Start of the Easter Rally at Napier

We took it slowly heading up to Napier for our Easter Rally, stopping at Dannevirke and Takapau on the way.   Arriving at Napier on Thursday, we commented on the many cars leaving the city and heading southwards.   Our venue was the Erikson Road NZMCA Park, nice and roomy here with plenty of sites.  Owen and Helen parked up next to us, and we were joined later in the day by Geoff and Eileen.  

On Friday morning after morning tea Owen got his ladder out, climbed up and helped remove our rather tatty faded NZMCA stickers.  It was a difficult job until he borrowed Helen's hair drier, that really made all the difference, and the old stickers peeled off easily.  Then he climbed up the ladder again and smoothed on our new stickers - what a difference, we can read them now.

Geoff, Owen and Robin replacing our old NZMCA stickers

With that job done Owen decided to check the torque settings on our wheel nuts, on the caravans.  Thanks Owen, for all your help.  What a busy bee you have been.

He was very helpful indeed

John and Flo joined us for the rally later in the afternoon, now we were four.

Turnbull's, Benton's, Archer's, John and Flo

We met in the meeting room for 4zees, and it was Easter buns all round, thanks so much Owen and Helen, they were very tasty indeed.

Easter buns for 4zees

Dannevirke and Takapau

We were lucky to be offered an extra night's free stay  at the Foxton Bowling Club, so we didn't start our journey northwards till Monday morning.  Waving goodbye to the few remaining caravanners, we headed towards Woodville as arranged, to meet up with Owen and Helen for lunch.  There they were, they had arrived before us.  We took our lunch into their van, and ate together.

Lunch at Woodville

Our stop for the night was at the Dannevirke Golf Club.  It had been some years since we had last stayed here, and was a first for Owen and Helen.  

Power points were available at a very reasonable charge, so we manoeuvred the vans into position and set ourselves up for the night.

At Dannevirke Golf Club

Going into the office to pay our fees, we got chatting to the man in charge, and Helen enquired if the freezer contained any ice-cream.  No, only frozen pies, was the reply.  Oh, and these sausage rolls.  With that he handed both Robin and Owen a large sausage roll, and didn't want any payment for them.  These are trucked away safely in our caravan freezers, and Robin and Owen have decided to heat and eat their sausage rolls together one lunchtime.  Which just goes to show that it doesn't take too much to keep these men happy, does it?

After one night at Dannevirke, the plan was to move on to Takapau Motor Home Caravan Park for the next two nights.  The name Takapau means Sleeping Mat.  Takapau was once the centre of a large flax milling industry and takes it's name from the flax which grew in the expansive Takapau Plains.

On Wednesday the four of us decided to go on a drive and visit OngaOnga, a historic town not too far away. 

 Full of interesting old buildings, but the wind was blowing a gale as we walked around.  There was an old bush settler's hut, a tiny jail, and the historic general store.

Bush settlers hut

Old jail

Historic General Store

But the most interesting building, in my view was the Coles Brothers building.  Not only did they work as builders, joiners, ironmongers, painters and plumbers, they were also undertakers as required.  Obviously the Coles Brothers were a  very talented family indeed.

Coles Bros building in Ongaonga

We then drove on to Waipukarau for a light lunch and to get a little shopping.  Back at camp, Geoff and Eileen arrived, so there were three of us again.

Staying at Takapau

This is a pleasant little camp, and we enjoyed Happy Hour in the hall with the friendly custodians and other campers.  The custodians have a lilac point Birman, who, they told us, thinks she is in charge of their household, the same as our Gemma thinks.  Robin was on BBQ duty, cooking up lamb chops for our dinner.

Lamb chops for dinner

From Takapau we move on to Napier for our caravan club Easter Rally.  I do hope the Easter Bunny knows where to find us.

Leisureline Owners Club Get Together

We were looking forward to the Leisureline Owners Club Get Together as we had missed the last couple due to Robin's two knee replacements and the time needed for him to recover.  Three vans were attending from our Heretaunga Caravan Club and we met for lunch at Manawatu Boating Club carpark on the Foxton Estuary.  It was a lovely sunny day, which boded well for our weekend away.

 Stopping for lunch  at the Foxton Estuary

Arrival time was after 2.00pm, and it was just a short distance away to our weekend venue at the Foxton Bowling Club.  Here we are, and a nice welcome too at the Bowling Club entrance.

Foxton Bowling Club grounds

Plans had been altered to allow for early birds, so we arrived a day early on the Thursday.  We were directed where to park with our three vans in a row, and we were soon joined by our Wairarapa friends Rae and Dave. 

Turnbulls, Bentons, Archers and McMasters, all in a row

A few more vans arrived during the afternoon, with the remainder arriving on Friday.  Soon we were all packed in, about 34 vans in total we were told.

A fine collection of Leisurelines

Everyone gathered in the club house from 4.30pm for Meet 'n' greet.  Drinks and nibbles and then plates of piping hot savouries were passed around.  It was great to meet up with Leisureline friends who we only seem to catch up with at the annual get together.  There was another welcome sign on the bar, and the Bowling Club were running raffles.  No, of course we didn't win anything.

Welcome sign on the bar

Saturday was rather busy, and started off with Open Home Caravan visits, a chance to look through vans and pick up some extra ideas.  We had a couple quite keen to talk about our three step aluminium step, and we explained that a friend had built it especially for us to make it easier getting in and out of the van,  by lessening the depth between each step.  They were keen to take photos and get one made for themselves.

The six of us took ourselves off to have lunch at Viv's Kitchen in Sanson.  Why not, it was not too far to drive to sample some of Viv's delicious baking, and our club members always love going there.  Cream Horns were on the menu, but I chose a chocolate eclair, together with a Southern Cheese Roll, and coffee.  All very tasty indeed.

 

Lunch at Viv's Kitchen

When we returned to camp the Bowling Competition was in full swing.  Teams were very serious as they bowled on the greens, with some decked out in fairy wings and tutus - don't ask me why!

Dave and his fairy partner

In the late afternoon we met for pre dinner drinks in the club house.  The tables were all nicely decorated and each person had a small caravan related gift at their place setting, that was a nice surprise. Mmm, the catered meal was delicious, roast beef, hot ham, roast veggies, green peas and gravy. Bubbly for me and wine for Robin made the meal even nicer, and dessert was apple shortcake, cheesecake and fruit salad.  Very nice indeed, and the bowling club ladies did a wonderful job of serving and clearing up.

Geoff, Owen and Robin

Jenny, Helen and Eileen

There was some excitement when the raffles were called.  Both Eileen and Rae won the Easter Egg raffle and had the job of splitting all the goodies up between them.  How lucky were they!

Rae and Eileen won the Easter Egg raffle

Sunday morning saw the Leisureline Team from Hamilton up bright and early and cooking bacon and eggs for us all.  We could smell the aroma of bacon cooking right over  by our van.

Grant on cooking duties

It was a very tasty breakfast indeed.  Bacon, eggs, hash browns and Kranksy sausages.  Toast was "cook it yourself" with plenty of toast bread and butter available.  The hearty breakfast kept us all quiet for a while.  Then it was usual Question and Answer session with Colin, Leisureline company owner.

We were intending to pack up and head on our way when the word came around that anyone who wanted could stay another night.  Why not, we thought.  Geoff and Eileen hooked up and went home, while we decided, together with Helen and Owen, to stay a further night.  It was a  very relaxed day, sitting outside in the nice warm weather, eating lunch and chatting away.  That was followed  by 4zees outside.  Gemma was on her lead, trotting in and out of the caravan at will, then relaxing just inside the doorway.  There were plenty of birds about to pique her interest, but she could only look at them with longing, no bird catching in her life, we hope.

It was a great weekend, the weather was marvelous, and we met up with old friends and new acquaintances.  Many thanks to Tracy and Ken from Foxton for all the planning, and Colin Bates and his family from the Leisureline factory for coming down to join us.

Lunch at Paekakariki

 We met up with our SLG friends during the week.  It was Robin's turn to arrange an outing for March, and he decided to meet for lunch at the Paekakariki Hotel.  The meaning of Paekakariki is "pae" for perching and "kakariki" is a native parrot.  The local cafe just across the road from the pub is called "The Perching Parrot".  

Paekakariki Hotel

Calvin and Helen joined us in Finn's Restaurant for lunch, with Trish unable to make it.  As we sat at the table by the window, we remarked at the railway barrier arms coming down across the road, stopping traffic as a train went by.  This happened time and time again while we were enjoying our meal, passenger trains arriving and departing regularly, and the occasional freight trains too.  This is a very busy rail line indeed.  

We took some time choosing our meals - I was after soup as it was a chilly day, but no soup on the menu just yet, I was told.  Eventually, we placed our orders, and the food arrived.  I tried corn fritters for a change, and Robin enjoyed his sweet and sour pork on rice.  Having a nice meal for lunch means I don't have to cook another meal for our dinner that night.

Corn fritters for lunch

There was  plenty to chat about as usual, including our friend Trish who was about to embark on an overseas adventure, how exciting for her.  We certainly wished her well, and safe travels.  With our SLG numbers so much lower these days, the time for the draw had come around again, and we picked a piece of paper showing who selected which month for the next few months.

Calvin, Helen, Robin and Jenny

THere was an interesting print of an old painting (painted in 1868) on the wall by our table, which I investigated, showing the local Maori people and their waka (boats) on the beach, with Mana Island in the background.

It was time to say our goodbyes and we headed home, stopping off at a couple of places with things to cross off on our list.  And no trip along the coast is complete without a stop to admire Kapiti Island, is it.  This really is my favourite island, I have to say.

Kapiti Island, along the coast road

Kahutara School

 Moving on from the Domain Reserve on Friday afternoon, we traveled on to Kahutara School, our home for the next two nights.  In Maori tradition, the name Kahutara was one of the great ocean-going voyaging canoes which was used in the migrations which settled in New Zealand.  There were eight vans on site for the weekend.

Camping at Kahutara School

We enjoyed 4zees on the school  verandah, and after our evening meal, gathered together in the hall.  There was a cake to celebrate Pamela's recent birthday.

Happy Birthday, Pamela

Helen and Stuart had organised a quiz for us to do, from the Dominion Post 5 Minute Quiz Book.  We were given a coloured page featuring a group of well known New Zealanders to see how many we recognised.  Most of the men were fairly easy to pick, but some of the women had us stumped.  Winston Peters, the Christchurch Wizard, Sam Hunt and Barry Crump were certainly recognisable, as were Jenny Shipley and Lorraine Downes, and who remembers Chloe from Wainuiomata?  Seems John certainly did, as she used to bring her pink scooter to his workshop to be serviced!  Owen and Helen were the winners with the highest score, congratulations.

Saturday was Martinborough Fair Day and most of us traveled to see what bargains we could find, and to enjoy the experience.  We were delighted to find that the Martinborough Hotel had whitebait fritters on offer, so we certainly couldn't pass them by.  Whitebait is a New Zealand delicacy, a little pricy, but so delicious and after all, how often do we get to eat whitebait?  Our fritters were served as a sandwhich between two pieces of white bread, and we savoured every mouthful.  Luckily there was plenty of tables dotted around outside the hotel so we sat in comfort eating our snack and watched the world go by.

Cooking up the fritters

And here it is, so yummy

Fed and fortified we joined the crowds to wander around the fair, checking out the stalls.  There were so many people, some with dogs on leads, some with kids and pushchairs, all slowing walking around.  We purchased a kilo of lovely fresh strawberries for our shared dessert that night, found some of our favourite locally produced chocolates to buy, and that was about all.  I was really after some cheese and fresh seasons apples but couldn't find either.  I posed by the memorial gates - there is a family story that my Mother  was christened here in Martinborough the day these gates were officially opened.

Historic gates at Martinborough Square

We had seen enough of the fair and being on our feet by then, so back we drove to the van.  Streams of cars were still arriving, people come from near and far to attend this fair.  We had lunch and commented that the weather was lovely and calm - this area is usually so very wild and windy as on our previous visits.  Murphy's Law, in the afternoon the wind got up, and just kept getting stronger.  The wind didn't put the hardy BBQers off though, Owen fired his one up and cooked his meal, plus meat for Don and Robin as well.  Thanks Owen.

Owen and Robin as supervisor

Gathered around the long tables, we all ate together, rather like a very large family gathering.  Then it was time for the shared desserts, such a spread.  Jelly and icecream, peaches and strawberries, chocolate cheesecake and mini pavs, plus several lots of chocolates.  Plenty for everyone and some even had seconds.

Pot Luck dessert

That evening the wind really came calling, shaking the caravans with angry bursts through the night just to show us who was boss.  We did worry about traveling home with wind warnings in place.  But luckily, the wind died away, the warnings were lifted, and we traveled back over the Remutaka Hill without any problems.  Another enjoyable caravan club rally weekend.

Over the Remutaka Hill

 Another rally weekend had rolled around, this time we were going to stay at Kahutara School in South Wairarapa.  Living where we do, it's always a bit of a mission to get to the Wairarapa.  We can travel either north or south, crossing over a mountain range to get there, and either trip takes us two hours.  This time we headed south, through Upper Hutt and Kaitoke and over the Remutaka Hill.  There was a traffic hold up in Kaitoke, and we were interested to see what was going on.  Obviously a large slip had happened a while ago and now the land had been sealed over.  We noticed men hanging off ropes on the steep slope - checking for something it seemed.

Land slip on Kaitoke Hill

Then it was up, up, up the Remutaka Hill, towing the caravan  behind us.  We stopped at the top so I could get a photo of the memorial at the top commemorating the Rimutaka Crossing.  Unveiled in September 2015, this art work was created to remember the thousands of infantry men who marched over the Rimutaka Hill prior to their departure to the Western Front in World War One.

Lest we Forget

The eagle eyed amongst you would have noticed the two different spellings I have written for this hill road, built in the 1870s.  Following a treaty settlement Rimutaka has been changed to Remutaka by the NZ Geographic Board.  The previous name Rimutaka had no meaning in te reo Marori, while Remutaka means "sitting down to rest".  So named by a chief as he sat down to rest while pursuing his run away wife across the ranges to Wairarapa.  And the Remutaka Hill Road has had it's named changed to Remutaka Pass, but that doesnt seem to be in common usage yet.

The rally venue wasn't available till 4.00pm so we arranged to meet Owen and Helen for lunch at Lake Domain Reserve.  The lake was calm, with black swans quietly feeding, so we picked a place to stop, got our chairs out, and sat admiring the peaceful surroundings.

First to arrive for lunch

Owen and Helen weren't too far behind us, parked up and we enjoyed a picnic lunch together.  There was quite a bit of honking from geese over the other side of the lake, and we wondered what kept disturbing them.  the noise would quiet down, then away the went again, honking loudly once again. This is a freedom camping area, and on a hot. sunny, wind free Wairarapa day, it was delightful.  So nice in fact, that we decided it should be put on the next rally schedule for a summer rally.

Then there were two

After lunch, Owen decided he wanted to explore, so we hopped in his shiny black car and set off to see what we could find.  Sadly, the road didn't go all around the lake, so it was quite a short drive indeed.   

  

We stood on the small foot bridge at the end of the road and watched as two dogs had the time of their lives retrieving sticks thrown into the stream for them.  Of course, they both wanted to grab the same one, and had to be encouraged to swim after the second stick being carried down the stream.  It was certainly good exercise for them.

Swans on the lake

By the time we arrived back to our vans, Helen and Stuart, the rally family for the weekend  had arrived.  So there was nothing for it but to sit under the shady awning again for afternoon tea and while away some time until we could get on our way.  We were due at Kahutara School from 4.00pm, giving the pupils and teachers time to finish for the day.