Our Tiny Garden

We’re not great gardeners, by any means, but it’s a real thrill when we have veggies to pick straight from the garden.  At the moment we have some butter beans and tomatoes just starting to produce.

Yes, we know, it’s hardly enough to keep the wolf from the door, but these little lovelies are growing in our garden, so that’s exciting.

And we have a fine crop of rhubarb growing, which seems to take care of itself. Our home grown rhubarb went very nicely in a baked rhubarb sponge pudding I whipped up for dinner last evening.

Strawberries and Ice-cream

We were eating strawberries and ice-cream for a good cause.  The Strawberry Festival was organized by Property Brokers Levin to raise funds for Arohanui Hospice which provides specialist end-of-life care to patients in our area.  The hospice service is free and two thirds of the patients are cared for in their own homes.  Support for their families is also provided.

People were queuing up for their sweet treat, and Property Brokers staff were doing a great job.  Selling tickets, putting scoops of ice-cream into containers, adding strawberries, fruit sauce, and topping it all off with a shake or two of icing sugar.  It was a real team effort.

As we stopped to enjoy our strawberries, we listened to local singer Geoff who provided the entertainment.  At $5 per serving, it was money well spent, and all going to a wonderful cause.  Mind you, I did hear one man ask if he could have it for free, that was a bit cheeky, I thought.  Just as well he was refused. 

Changing Over

We caught up with our friends Louise and Robert recently, and got to check out their new acquisition.  They recently changed their Leisureline caravan for a 5th Wheeler.  The large American 5th Wheelers with multiple pull-outs did not appeal at all, so they purchased an Australian built Travelhome.

Unfortunately I forgot to take indoor photos, but the description of spacious and light sums it up.  There is plenty of room around the queen sized bed, and the walls are finished with light coloured laminex type wall board.  Louise and Robert are fitness fanatics, as the pair of electric bikes on the back of the rig testify.  Robert constructed the bike stand himself, using a fitting so that the laden stand swings out of the way if he wants to access the back cupboard.

We wont see them at the upcoming Leisureline Rally now they have changed over,  but hopefully will meet up on the road again somewhere soon.

BBQs and Devonshire Tea at Pohangia

After our tiki-tour around the Pohangia Valley all the men got their BBQs out and started cooking.  The plan was to cook and all eat together in the lovely fresh air.  We were having Scotch Fillet steak with zucchinis and salad and I noticed pork steak, kebabs and sausages were also cooking away.  And then, Robin cooked our Sunday breakfast on the BBQ the following morning – bacon, eggs and tomatoes.  This is the life!

BBQ for dinner and Sunday breakfast

Rally Captains Bill and Val had us all taking part in a spirited game of Lawn Darts in the early afternoon.  This was a gift a year or two ago, and Val decided it was time to get the game out and give it a go.  Nobody had ever come across this game before, so it was new to all of us.  Owen eventually won the competition.

Val and Owen

As a reward for all taking part so good naturedly, we then walked down the road to a lovely little café called Country Farye, originally the Pohangia Council buildings.  Our group was seated around the large horse-shoe shaped Council table, where no doubt many important decisions were made in earlier times.  The café is run by volunteers and opens in the weekends, with all profits going back to the community.  Many old photos were displayed on the walls, telling the history of this once thriving little town.

Scones with jam and cream and early photos

Monday (Wellington Anniversary Day) was terribly windy.  So windy that the sun awnings were taken down for safety’s sake, wouldn’t want any of them ripped and torn, would we.  For Morning Tea and 4zees we had to tuck ourselves behind some trees to get out of the wind.  A suggestion was made that those who wished could stay an extra night and depart Tuesday, meaning we wouldn’t have to get caught up in the long weekend traffic.  We thought a few might take advantage of this offer, and surprisingly, everyone stayed over. You can tell we are all retired!

Thank goodness the awful wind had dropped overnight, and we hooked up and left reasonably early on Tuesday morning.  Farmers in the valley had been cutting hay, and the paddocks were dotted with rolls of hay all bagged up.  Our first stop was the Dump Station, then we headed for home.  It was a great weekend, in beautiful surroundings – so nice to catch up with everyone again.

Start of the Long Weekend at Pohangina Reserve

Pohangina Reserve started life as a school, and as often happens, families move away from the area and the school closed in the 1980s.   The school grounds are now a reserve for people to use and enjoy.  This reserve features the historic 100 year old school building and landscaped grounds, including a swimming pool, tennis court and playground.  Our caravan club is camping here over  Wellington Anniversary Weekend.

Old school building

The 80km trip from home saw us arrive just after midday on Friday, to join Bill and Val who had just arrived a short time earlier.  The sun was beating down so after we were settled we joined them for lunch under their shady awning.  4zees was enjoyed under a huge spreading Maple tree, and locals came to make use of the swimming pool and play ground.

The others vans arrived over the next couple of hours

4zees, dinner then a get together outside in the early evening was on the programme for our first day.  We played the dice game with 20 cent pieces and the winner was Helen, taking home a large assortment of 20cent pieces, about $8 worth.  Not enough to change her life, but would certainly buy an ice-cream each.  We drifted off to sleep with the sound of the moreporks calling from the hillside close by.  The native morepork (owl) is known for its haunting, melancholic call - this sound gives it the Māori name 'ruru'.

On Saturday afternoon we pooled cars and took a tiki-tour to check out the camping at Totara Reserve.  This large camp was full of tenters and caravanners making the most of the long weekend.  There are BBQs available and a rather smart ablution block.

There was also a smaller, more rustic camp just across the road – our club had camped there in the past.  We went to check out the river behind the camp, remembering the terrible tragedy several years ago when the towering cliffs unexpectantly collapsed, killing three children swimming in the river.

 

Pohangina River

Back in the cars,  we  traveled a circular route to return to the camp.  The Pohangina Valley is certainly a very scenic place.

Back over the river

Robin provided the Saturday evening entertainment and presented a slide show of our recent 20 Tunnel Rail Cart Tour in the old school room, which we had hired.  Several of our caravan buddies had done an earlier trip with us a few years ago, and this current trip was organised by our Probus Club.

20 Tunnel Rail Cart Tour

Saturday was an extremely hot day, as was the evening, so we went to bed with windows open and the vents wide open.  “Murphy’s Law” had Robin scrambling out of bed at 4.00am to close the vents as a very heavy down pour came overhead!

Found it – at last

One of the “things to do” on our recent trip to stay at Napier was to visit the Waipawa Butchery – it’s world famous in the Hawkes Bay.  Unfortunately it was a stat holiday when we passed by, so the shop wasn’t open.  The Smith family of Patangata Station in the Tukituki River Valley featured on the popular TV show, Country Calendar a while ago, and told how they recently purchased the Waipawa Butchery.  Duncan wanted to ensure they had the same quality product on the shelves every week. “We set up some rules around what kind of stock we would supply to the butchery. That meant ensuring all the animals coming into the butchery are female and they have been killed at specific weights. We find meat from female stock, including pigs, is tastier and juicer every time”, he said.

We were delighted to find a large stand featuring Waipawa Butchery set up outside Mega Mitre 10 during a trip to Palmerston North today.  (They will be there every Wednesday, they assured us.)  Business was booming, and we finally got to purchase some of their famous meat.

We purchased several cuts of beef and lamb, plus a couple of home made lamb and kumera pies for our dinner tonight.  And a chilly bag to take our purchases safely home.  I’m sure the meat will be every bit as tasty as promised, can’t wait to finally try it.  We will give it the taste test and let you know.

Ferry Reserve – camping between two bridges

Geographically, this is a very special place - the scenic divide between the Tararua and Ruahine Ranges.  The Manawatu Gorge was formed over thousands of years by the Manawatu River.  It is the only place in New Zealand where a river begins its journey on the opposite side of the main divide to where it joins the sea.  Bill and Val joined us for the last night of our Christmas/New Year trip staying at Ferry Reserve.

Ferry Reserve offers free overnight parking for self contained motorhomes or caravans on a large slightly undulating grassy area overlooking the river.  The vans were parked up and after getting settled, we went for a walk to see what we could see.

The area is bordered by two bridges.  The Balance Bridge was constructed over the Manawatu River in 1904 and served until 1968 when it was closed, as it was thought to be unsafe. This wooden bridge was then replaced by an iron-concrete bridge which opened in 1971.

Balance Bridge

A road through the Manawatu Gorge was constructed 1871-1872, opening up Manawatu to Wairarapa and Hawkes Bay, and the original Upper Gorge bridge replaced the ford in the Manawatu River in 1875, with a toll gate to collect revenue for the maintenance of the road.   The wooden bridge, built of heart totara, was replaced in 1931 allowing for two-way traffic.  The Manawatu Gorge Road is now closed due to recurring landslides, and a new road is planned.

Upper Gorge Bridge

Several buildings have been added to the reserve since our last visit.  Whare Three is one of eight dotted about the region and information boards tell of the history of the area.  According to Rangitane tradition the Manawatu River Gorge was formed by a giant totara tree known as Okatia who once stood on the Puketio Ranges to the east.  Okatia became incensed with the desire to reach the sea and traveled west from his home, encountering the great Ruahine and Tararua mountain ranges.  This it overcome, creating a great mountain pass known as Te Apiti, the Manawatu Gorge.

Whare Three with information boards inside

There is also a BBQ shelter and a rather smart tiled toilet block in the park.

And that’s us away in the distance, overlooking the river

A lovely touch in the park is the Sacred Grove of Trees.  These were planted by the children of Woodville School in memory of the servicemen of Woodville and surrounding districts who did not return from active service during the Great War of 1914-1918.  Each man now has a personal living memorial so that his sacrifice will be forever remembered.

Sacred Grove of Trees

Our last evening was spent together  having a tipple and reminiscing about our trip.  The weather had changed overnight and our journey home the following morning was rather wet.  But, as often happens, by the time we reached our home town, the weather had improved, making unloading the caravan so much easier.  It was a great trip away, plenty of time for relaxing, some exploring, dining out, and time to catch up with family too.  We've unpacked the caravan, done a couple of loads of washing, getting ready to do it all again shortly, our next trip away is in two weeks time.

Driving home in the rain

Four Nights at Erickson Road Park

Our return to the NZMCA Erickson Road Park was a pleasant surprise.  I remembered coming to see this place when it was newly opened - a bare, windswept area it was back then.  But now it is covered in lush green grass, with many trees planted around the perimeter.

Parking bays have now been created in the park, with gardens planted at either side of each bay. Water, rubbish collection and a clothesline are available,  and a social room is available for gatherings.  There has obviously been a lot of work done, making the grounds look very attractive indeed. 

We arrived about lunchtime on Tuesday, and luckily managed to get three adjacent sites.

The six of us took ourselves out for a meal at the at the Napier RSA.  A very nice meal, reasonably priced too.  Oh dear, forgot to take photos of the smorgasbord meal.  Lovely hot ham and beef, lots of veggies, and a good selection of desserts too.

BIrdwoods was on the agenda, a return visit for some of us but two of our group had never been there before.  The sculpture garden is free to wander through, and we could say hello to the elephants and the hippo keeping cool in the pool.  Birdwoods imports sculptures from Zimbabwe and has other interesting items available for sale in the gallery.

The on-site sweet shop is a real delight, chock full of jars of boiled sweets to tempt us.  We bought some delicious raspberry drops to sustain us on car journeys.  The huge real fruit ice-creams were $5 each and certainly took a bit of licking to get to the end, trying to get them finished before we ended up in a melted mess.

Not far away was the Arataki Honey Visitors Centre, a must for Robin to refill his honey jars.  The place was packed with visitors from a cruise ship in port, all making a beeline for the honey tasting station.  We had to be careful when we parked the car not to get into the bee flight path as we walked to the centre.

The Saturday morning market was much smaller than expected and took hardly any time at all to look through.  After a few purchases we walked through the very pretty and historic  Clive Square.  The gardens were formed in 1884, after the area had previously been  used as a sports ground and village green.  After the devastating 1931 earthquake, the square was used as a temporary shopping centre known as Tin Town.  A friendly local took some photos for us.

Before we headed back to camp we drove by the beautiful National Tobacco Co. building.   Built in 1933 after the 1931 Napier earthquake it is a blend of Art Nouveau and Chicago School styles, influenced by the work of Louis Sullivan, famous for his Chicago buildings of 1880s-90s.  This building is a registered Category 1 by the Historic Places Trust, and is now used by a furniture company.

Summer has certainly arrived in Hawkes Bay with temperatures in the late 20s and sometimes hovering over 30 degrees.  According to those with thermometers, it was much hotter inside our vans, even with the windows and door open, so we are pleased we all have sun awnings to sit under.  Gemma enjoys being outside and has found that it is nice and cool under the caravan.  Or if she is inside, stretched flat out on the floor seems to be the way to go.

My sister Kathleen and her family live in Hastings and we spent some time with them on our last day in the area.  We had a good catch up and had a meal out at the National Service Club.

Kathleen, Lisa and Dennis – rellies from Hastings

We enjoyed our final evening having coffee and a chat with our traveling companions seated outside in the lovely evening air.  Gemma was ecstatic when we returned back to the caravan,  after being on her own for some hours and after gobbling down her late dinner came outside with us too.  There were plenty of chair legs to get her lead tangled around, exciting smells in the cool air, and people going past to keep an eye on.