Ever been to Brixton?

We hadn’t either – so this was our first time staying at Brixton, New Plymouth.  We are out in the country, staying at a delightful rural CAP (Charges Apply Parking).  The five caravans and three motorhomes currently on safari were expertly slotted into spaces, no trouble at all.  This property is bordered by a river, and the haunting calls of wild peacocks call out from the bush.

Camping at Brixton

Just look at that view

Our host runs his own timber mill and kindly took our group on a tour.  Graham cuts his own trees, mills it into various size planks, and also deals in firewood.

Cut lengths and the log splitter

The Lucas Saw came from Australia and Graham fired it up to show how it worked.  No doubt you would need to concentrate while working this machine, and keep your fingers well out of the way.

Saw Miller at work

The annual Festival of Lights at Pukerkura Park was on our “must see” list.  We joined throngs of other people as we walked though the park, family groups, excited children, teens, and plenty of oldies like us.

The waterfall was so pretty as it changed colour, there were cameras flashing as everyone crowded around.   And the peacock was a sight to see, hard to photograph as the lights changed with the tail moving in out out.

Poet’s Bridge was a picture to behold around the other side of the lake, with the lights reflecting in the water.  Full of people crossing over, lasers lighting up the trees, steam/smoke, or maybe dry ice billowing out, and music filling the air.  Of course we had to cross it too.  Not named for a poet at all, I discovered.  Finding the funds for such a bridge proved to be difficult until J. T. Davis, a member of the independent park board, won 150 pounds at the races on a horse called ‘The Poet.’  The bridge opened on 11 March 1884 and stood until just before the second World War where it was replaced due to deterioration.  The new bridge was painted red, inspired by the famous red bridge in Nikko, Japan.

Poet’s Bridge

And look what we found tucked away in a little dell, is it a dalek perhaps?  Who knows, but it was issuing night vapours and had buttons to press.  That looked like fun.

Robin and Dave checking it out

Another “must do” in New Plymouth was catching up with friends Gary and Glenys.  Gary and Robin were old school friends from way back then, and we met for lunch at Big Jim’s Café.

Jenny, Robin, Glenys and Gary

After lunch we went on a tiki tour to find the old Bertrand Road Suspension Bridge.  Built in 1897 it was finally dismantled in 1927 to allow the next bridge to be built on this site.  Further work has been done over the years, the original Australian hardwood sides were replaced with steel, and the bridge re-piled.  These days, no heavy traffic is allowed, and we drove the car across at a snail’s pace, having to turn the wing mirrors in to avoid hitting the yellow posts now erected either side of the bridge.

Bertrand Road Suspension Bridge

These old bridges certainly add colourful stories  to our history so I am pleased we have discovered it. There is always something interesting to find as we travel around.