There and back again

It was a long day – a 500km trip to Napier and back on the big white bus.  The happy band of 60s Up members met bright and early, climbed aboard and headed north.  Our morning started out fine and sunny, but the closer we got to the Manawatu Gorge, the worse the weather behaved.  Once safely through the gorge we carried on to the Black Stump Cafe in Dannevirke for morning tea.  Situated in the main drag, parking was at a premium, and Peter the bus driver had to park the bus around a corner or two at the railway station. Oh dear – by this stage the rain was falling in a continual down pour.  We raced around to the cafe, trying to dodge the rain drops, but that didn’t really work, and we arrived damp and dripping.  Obviously we arrived at just the right time, as out came a plate of date scones, straight out of the oven and smelling devine, Robin’s favourite.  Can you guess what we had for morning tea?

Arriving at Napier, the iconic Norfolk Pines seemed to welcome our bus full of intrepid explorers as we drove along the Marine Parade.  The first trees were planted in 1888, with more added over the years.  Noted for tolerating salt-laden winds, these hardy trees have thrived.

Norfolk Pines along Napier’s Marine Parade

Lunch was at the Napier RSA Restaurant, and after a little confusion with two large groups arriving at the same time, we we soon settled in our respective tables and got down to the serious business of eating lunch.  And very tasty it was too, with plenty of choice from the hot buffet, plus dessert and coffees.  We would certainly return here for another meal next time we are up this way.

Lunch at Napier RSA

Fully fed and watered, our next stop was to the National Aquarium of New Zealand along the Marine Parade.  Everyone disembarked and made their way inside, but as we had been there very recently, decided to explore the waterfront instead.  There was one less sea creature to view, as Inky the octopus had just made a daring escape when it broke out of its tank, slithered across the floor, squeezed down a 50-metre drainpipe and disappeared into the sea.

 

Parked outside the Aquarium

Is that Inky, the missing octopus?

Artist Alan Strathern's sculpture “Trawlermen”, dedicated to the commercial fishermen who toil at sea, came about because of a long term overcharge on a power account, of all things!  The story goes like this.  In 1973, the Municipal Electricity Department discovered that over many years it had overcharged for power supplied to New Zealand Cement Holdings Ltd. The financial tangle was unravelled, and the upshot was that the cement company and the power authority agreed to donate $10,000 of the overpayment to the Napier City Council to fund an artwork.  The  life-like bronze was originally in the forecourt at the Hawke's Bay Aquarium which opened in December 1976 at the southern end of the Parade. It was later relocated to its present site adjoining the aquarium in 2002.

Trawlermen, by Alan Strathern

Further along the Parade we came across a rather innovative way to teach youngsters the rules of the road.  The Junior Bike Track is designed for children to ride their bikes in a safe environment.  Inside the safety fences is a  mock road complete with speed bumps, give way and stop signs and traffic lights to teach children road safety skills.

Junior Bike Track to teach road skills

The cold wind was blowing the cobwebs away, and the rain was threatening to fall, so we made our way back to the aquarium to check out the gift shop and wait in the cafe until boarding time.  Here we spotted a Bearded Dragon looking rather ferocious with his spikes and claws as he disdainfully looked out at us looking in.  These reptiles live on insects and can live to the grand old age of 14 years.

Bearded Dragon

Our time in Napier had come to an end, and we all climbed aboard once more for the long drive home.  The return trips are always much quieter, we have noticed, and soon the bevy of grey heads was gently nodding as the motion of the bus lulled quite a few 60 Up members asleep.  It had been a long day, but a good one, as usual, and we finally arrived back in Levin at 6.30pm.

Caccia Birch House

We joined our 60s Up group aboard the big white bus for a visit to Caccia Birch House, a Palmerston North icon, catching our first glimpse of this historic house as we drove into the property along the tree lined driveway.

First glimpse of Caccia Birch House

Ushered inside by the Manager, we started our visit with morning tea – freshly baked scones with tea or coffee.  And what whoppas those scones were, they were twice the size of a “normal” scone and certainly took some eating.  Some of the ladies on our table wrapped up half of their scone to take home for later.

Enjoying our morning tea

Fully sated, we were then told the history of house, one of the first large houses to be erected in the city, and was built for Norwegian immigrant Jacob Nannestad and his family in 1895.  Jacob was a partner in a saw milling firm, engaged in clearing the bush in the surrounding area.  This is the only known photo of the family, taken a year later in front of their home.  They are clad in valuable Maori cloaks, thought to have been loaned to them by the local Rangitane people.

 

Jacob Nannestad and his family

The fortunes of the saw millers declined and the house changed hands several times.  Over the years the house was extended with conservatories, nurseries, and servants quarters to make it the very elegant building of today.  Stables were added to house polo ponies, then later, the first motor car of the region.

Caccia Birch House entrance

William Charles Caccia Birch was bequeathed the house by his uncle in 1921, who had died childless, and lived there until his death in 1938.  Unable to sell the declining property, the family decided to donate it to the Government to help in the War effort, becoming military staff accommodation, and later as a convalescent home for war veteran nurses.  It was then used by Massey University for some years and later stood empty and neglected for quite some time, with calls made for it to be demolished.   Help finally arrived when a Trust was established 20 years ago to manage the property and commence to slowly  refurbishing the house. Caccia Birch moved with the changes and now earns it’s keep as a conference centre and wedding venue, helping to generate funds for restoration.

We were then invited to look around the house, and climbed the lovely staircase to the upper floor admiring the rimu panelling and the chandeliers. 

Rimu paneled foyer

Stepping onto the balcony, we had a lovely view over the lagoon, edged with rather posh houses.  The lagoon  was originally part of the property, but later sold to the city to be a civic amenity.   The garden contains many notable exotic trees, planted with seeds brought back by various family members as they returned from overseas trips.

View from the balcony

The Coach House

Peter the bus driver chatting to Robin

It was “all aboard” and Peter drove us through the picturesque Victoria Esplanade Gardens on the way to our lunch stop at ChinaTown Restaurant.  Who doesn’t like a Chinese buffet?  Plenty of choice, plenty of room for our bus load of passengers, nice friendly staff, and very reasonable prices too.

Our lunch stop

Another great 60s Up trip taking us to somewhere we hadn’t been before, great weather, and a nice relaxing day out with friends.

Life on the Canals of England

It was our 60s Up meeting, and Robin’s duty as a committee member was to arrange for guest speakers for each meeting.  And what a great morning we had, our friends Dot and Derek  related the story of their time living aboard their narrow boat, Gypsy Rover. 

Friend and fellow caravanner Selwyn kindly provided the technical know-how with his projector.  It was just as well that he has remembered to bring along a heavy duty power cord, as there wasn’t one to be found in the hall.  The bright yellow cord snaked across the carpet and Selwyn hoped that none of the members would trip over it on the way to collect their cuppa.  (Luckily no one had an accident).

Selwyn was the projectionist

Dot had done a marvelous job of selecting and arranging the photos of their five years or so as they travelled around enjoying life “on the cut”.  The lights were dimmed, and Derek’s talk got underway.

Derek ready to begin his talk

The canals were the highways of their time, with heavily laden narrow boats pulled by horses who walked along the adjacent tow-paths.  These days, although there still are some working narrow boats, most are used for pleasure.  Individually owned, as Gypsy Rover was, or part of a hire fleet for tourists to indulge in a taste of canal living for a week or so on their holidays, the canals are full of people and boats slowly travelling this way and that.

Derek showed examples of the many different types of bridges over the canals, and the ingenious locks which take the boats from one level to another.  They experienced all sorts of weather, including being held up with flooding in Oxford for three long weeks, to snow on the towpaths and ice covering the canals in winter.

They were happy years, with good company from fellow boaties, seeing the country and wildlife at a peaceful pace, exploring little out of the way places, and travelling by canal through big cities, such as Birmingham, and also travelling along the River Thames in London.

We were lucky to spend a little time as guests aboard Gypsy Rover way back in 1999, and will always remember our week travelling along the picturesque LLangollen Canal.

Gypsy Rover travelling across the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct 

The highlight of our trip was travelling over the magnificent  Pontcysyllte Aqueduct. This is 1000 feet long structure was finished in 1805, passes 127 feet above the River Dee and is supported by 18 stone pillars. We glided gently across the canal, appearing to float in the sky.

The aqueduct in the distance – with a narrow boat crossing over

Crossing the Aqueduct was such a thrill that we took several trips across it – just because we could!  Robin had the experience of a life time when he took charge of the tiller on one of of trips across.  Just look at that study of concentration on his face!

Robin’s in charge this time

It was a very interesting talk indeed, and gave the 60s Up members a little taste of what living aboard one of these 7 foot wide boats was like.  Many thanks to Dot and Derek for such an interesting talk, and to Selwyn for his technical help.   

60s Up Bus Trip to Masterton

Billed as a “Mystery Trip”, this day out had people wondering just where we were going.  With the early departure time of 8.30am, it was obvious we were ranging far and wide.  But in what direction, everyone wanted to know.  Our favourite bus driver Peter was taking us out for the day again, and unusually for him, was a little late arriving.  It seems that he was getting ready to pick up another bus load at a later time, when he was informed that plans had changed and to get down to the 60s Up pickup point pronto. 

When everyone had clambered on board, and the walkers stowed away, Peter drove us southwards along SH1, eventually pulling into a rest area at Paremata Estuary for a comfort stop.  This is such a pretty area, looking out over the estuary.  The adjacent coffee cart was doing a roaring  trade, and a group of school kids were lined up at the sailing club ready for a morning of instruction.

Paremata Estuary

The bus then travelled around the Pauahatanui Inlet, much to the surprise of the passengers, who were sure our day out was to be in Wellington.  Not so – as it turned out.  Next stop was at Aston Norwood Gardens, (formerly Kaitoke Country Gardens) for morning tea, and a walk around their gardens, for those who could manage it.

Dot and Jenny walking off their morning tea

The next part of the trip was a trial for some of our group, travelling in a big bus over the steep Rimutaka Hill.  Some of our older members probably wouldn’t have travelled this hill road for some time, and there were a few mutterings to be heard.   Those on the left hand side were a bit concerned at the steep drop outside their windows, while the passengers on the right hand side of the bus has their hearts in their mouths as one big logging truck after another came careering around the corner, to pass agonising close to their side of the bus.  But Peter, of course, was a professional driver, and took us up and over the hill without a scratch.

Our destination was Masterton, to visit the Aratoi Museum ans see the exhibition about the Featherston Military Training Camp, the largest continuously occupied military camp during WW1.  Together with the nearby camps of Tauherenikau and Papawai, Featherston Camp prepared more than half of New Zealand’s total fighting force, around 60,000 men, for war.

Tent City at Featherston Camp

Planning began in July 1915, following deaths at Trentham Military Camp due to outbreaks of measles, influenza and meningitis due to overcrowding.  The area just north of Featherson was considered ideal for the purpose, with plenty of space for large scale training activities, bracing weather conditions, and ready access to fresh water.  By September, 150 civilian tradesmen worked on the site, with the numbers increasing to 1000 at the height of construction.  It could accommodate 4,500 soldiers, 1,000 instructors and administration staff.  Sadly, influenza struck the camp in 1918, killing 160 and infecting thousands of other men.

Camp food was filling but monotonous, with mutton featuring heavily on the menu, supplemented with beef.  Breakfast was a conglomeration of the previous evening’s meal in the way of curries and stews, while lunch consisted of “dry rations only”, bread, jam, cheese and tea.  The troops trained hard for their imminent departure overseas, and the “Rimutaka March” was regarded as a rite of passage.  Starting in the early hours of the morning, the route took them through the main street of Featherston where local people would often gather to wave them on their way.  They would then ascend the steep road towards the summit, where a delegation from the Wairarapa Patriotic Association would welcome them with food and tea.

The Rimutaka March

From here it was on to Wellington to board the troop ships and head off to the horrors war. Some of them had time for a little sightseeing – Egypt must have been an exciting exotic place for a little R & R.  Many of course, never made it back home, nor did the thousands of horses which were sent overseas with them. 

This was a very interesting and thought provoking exhibition and when we had seen it all, we wandered outside to wait for the bus to come back and collect us.  

Waiting for the bus

The drive back home took us northwards to Woodville and through the Manawatu Gorge, coming back down SH1 to Levin, sparing some of the more nervous passengers a second trip back over the Rimutaka Hill.  Not many would have been looking at the sights out the window, as many were fast asleep, grey heads nodding gently with the movement of the bus.  It was another great day out with the 60s Up group.

60s Up Bus Trip

How does a large 12m coach bus full of 60s Up members navigate the hills of Wellington?  The answer – not very well at all.  Our driver Peter did his very best to drop his passengers at the Home of Compassion Visitors Centre, but was foiled by tight corners, narrow Wellington roads, and residents cars parked just where the driver wanted to turn.  But never mind, a little hill climbing never hurt anyone who had two good legs, and the Visitors Centre provided a couple of cars to ferry the less able up the hill.

Our big white coach for the day

Our outing was to the Visitors Centre which told of the life of Suzanne Aubert, a Frenchwoman who travelled to New Zealand and founded the Home of Compassion on this site.  But first we were welcomed to the Visitors Centre with delicious cheese scones and a hot drink, and Sister Josephine told us a little about Suzanne Aubert, (known as Mother Aubert), the exhibition centre which details her life of compassion to those in need, and the plans to have her declared a Saint.

While still in France she had learnt chemistry and botany from a relative. When she arrived in New Zealand she used this knowledge to make herbals remedies for healing. She eventually won the respect of the Maori people, who shared their own knowledge with her.  She worked with the Maori people, starting a home for orphans and the under-privileged  in Jerusalem, on the Wanganui River in 1885.  She set about writing a Maori/English phrasebook to help the settlers coming to the country. 

Moving back to Wellington in 1899, Mother Aubert and her fellow nuns saw a need for a soup kitchen, which is still operating to this day.  They established one to help hungry workingmen hold down jobs. Following this, Sisters of Compassion communities were founded in Auckland and Wellington.  Mother Aubert died in 1926 at the age of 91, spending her whole life helping anyone in need. Many businesses and the Courts closed down for her funeral, indicating how respected and influential she was in Wellington society.

In the 1980s processes began for her canonisation as a saint. Jessie Munro wrote a biography of her life and the investigation of three recorded miracles began. Her writings were looked at in detail from both a historical and theological perspective. In 1997 the New Zealand Catholic Bishops Conference readily agreed to support the first part of the formal process, called the “Introduction of the Cause of Suzanne Aubert".

We looked through the adjacent chapel, a lovely restful building looking out over the gardens and  hillside.

Chapel at the Home of Compassion

Then it was time to walk back down to hill to board the coach, and the staff at the Centre kindly  helped out again providing transport for some of the ladies who couldn’t manage the walk.  We ignored the Wrong Way sign, hoping we didn’t meet traffic driving up the hill.

Wrong way for cars but a short cut for pedestrians

Robin’s help was needed to guide the driver to back a little way down the road and ensure he missed the car parked close behind.  He then waved his arms around, just like a traffic officer, stopping the traffic while the bus manoeuvred around the tight corner so that we could be on our way again.  Our return trip took us around the coast before we headed north to Petone.

Jagged coastline

Our group enjoyed lunch at the Petone Working Mens Club – always good value there.  Fully fed and watered, we climbed aboard again for the return trip to Levin.  After our hill climbing exercise, many nodded off on the drive home.  It was a very interesting trip, as always.

Time Cinema

It was a step back in time when our 60s Up group paid a visit to Time Cinema, a private cinema in Lyall Bay, Wellington.  Our big white bus had a little trouble with some of Wellington’s notorious narrow streets and tight corners so the driver had to let us off at the corner and we walked a little way to our destination.  Some of us more energetic types walked on ahead of the slower ones and I let our hosts know the group was on it’s way.  We knew we were at the correct address when I recognised the film reels attached to a post on the driveway.

This looks like the right place

Time Cinema is found down the driveway and at the back of the property.  It is part museum, part theatre, and cafe too.  Our hosts welcomed us with morning tea which gave the less nimble time to sit down and catch their breath before we started our film adventure.  The vision of a private cinema was born over 35 years ago when an already fast-growing collection of cinema memorabilia and films arrived and was housed in what is now Time Cinema.

Time Cinema

You won’t find any modern or arty films here – everything is strictly vintage.  That didn’t matter, as the 60s Up group is decidedly vintage too.  The small theatre was full with a few having to accommodated down the front on extra seats from the dining area.

Cosy little Time Cinema

The programme started with old news reels, one especially chosen for our group as it showed Levin when it was a hive of industry in earlier years.  Factories producing nylon stockings, shirts and knitwear, even brushes and brooms produced many jobs which made Levin a very desirable place to live in.  We laughed at the antics of Tom and Jerry, and got to stand up for the Queen, (that doesn’t happen these days).  At interval lunch was ready to be served and we all filed back to the dining area for a finger food lunch, hot savouries, chicken pieces, and sandwiches.  Then the cream cakes made an appearance, and we couldn’t say no to one of those each, could we?

The feature film of the day was “You were never Lovelier”, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.  A 1942 Hollywood musical romantic comedy film set in Buenos Aires, it told the story of Bob, a dancer looking for work, and Maria, the daughter of a wealthy man, taking a dislike to each other.  The family keep interfering, Bob (Fred) shows his dancing skills, and the pair finally falling in love.  (We have to admit that the pair of us had never seen a Fred Astaire film  - a bit before our time).

Fred and Rita

We had time for a quick look around the huge collection of movie memorabilia before we left.   This has grown with the years, aided to a great extent by enthusiastic visitors who have felt that their old cameras and other gear should be turned over to the care of Time Cinema as custodians.

Plenty of interest at Time Cinema

We walked back to the corner to board the bus where our driver Peter was waiting patiently. Our drive back home took us around the bays, and doesn’t Oriental Bay look wonderful in Spring sunshine?  Then it was a quick drive through the city, with a short comfort stop at Te Papa, joining the motorway and homeward bound.

Oriental Bay, Wellington

Our trusty big white bus

A few nodded off on the long drive home, (shall we admit we were probably amongst the snoozers?), and a nasty road accident led to a diversion.  We arrived home a little later than expected, so fish and chips were on the menu for an easy meal.  It was a great day, interesting and full of nostalgia, another great 60s Up day out.  We were pleased to come back for a return visit, as we remember celebrating Robin's 50th birthday at Time Cinema with a private family booking.  That's a long time ago!

Wandering around Woodville – Part 2

Lunch in Woodville was at the Lindauer Restaurant and our bus group of 40 filled the restaurant to capacity.  Roast lamb was on the menu and our 60s Up group was quickly served – silence reigned while we all enjoyed our meals.  Later the owner told us some of the history of the area.  His restaurant sits on the site of the old Club Hotel and stables, which replaced Woodville’s very first building, a log hut in a clearing inside 70 Mile Bush.  Two large photographs grace the walls of the restaurant, showing Woodville in it’s very early years.

Part of 70 mile Bush can be seen behind the early buildings

This photo was taken just 9 years later showing growth in the town

Woodville still had more to show us, so after lunch we boarded the bus, and drove around a few corners to the Woodville Pioneer Museum. 

Woodville Pioneer Museum

Old fashioned grocer’s shop

There was plenty to see, from the grocer’s shop, and lovingly decorated vintage rooms, kitchen, dining room, parlour, and bedrooms complete with dolls clothed in beautiful hand made clothes.

Dining room

Many cabinets house the 600 strong Bessie Spinnet Teapot Collection, lovingly collected over many years and donated to the museum in 2001.  Like most collections, it started small, and grew and grew, with tea pots from all over the world.

Just part of the Bessie Spinnet  tea pot collection

Outside was a tiny gaol, with hardly room to swing a cat.

And sheds behind the house held a plethora of artefacts, from tools, farm machinery, horse drawn wagons, and even a fire engine.  We could have spent a lot of time here, looking at this and that, but we were called to board the bus for our return journey.

A gig and flat bed wagon

After Peter made a quick head count to make sure we were all safely aboard, he announced that we were travelling back home over the Saddle Road, instead of driving back around the notorious Manawatu Gorge.

All aboard – it’s time to head home

We would have a stop at the Te Apiti Wind Farm Lookout, to get up and personal to the wind turbines, Peter announced.  Sadly, this wasn’t to be, as the area was closed for maintenance.  

Wind Farm Lookout closed

So we continued on our way, up and over the Saddle Road

Once through Palmerston North, it wasn’t too long till we arrived back in Levin.  I don’t know how many enjoyed the scenery, as most of the passengers seemed to have nodded off after their long day out.   As always, it was another interesting 60s Up trip.