Today is our last full day in camp, and we were woken to the “whoosh whoosh” of burners from balloon flights overhead. Sadly, it is the first anniversary of a terrible local balloon accident in which the eleven people on board perished. A balloon trip was previously on our “wish list” but perhaps not now.
Balloons over Carterton Motor Camp
We started the day with a hearty Sunday breakfast of bacon and eggs, that’s Robin’s speciality. Mine is doing the washing – the bed has been stripped, the sheets changed, I’ve done a big load of washing which is fluttering in the sunny breeze. With the water tank filled up and a quick whizz around with the vacuum cleaner, that’s all the inside jobs done and out of the way. It was a bit more of an effort to pull the awning down, lay it out to dry any damp edges in the hot sun, and pack it away. Then we had to find spaces inside the caravan for all those bits and pieces which have been stored in the awning over the last two weeks. Clearing up like this today will make our departure from camp so much easier tomorrow.
The camp is surrounded by mature trees and the birdlife is very abundant. We’ve been kept entertained by blackbirds, fantails, thrushes and chaffinches. The chaffinches in particular have been very amusing, and we watched as they hopped up and down on the hedge flushing out moths which they then caught on the wing.
A fantail came calling
Life in camp is always interesting, with plenty of comings and goings. Caravans arrive, tents are set up, and children race around on their bikes, trikes and scooters. We can watch it all from our seats placed in a shady spot. One particular arrival caused quite a bit of interest, when an old motor-home was carried into camp on the back of a tow truck. Seems the two German girls bought a bit of a dud when they purchased it to tour around New Zealand. They arrived in camp to stay in one of the cabins while the garage sorted out their problems. According to Camp Mother Di the old motor-home needed several thousands of dollars work to get it roadworthy again, so the mechanic informed her.
Sad sight arriving in camp
Our holiday weather has been a bit of a mixed bag, but when possible, the blokes liked to get the BBQs out in the evenings. Guess it must bring out the caveman instincts as they turned the meat over the heat.
Surf’n’turf – steak and prawn kebabs
It’s been great camping with friends and we have all enjoyed each other’s company, sharing 4zees and meals outside in the fresh air and inside Don and Pamela’s large awning when the weather turned rough. And who would have thought that we would lose our inhibitions on New Year’s Eve and take part in karaoke singing? Now that the camp is emptying out with people heading back to home and work, the better weather has returned. Isn’t that always the way.
Derek and Robin relaxing in the shade
And to finish up our holiday snaps, here is a last view of Riversdale, with the Motuwaireka Stream running into the sea. The red flowering tree is a pohutakawa, a coastal evergreen tree in the myrtle family, and produces a brilliant display of red flowers made up of a mass of stamens. It is known as the New Zealand Christmas Tree as it flowers over summer.
Last view of Riversdale 
No comments:
Post a Comment