Four in a row

What a busy life we lead!! We have had trips away in our caravan four weekends in a row. We don't usually go away quite so much. No wonder nothing much gets done at home. Perhaps we had better stay home this coming weekend for a change.

Our last trip was over the Rimutaka Hill to Carterton Motor Camp, one of our favourite camps to visit. The new managers, Pete and Di, have done a great job since taking over the camp. After a lot of hard work on their part, the camp has now been awarded a Qualmark rating of 4 star plus. This is the highest rating a camp can achieve without a swimming pool on site - congratulations Pete and Di.

It was a busy weekend in the Wairarapa and the camp was quite full. As well as our group from the Heretaunga Caravan Club, there were dog owners and their pedigree pooches all hoping for a big win at the All Breed Dog Show held up the road at the Claireville Showgrounds. There was also a big group who spent a day in the sun at the Martinborough Food and Wine Festival, sampling all the world famous local wines. The rumour was out that the actor Orlando Bloom, of Lord of the Rings fame, was attending the Wine Festival. Wonder if any of the wine tasters saw him?

While we were sitting outside in the lovely Wairarapa sunshine, our blokes noticed a couple who were struggling to thread the rope of their awning onto the caravan. Quick as a flash, they all went over to lend a hand, taking a can of silicone spray with them to help with the job. With all these experienced caravanners to help, the job was soon done.

The big surprise of the weekend was when Geoff and Eileen arrived on Friday evening with a brand new caravan. They are now the proud owners of a 7 metre Swift Charisma, and very nice it is too.

And just to cap our weekend off, the earth moved when two earthquakes struck, both centred locally. Luckily they were quite small and no damage seems to have occurred. Whew!! Living here in the "Shaky Isles" we are always on our guard for the Big One.