Where to from Koromiko? We spent the next three nights at Blenheim, at Waterlea Racecourse CAP (charges apply parking). Although not an NZMCA camp, it is only available to NZMCA members, at $12.00 per night, with a maximum stay of four nights, but is not available during race meetings. We have stayed here before in the past, and remembered that parts of the grounds were flooded and Robin had to use our 4WD to pull out a motorhome which was stuck in the mud. As it was raining heavily the day we arrived, we took care to keep away from the suspect areas.
After choosing a site, settling in, and paying our camp fees, we had a quick lunch then set out to find a laundromat. May as well spend a couple of hours doing the laundry on such a wet day, we reasoned. The laundromat was busy, and one customer came in and commandeered five large washing machines! She did mention that her machine at home had broken down and a new one was not available till well after Christmas. Seems she will be looking forward to many more visits while waiting for her new machine to arrive.
Then we remembered there was a Coupland's bakery close by – always exciting as the nearest Coupland's to us at home is many miles away up in Hamilton. Purchasing a Kiwi Cash Key from the information Centre was next. We don’t need it at the moment but well may do so as we travel around.
The rain had departed the following day and I climbed up the grandstand to take a photo or two. We are there in the crowd somewhere.
View from the grandstand
Our next door neighbours were keen e-bikers and had a little kiddie cart to take their Jack Russell terrier Tammy with them on trips. Tammy was securely buckled in, and away they went for a morning ride.On their return they mentioned they had ridden 60km, that’s a long ride indeed.
Ready for a ride
A flick through the local visitor guide gave us a few places to check out. “A Marlborough institution, the Burleigh Gourmet Pie is an absolute must-taste”. Robin is always a fan of a great pie, so we drove out to Renwick to check it out. The place was so busy, customers arriving, then departing with armfuls of pies. One lady had gathered up about two dozen frozen pies, and told me she was a regular customer and liked to have a good supply in the freezer. We decided on frozen pies as well, two for tea that night, and the other two for the freezer for a meal later on. We chose chicken, leek and mushroom, and belly pork pies. When we called in, the list of pies already had “sold out” stickers on several varieties, it is such a popular place.
Burleigh Gourmet Pies
Lunch in a classic English Pub “where you can be sure of a warm welcome” sounded like fun, so we stopped at the quaintly named Cork and Keg.
Stepping inside, we were warmly welcomed indeed. With thick ceiling beams, a large brick fireplace, and plenty of brass and jugs everywhere, the Cork and Keg certainly had an English country pub ambiance. We placed our lunch orders, and sat out in the beer garden, sheltered with plenty of sun umbrellas and a large sun shade.
Our lunches arrived, popcorn shrimp for me, and buffalo wings for him, and Robin indulged in a large glass of Guinness. I’m not really a beer drinker but I can remember having the occasional small Guinness myself when we traveled around Ireland some years ago – it seemed the thing to do at the time!
Lunch at the Cork and Keg
What’s that sign we spotted? Fresh strawberries were for sale – just what we needed. Not only that, but strawberry snow freeze ice-creams too. The car park was packed, and happy customers sat outside licking their ice-creams. And if they were anything like me, trying to finish the ice-cream before it all melted and ran down my hand.
That’s a very big strawberry!
Hedgerows Strawberries is a very large hydroponic operation with a huge glass house that seemed to go on and on. With thousands of strawberry plants growing happily inside.
Hedgerows Strawberries
Driving around this area we passed vineyard after vineyard. The Marlborough region is very well known for producing fine wines, and there are many well known labels produced here. For wine lovers, there are plenty of wine tasting tours available.
Vineyards galore
While driving along we spotted a couple of these interesting signs on an undulating roads. Be careful in bad weather!
Drivers beware
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