Oh dear, what have we here?

After two rather damp days at the PWMC we moved on up the Valley to Trentham and the Army Golf Club site where we again permitted a two day stop over. This site wasn’t as good as the PWMC because it backs onto the Police Dog Breeding and Training centre and the noise of barking dogs ran from dawn until dusk with the occasional quiet spell. They not only train Police dogs but drug detection dogs as well so there are German Shepherd and Beagle’s in residence. The one good thing about staying here was hearing a Morepork (native Owl) both night’s calling  to attract a mate but without success in getting a response.

Our main objective while in Trentham was visiting Dot’s Father and a visit to our lock up to retrieve odd and ends for the motorhome so we will be fully self sufficient. Prior to our narrowboat adventure we used to have a caravan which was fully equipped and most of that gear had been stored away in the lock up for future use. Sorting through the bins we came across all sorts of things that we wondered why on earth did we save them in the first place. Last night we attended the fireworks display at Trentham Park with a great show which we found hard to photograph.

The photos don’t do the display justice.

The only sign of damage or deterioration was my Caravan Club rally ribbons. These had been stored along with Dot’s ribbons in the top of the writing bureau but I found mine in the bottom drawer some 2 feet below all chewed up by mice. We came to the conclusion that my Pheromones smelt better than Dot’s and that's why my ribbons got used to make a nest and not hers. After trimmed the chewed ribbons they now look pathetic as there is not much left.  Still if that’s all that got damaged we have not got much to complain about. The moral of the story here is to store everything in sealed plastic containers where vermin cannot access.  Despite rat bait being laid it did not deter the little fellows.

In the drawer side by side and Dot’s were completely untouched by mice.  How fair is that?

Sunday, we left the Golf Club and drove up to Totara Park to visit friends Robin and Jenny and after lunch went for a drive to a beautiful picnic spot above the Hutt River along Akatarawa road. Except for the odd car all we can hear are the birds and the solar panel is pumping out about 4amps so that’s good for the batteries.

Now what are these two cooking up?

Paremata and Petone.

We departed Otaki on Tuesday morning bound for Ngatitoa Domain at Paremata where we planned to stay for a couple of days and visit my Mum. Well part of the plan worked out in that we reached Ngatitoa Domain in overcast conditions. After lunch I went and picked up Mum to bring her back to the motorhome for afternoon tea. The afternoon passed quickly and I returned Mum to her rest home in time for the evening meal.

Plenty of room at Ngatitoa Domain.

That night the weather conditions deteriorated and gale force winds came pounding in off the Tasman Sea giving us a right old rocking all night. It was so bad that we didn’t even put up the satellite dish for fear of losing it. The roof vents were also giving us cause for concern when the wind was tugging at them and lifting them slightly. Needless to say it was a sleepless night for both of us.

Para surfing at Paremata inlet.

Thursday morning it was still blustery and raining heavily. By mid morning there was no sign of any improvement so it was time to move on to our next stop in Petone. The Petone Workingmens Club offers members of the NZMCA (New Zealand Motor Caravan Association) low cost parking for a maximum 2 days. This site is handy to both Wellington and the Hutt Valley.

Holiday week-end.

Here in New Zealand this last week-end has been a public holiday (Labour Week-end), the last long week-end for the year before Christmas. Caravan clubs throughout the country would have been holding rallies with Wellington Caravan Club holding their 60th Birthday rally with a joint rally with Wairarapa, and our club, Heretaunga all joining in the birthday bash. The chosen venue was Bridge Lodge at Otaki just 70km North of Wellington. This camp site used to be a retreat for the Wellington City Mission, an non denominational church group helping those less fortunate.

Taken at the 60th birthday celebration. Don't often see a photo of us both together

The weather wasn’t that great but it is only early Spring. This didn’t dampen the proceedings especially meeting up with old friends from other clubs who we hadn’t seen for 6 or 7 years. Saturday night was the celebratory birthday dinner where the Wellington Club supplied an ample quantity of beer and wine. Sunday night was of course the big game that bought New Zealand to a stand still with everybody focusing on a TV set somewhere or other. We were no different with most of us assembled in the hall in front of a large TV to watch the All Blacks triumph over the French.

Another camp? No not really, just our friends Geoff and Eileen’s home in Otaki

Monday morning came around all too fast and after morning tea it was time to say our farewells with some members having to travel 1 or 2 hundred kilometre’s to get home. We only travelled about 2km’s to the other side of Otaki to friends Geoff and Eileen’s property where we stayed the night along with club members Robin and Jenny. Rather than travel in the heavy home bound traffic our plan is to travel back to Wellington today (Tuesday) in more relaxed conditions.

We are the Champions!

The Webb Ellis Trophy for the winners,

New Zealand wins the Rugby World Cup 2011. Well done the boys in black.  We are proud of you, I now have no finger nails left.

Tonight’s the night!

Rugby World Cup. All Blacks versus France. Our fingers are crossed.

Sunny Otaki (Well not at the moment!)

Now parked at Bridge Lodge.

Time spent at Don and Sandra’s farmlet is always a pleasure. Among their many interests they have been raising calves and beef cattle for quite a few years. Now in retirement they are just running 20 head of cattle on their small holding. Instead of the time consuming business of raising month old calves to yearlings they are buying in yearlings, fattening them up until they are 2 year olds and then off to the meat works. Having worked on a farm at Hoon Hey Valley near Christchurch I love getting out in the country again.

Parked up together at Don and Sandra’s farmlet at Levin.

The last 2 days have been no exception. Don and I were out repairing an electric fence prior to shifting the cattle onto fresh pasture. Before that we had to round them up into the stock yard to cull out 6 animals ready for transportation to the meat works on Thursday morning. Here we had a problem in that one Simmental heifer goes ballistic when held in the yard causing all sorts of damage. We managed to segregate her and leave her out in the paddock until we had culled the others. The remainder were then put on the fresh pasture where the connecting gates were left open. Eventually the Simmental realised what had happened and came charging up the paddock onto the fresh pasture bellowing like mad. There is no way this animal will get to the meat works so arrangements have been made with the local Home Kill Butcher to come and shoot her in the paddock and take her away for processing. The safest method for all concerned.

Sandra keeps a beautiful garden up to a real professional standard.

After 2 days of bliss it was time to hit the road again. We weren’t going far; just down the road to Otaki where Caravan Club friends Eileen and Geoff live. They have set up power points so that any of the club can come and stay in comfort of their own caravans. As we had a Caravan Club rally in Otaki this long holiday week-end we were invited to stay the night so we didn’t have far to travel tomorrow.

The garden is a real credit to her. (where does she find the time?)

Foxton and Levin.

Now parked in Koputuroa Road, Levin

Snow capped Ruahine ranges.

After a couple of relaxing days at Takapau we decided to head South to Foxton. Due to the Manawatu Gorge still being closed by a massive slip we took the Pahiatua Track road bypassing Palmerston North back to SH1. This took us cross country via Linton on SH 57 and Opiki on SH56. Travelling cross country was interesting seeing places not normally seen travelling the main highways.

House moving Kiwi style on SH2 near Dannevirke.

At Foxton we caught up with old friends,Dave and Angela who used to be our neighbours in Stokes Valley. After a pleasant afternoon together we headed on down to the beach at the BP Surf Lifesaving. Here there is a large car park right on the beach front.  Dot’s son Brent arrived from Wellington on a flying visit with mail which he considered needed dealing with. We eventually settled in for the night along with some surfers living rough in a station wagon and a van. The sound of the sea was enough to send me off to sleep but during the night the wind got up keeping Dot awake.

Foxton Beach with a storm brewing.

This morning the car park was a hive of activity with early morning joggers and the local racing stables bringing horses down to the beach for exercise. The beach is part of a local reserve where motor vehicles and horses are allowed on the beach but there is a 30kmh speed limit. The first horse was a trotter which was exercised in harness with a sulky but the next four were loosely tethered to a frame across the back of a utility which was driven along the beach at a modest speed exercising them simultaneously. About an hour later these 5 horses were loaded back on the horse float and taken away only to be replaced by another 5 horses a short time later. We even got a visit from the local constabulary who gave us a friendly wave and left.

Foxton Beach.

We were kept amused by the surfers who cooked up breakfast on a little camping stove and then set about dish washing in the toilet block underneath the surf club building. One of them decided it was shower time so he stripped to his swimming togs and lathered up under one of the cold showers on the side of the building which are supplied for swimmers to wash off the salt after a swim. It must have been freezing as the outside temperature was only about 13degC with a strong on shore wind blowing in off the Tasman Sea.

Exercise over it's back to the stables for these 5.

We eventually got ourselves organised and drove into Foxton to post some mail and then carried on to Levin. We had phoned some old friends of ours, Don and Sandra Webb in Levin, but there was no reply. Not to be deterred we drove to their address just in case they had changed their phone number since we last saw them. We had only been there a few minutes when Don returned home after mowing a neighbours lawn. He invited us in to await Sandra’s return from a shopping spree in Palmerston North with her 2 granddaughters, Ashley and Kelsey alias Brat. 

How to exercise 4 horses simultaneously.

When Sandra arrived home Dot and I hid because we knew that Sandra wouldn’t recognise the motorhome or our car. We heard her come into the house saying “who’s here?”. She got a big surprise when we emerged. Being typical Kiwi country folk they invited us for dinner and to stay for a day or two which we graciously accepted. Needless to say there has and will be a lot of catching up  to do (7 years worth).