Yesterday we moved on from Kaitoke, up and over the Rimutaka Hill and journeyed through Southern Wairarapa to Clareville. We are staying the Wairarapa A&P Camp Ground which is just north of Carterton at the Clareville Showground Complex. The grounds cover 65 acres of rural land with a lake, lots of large shady trees, cooking, laundry and ablution facilities. It's home to a wide range of sport clubs and associations which have club rooms in the grounds. Four caravans arrived within minutes of each other and we each chose our site for the weekend, with others due to arrive a little later.
Settling down at Clareville
There was a small-holding stock auction taking place so I made a bee-line over to the sale yard building. Not that I know much about sheep and cattle but being a townie I always find such things quite interesting. The auctioneer was in full flow as he took bids on small groups of lambs and sheep for sale so I had to be careful that I didn’t wave my arm in the air and come away with a pen full of young stock.
Taking bids on the stock
During 4zees I spotted some chickens clucking around. One of them was a monster – twice the size of the other chooks. I’m not sure if this one is a rooster, or just a very big breed of fowl.
Resident chooks by the camp
It is still very windy here over in the Wairarapa, just not quite as bad as what we experienced at our last rally in rural Kahutura. We were planning to put our gazebo up for some shelter, with extra tarpaulins on the sides, but the wind would soon make short work of that and blow it to pieces. Luckily we found an implement shed we could use for our evening get-together last night, which was well sheltered from the blustery conditions. And it had the added advantage of a power socket so we could plug a lamp in for lighting. The evening passed in a round or two of joke telling and general chit-chat.
We’re quite cosy in here, thanks very much
Overnight the wind continued to blow and rock the caravans around, and the heavens opened and the rain came down in sheets. This part of the country can use all the rain it can get, as it gets very dry over summer. We woke to cooler temperatures and had to find some warmer clothes, for a change.
Today is Waitangi Day, a public holiday to celebrate the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi, New Zealand's founding document. The Treaty of Waitangi was signed on 6 February 1840, in a marquee in the grounds of James Busby's house (now known as the Treaty house) at Waitangi in the Bay of Islands. Every year on Waitangi Day, 6 February, New Zealanders of all communities, backgrounds and creeds gather to commemorate the signing of New Zealand’s most historic document Te Tiriti o Waitangi, The Treaty of Waitangi. (Or they just enjoy an extra day off work) .This year the day is quite special as it marks the 175th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty.
Happy Waitangi Day to all Kiwis, wherever you may be.
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