regular jaunts around the local op shops. Well this time Mum and I organised a visit to Trelinnoe Gardens near Te Pohue, 30kms up the Napier- Taupo Road. 

I'd last visited the gardens about 25 years ago, obviously so much had changed in that time but I wasn't expecting to not recognise a thing from my last visit. There are 30 acres of gardens with large mature trees, shrubs and perennials. The walkways weave through and around the landscaped woodland gardens ending at several ponds at the bottom of a long, lazy slope, before heading back up the other side to complete the loop. 

We were very thankful for the shade on what turned out to be the hottest January day on record. We had a pleasant stroll around but decided it would have been better to have visited in early spring when the azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias were flowering, or in autumn when the deciduous trees turned colour. 

After our garden walk we intended to stop at an Eskdale Cafe for a late lunch on the way home. Unfortunately Mum's car had other ideas. After hearing a loud rattling noise over the top of the ladies' chatter, loosing power and watching the temperature gauge suddenly go sky high, we limped to stop inches clear of a very busy Napier-Taupo Road. 

With no sign of life and a very hot smell coming from under the bonnet, we weren't going anywhere fast. Our saving grace was that we had cell-phone reception (not readily available on the Napier-Taupo) and I was able to call David to get him and Dad to come and rescue us. 

So with the boot up, the hazard lights on, an umbrella helping to shield some of us from the hot sun and two outside seats for a couple of the ladies to sit on in the shade, we patiently waited for the men to arrive. Which was just as well as not one vehicle out of a hundred or so passing stopped to check if we were OK (we figured they would have though, had we started waving them down).  

Forty minutes later and our knights rode in on their trusty steads. We sent Mum and her friends off in Dad's car to complete their day, while Dad & I nursed Mum's car home. Of course it was Murphy's law that the car started fine for them and they wondered what all the fuss was about.

It wasn't long though before we had to stop again (and again) to wait for things to cool down before continuing on but our luck finally ran out, along with the car's power, on the busy Taradale Road roundabout with dozens of cars and trucks stacked up behind us. Thank God for the three generous young men who quickly pushed us across the traffic and around the corner. David then came again to tow us home. Where we were met by a gaggle of ladies enjoying a well earnt wine!

It turned out to be a problem with the water pump and Mum's wallet is now quite a lot lighter!

To be continued...Part 2

Déjà vu- Napier,Tauranga & Back Again

Real-time

Well, we're back in Napier again, parked up beside Mum & Dads' house after another slight variation to the already once amended plan. We're following David's adage of "Ask me tomorrow" ; something he says whenever anyone asks where we're off to next.

We left Sulphur Point Saturday morning and headed back to the NZMCA Park at Ngongotaha in Rotorua for the night. The park wasn't as busy as our previous visit earlier in the month, it also looked very bleak and barren. Sadly the beautiful trees that lined the north side of the park have all been removed-  I suspect TV reception and solar power interference are the reasons, although the official word on it, are that the trees are dropping branches and are a danger to visitors. This photo was taken on our previous visit.

Our next stop was south of Rotorua at Lake Rerewhakaaitu, one of the smaller Rotorua Lakes which is tucked in behind Mt Tawarewa and accessed off SH38, the Lake Waikaremoana road. I wanted to check out the two DOC camps at the lake. Although we've explored much of the Rotorua area before we lived on the road, Lake Rerewhakaaitu was not a lake we'd visited before.

We headed to the top of the lake first, to check the DOC Ash Pit Road camp. It's a great spot....when there's not a cold blustery wind blowing straight off the lake. The ground was very soft too and the sun, when it did make an appearance, had already disappeared behind the trees. We decided to leave this camp for the summer, I know it's very popular then and over any holiday period especially with boaties. 

We retraced our steps back along the lake stopping to check out the smaller DOC Brett Road campsite on the way; it also didn't look too welcoming so we carried on...

...to the Guy Roe Reserve and camping area which is managed by Rotorua Lakes Council.

The reserve looked a lot more appealing than the two DOC camps, it's amazing what a little warm sun can do for moral. It's $8pp per night at Guy Roe and you do need to be self-contained.

We set up camp in the bottom corner beside a wide finger of a water that enters the lake from a smaller creek upstream.

We parked it so we could sit at the table in the slide-out and watch the birdlife out the window. The local flock of scaup, a small diving duck, were resting in the patch of water lily leaves, but they took off as soon as we moved in!

 A Canada Goose pair were grazing on the grass right where we wanted to park, they also moved off into the water, glaring at us as they did so, and honking their disapproval at being moved on.

Even the resident Little Shag wasn't happy with our arrival; he decided he'd had enough and flew off as I tried to sneak up on him by hiding behind a fallen tree.

So we had to do our bird watching from afar but the outlook was still pleasant enough. I'd love to be here when there were lots of water-babies about. This arm of the lake would also make a great place to explore in a kayak.

The camping area is sectioned off, which is a good idea, further down there's a large area for picnicking day trippers and boaties to launch their boats at the boat ramp.

This is looking back to where we are tucked into the corner at the far end of the reserve.

I went for a short walk down past the boat ramp and lake level jetty to check out a muddy dirt track I could see running through the bush and alongside the lake to a far point.

I wish I hadn't. It's obviously the haunt of those who have no good on their minds. Not only had the track been cut up by off-roaders and motorbikes and was gumboot deep in water and mud, someone had shot a few roosters (that had obviously been liberated in the reserve) and left them where they fell. 

And it appears a few poachers had used a couple of the clearings to butcher their ill-gotten gains. It was quite disconcerting to realise what 'the thing' was after watching a number of silvereyes scramble over the remains feeding on what I can only assume is fat. Yuk, yuk, yuk! No smell either, although I didn't get too close; thank God for a telephoto lens!

After those discoveries I'd lost the will to go further, so I turned and headed back to the reserve, carefully moving through the undergrowth to the edge of the lake to catch these Scaup on the weed boom, on the way.

It was cold and overcast when we pulled out of camp early the next morning- we often stay hitched when we're stopping for just a night- it makes for a quick getaway in the morning, even if it takes a bit of maneuvering to get us level the night before. 

We couldn't go past another stop at our favourite DOC camp at Glenfalls beside the Mohaka River, off the Napier-Taupo Road. There were still patches of snow on the range behind, left-over from the big snow that blasted the area earlier in the month. And as we came over the rise we could see that the river was just as dirty and a lot higher than it was a few weeks ago.  Not only were we not going to be on our own, a motorhome had taken our favourite spot on the river bank too. How dare they!  

'Red sky at night, shepherds delight'- hopefully that meant we'd finally left the rain behind. 

Mist settled in through the valley overnight but quickly lifted as the sun rose the next morning. We'd once again stayed hitched so it was a quick pack up and pull out, arriving...

....back in Napier, setting up on the concrete pad, plugging in and looking like we'd never left.