Heading to Ohaupo

 We farewelled our caravan buddies and got on our way, taking a few days to reach Ohaupo to get our Leisureline caravan serviced.  First stop was not too far away at Sanson, to go to the dump station and fuel up.  It was lunch on the go from the Z Service station, coffee and a pie while we started on our trip - means we wouldn't have to stop on the way.

Lunch on the go

Our stop for the night was at a private property in Ohakune, newly available for fellow Leisureline caravan owners.  It was a lovely rural property, and we certainly appreciated the opportunity to stay overnight.

Leaving the caravan on site,  we just had to call into the "world famous in New Zealand" chocolate eclair shop.  We were served by the former owner Steve, who told us he is "living the dream", making the tasty goodies, chatting with customers and getting paid for it, without the worry of running the business any more.  The new owners have set up a coffee lounge in one corner of the shop, a welcome addition I'm sure.  

The Chocolate Eclair Shop

 Ohakune is also famous for the Big Carrot, proudly standing on the edge of town!  Plenty of carrots are grown here, as well as potatoes and swedes.   In case you are wondering, the name Ohakune means "an opening to a new world" and refers to the descent from nearby Mount Ruapehu into the valley and swamps of the area.

The Big Carrot at Ohakune

A site worthy of stopping for a photo stop is the Makatote Viaduct.  Building was completed in 1908 and the viaduct  is recognised as an important part of New Zealand's engineering heritage.

We drove past Mt Ruapehu as we continued on our journey, it's always such a lovely sight to see.  This is a view from the Western side of the mountain.

Mt Ruapehu

We stayed the next two nights at the NZMCA Otorohanga Park, fairly quiet at this time of year with about 10 vans here each night.  The name means "food for a journey".  There is a legend which tells of a Maori chief passing by, who chanted incantations that stretched out his meagre supply of food to last the full journey.  

Staying at Otorohanga NZMCA Park

We enjoyed  a celebratory birthday dinner for me at the Otorohanga Club while we were here.  The meal was delicious, roast pork and veggies,  bubbly for me, and a beer for him.

Enjoying my Birthday dinner

It was just a short 43km trip to Ohaupo the next day for our caravan service.  The Leisureline service team allow customers to stay overnight and we were joined by Geoff and Eileen - it was great to catch up with them again.  While we were getting a caravan service done, they were collecting their van after repairs had been completed.  The four of us visited the local fish and chip shop for dinner that night, so no cooking for us again.   

One waiting for a service, the other waiting to go home

Round and About in Christchurch

 There has been plenty to keep us busy in Christchurch.  I was quite keen to have another ride on the Gondola but it was rather expensive, so we decided against that.  So instead,  we took a drive up to the top of Dyer Pass, a narrow twisting road very popular with cyclists, who seem to dice with death with the cars as they whizz along.  We were doing a return visit to   the cafe The Sign of the Kiwi, famous for their date scones.  Yes, we had been there last time we were down this way, but it was well worth another visit.  We secured a table, and sat and enjoyed our afternoon tea.

It was a lovely sunny day

The Sign of the Kiwi was one of four rest houses built to provide access and refreshments for people walking on the Port Hills, back in the 1920s or so. 

In the old days

There are wonderful views from the top of the pass, looking down into Christchurch from the front of the cafe,  and looking the other way towards Lyttelton.  We had never driven down the other side of the pass, so decided to give it a go.  

Looking towards Lyttleton 

Down and down we drove, more twists and turns, and finally reached the the lookout over the harbour.  We looked out at the HMNZS Canterbury was docked in her home port for several days.  There was a large gazebo on the deck, which we supposed was for some sort of celebration.

Map at the lookout

We journeyed  back to camp through the Lyttelton Tunnel, which seemed to go on and on.  Mr Google told us that the tunnel is the longest in the country at 1970 mts long.

Tunnel entrance

Of course, our trip to Christchurch was to spend time with my son Michael to celebrate his 60th birthday.  He had a busy week as he had flown up to Wellington to spend a couple of days with his Dad, then flew back down again in time for our arrival in Christchurch.  I had booked a table for dinner on Friday night at the Platform Brew Barn, a riverside establishment in Kaiapoi, quite close to where we are staying at the NZMCA park.  This was a busy and popular establishment indeed, and we took a little time checking out the menu.  It was an easy choice for me, roast pork, Robin chose sirloin steak, and Michael decided on a burger.  Don't ask me why, but we all ordered dessert as well.  We really didn't need it, but it did taste nice.

Jenny, Robin and Michael at his birthday dinner

Then we met up for Sunday breakfast.  This was another very busy cafe in Mega Mitre 10 building and we ordered our breakfasts, and sat and chatted away, reminiscing about earlier times, as you do.

 Sunday Breakfast

While we were at the store, we bought a new fire alarm in our caravan.  The current one had taken to chirping at us during the night over the last few days, strangely enough, never in the daytime, for some reason.  So we needed a new one, and it is now up in the ceiling. looking after us.

Sunday is our last day here in Kaiapoi, so we decided to check out the local beaches.  They were not too far away at all, just out of town.  A choice of two, the Pines and Kairaka beaches.  Quite dangerous for swimming, according to the signs, and we noticed fishermen sitting expectantly with their rods in the water.  Wonder if they had any luck?

Kairaki estuary

Time to head slowly towards the ferry tomorrow, we don't sail back till next Sunday, so can take our time.  But where shall we stop?  Not sure, but probably somewhere we haven't camped before, we think.

Visiting the Rally

With our caravan still up at Ohaupo and Robin’s recent knee operation meaning he was unable to drive, there was no way we would be attending the weekend rally at Rangiotu School.  So we did the next best thing and visited the rally for morning tea.  I was the nominated driver and we had a whoopsie on the trip up.  The only damage was to a pukeko who tried to cross the road in front of my little grey car – these birds have no road sense at all. 

It was a grey drizzly morning and we arrived at the school to be warmly welcomed by the rally family Russell and Maureen.    Morning tea was held in the kitchen/dining room and everyone soon arrived with their cuppas.  We had brought along some cream sponges to celebrate Robin’s recent birthday – no wonder everyone was pleased to see us.

Yes, he will be sharing that sponge cake

As we hadn't been to a rally for a while, as you can imagine, there was plenty of catching up to do.  We are so lucky at this school to have this room available to meet in, I imagine there wouldn't be much chance of sitting outside with the weather forecast promising a wet weekend.

The sponge cakes all got eaten

Originally we had planned to stay on for lunch, and I had packed a picnic lunch accordingly, but Robin’s knee was getting rather painful so we decided to head for home.  Many thanks to Geoff and Eileen who invited us in to their van for an extra chat before we departed, and to Russell and Maureen for suppling some Lemonade lemons to us all, I took a couple of these home to try.

Happy Campers

The drive home was uneventful, although the rain was setting in, and luckily no unwary pukekos ventured into the road in front of me.  These birds have been called “god dammed purple chickens” by USA visitors, we understand. 

Robin needed a little nap after our “at home picnic lunch”  - guess the morning had taken it out of him a bit.  After an easy evening meal we settled down to watch Jurassic Park, the very first film in the series.  It had been ages since this was released, and although I remembered bits and pieces as the film evolved, it was still very exciting and well worth watching.

Happy 80th Birthday

It was so nice to be part of Selwyn 80th birthday party recently.  Family and friends gathered at Anzil Hungarian Café for Afternoon Tea.  Caravanning was a big part of Selwyn and Kath’s life, so our caravan club was invited along too, on this special day.  Plates of sandwiches were on the tables, and the staff carried around plates of interesting savouries,  “Money bags” and “Hungarian Meatballs”  to mention a couple on offer.

Selwyn, with Kath at his side, thanked us all for coming.

Then it was time for the Birthday Cakes, after all, why just have one when two sounds better.  Selwyn's grandson helped with the all important candle blowing ceremony.

Cutting the cakes

It was a lovely afternoon, nibbling tasty food, chatting away to friends.  The staff offered glasses of bubbly to one and all, but not for us.  This was Robin’s first social outing since his knee op and was not allowed alcohol with his medication.  And I was the driver so none for me either, a shame, because I’m rather partial to a glass of bubbles, but I don't drink and drive.

Caravan Club buddies

Robin did very well, sitting a while, then standing with his crutches, catching up with everyone.  But then his knee was getting rather sore, and we said our goodbyes and it was time to head for home.  It was a wonderful afternoon indeed, thanks so much, Selwyn and Kath for such a lovely time.

Happy 75th Birthday

It was time to celebrate Robin’s 75th birthday, and we had a lovely gathering of family here at our (small)  home.  We were so lucky with the weather, it was warm and sunny so it was very pleasant out on the patio with  extra seating, sheltering under the archgola.  The blokes joined Robin for a beer or two outside as he tended to the lamb on his Webber BBQ.

Brother Gary, Shimon, SIL Robert, Brother Neil, Robin and Murray

Once the meat was cooked, our casual lunch was ready.  To go with the lamb we had bacon and egg pie and chicken quiche, potato salad, green salad, gherkins and fancy cheeses, and buttered bred rolls.  Dessert was a selection of sweet treats, many thanks to my sister Karla for making some delicious chocolate eclairs.

BBQed legs of lamb

Granddaughters Emma and Megan, and daughter Nicky

Then came the cake cutting time, and we all sung Happy Birthday to the birthday boy.  The carrot cake was delicious – but we didn't bother with 75 candles.  Glasses of bubbly were raised to wish Robin Happy Birthday and many more.

Cutting the cake

Our poor cat Gemma is used to a quiet life with just the two of us at home.  So she was getting a little anxious with so many people in the house.  I put her in our bedroom and shut the door, but she wasn’t happy with that turn of events either!  Many thanks to the family for coming to share Robin’s special day with him.

This Weekend……

This weekend turned out nice and sunny, but with a definite Autumnal feel in the air.  We travelled over to Wainuiomata to share in the 65th birthday celebrations of my younger sister.  Goodness me, where have all those years gone?  I can remember the night she was born- at home, she obviously came with a rush, and several weeks early.  My older sister and I (11 and 12 at the time) were woken up with our mother calling out to us.  With no phone in our house, we had to run up the road in our dressing gowns and slippers in the dead of night, knock loudly on our neighbour’s door to wake her up, and get her to phone for an ambulance.  No wonder that was a night to be remembered!

Me with Karla

Birthday Cake

Several hours later it was time to head back to Levin.  But not before we drove around Wainuiomata to see all the changes since we were last there.  And I wanted to check out my very first house, we moved in to “Nappy Valley” as the place was called in the mid 60s.  Back then, house prices were relatively affordable for young couples who were prepared to work hard, and we got a Government funded house loan, and cashed in the  Family Benefit.  Even though we had two young children, both of us were working, and my hubby at the time had an evening job as well.  We moved in with no carpets or curtains, and second hand everything.  Difficult, of course, but we were young, and we managed.

First home

Robin had been chatting to one of the birthday guests about our narrowboat trip on Dot and Derek’s boat Gypsy Rover over the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct.  Imagine our delight when we returned home that evening to find that one of the U Tubers which Robin follows had put up a video of this very trip.   Robin cast it to the TV and it was almost like being there again.

Pontcysyllte Aqueduct

Pontcysyllte, meaning ‘the bridge that connects’, carries the canal majestically over the raging River Dee below.  Designed by Thomas Telford and Williams Jessop and constructed by John Simpson (stonework) and William Hazledine (ironwork), the aqueduct was completed in 1805, and is a result of some bold civil engineering solutions. A cast iron trough suspended 126 feet above the river, supported iron arched ribs, carried on 18 hollowed masonry pillars.  One of the most astonishing feats of engineering from the Industrial Revolution, this in now been classified a  World Heritage Site. 

Sunday morning always means a cooked breakfast, and Robin does the honours.  Kransky sausages and eggs, with a few cooked tomatoes for me.  It’s always a good start to the day.

He’s waiting to tuck in

Happy Birthday Robin and remembering 9/11

It was Robin’s birthday on Sunday, but he still did his family duty and cooked Sunday breakfast for us both.  Mmmm, very tasty it was too.

Sunday breakfast

The weather was atrocious, freezing cold and wet, so we were pleased that we could hibernate at home for the day and didn’t need to venture out into the bad weather.  Dinner, at his request, was Satay Pork and veggies served on rice, followed with a slice of birthday fruit cake, and a glass or two of bubbly.  It was an occasion, after all.

Cheers for the Birthday Boy

Special request for his birthday dinner

We can certainly remember the terrible time 20 years ago.    Not that we knew of the events unfounding at the time, when we were out for the evening with a group of friends enjoying a meal at a Malaysian restaurant.  It was a great night out, celebrating with three of our group who were having September birthdays. On leaving, we were told that the Efpos machine was playing up, so we had to pay manually, the old fashioned way.  Then we drove around to the petrol station to top the car up with fuel, and the same thing happened – the machine wasn’t working, strange, but we didn’t really dwell on it at all.   It wasn't till some time later that we were told that all credit card transactions were routed from New Zealand via the Trade Centre in the Twin Towers.  Who would have known that, we certainly didn’t.  We all said our goodbyes and returned to our respective homes to get to bed, unaware of what was happening half a world away.

What a shock early the next morning to hear the dreadful news on the radio as we were preparing to leave for work.  We snatched a little time in front of the TV and watched in horror as the terrible scenes were replayed over and over again, then had to travel to our places of work.  Back home in the evening, we were glued to the TV as the story unfounded, trying to make sense of what we were watching.  It wasn’t just the Twin Towers which had been attacked, but the Pentagon as well, and a fourth hijacked plane which was brought down by brave passengers who had found out what was happening and decided to fight back.  It was all so unbelievable.

Fast forward to 2008 and we were on an overseas trip, spending a week in New York after a couple of months tripping around England.  We wanted to see what had happened to Ground Zero.  Construction had started and we were lucky to be guided to a building overlooking the site where we had very good views through a large glass window.  It was certainly quite sobering to be looking out over the busy building site and reflect back on that terrible time when terrorists attacked the USA.  Even living half a world away, down here in New Zealand, we felt the pain and horror of that day.  Of course, it all went on for months, as the recovery missions and clearing up went on and on. 

We watched the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 on TV and the brave relatives as they read out the names of those lost.  Our thoughts are with you America, on this anniversary.  

Visiting George

It was my turn to host an outing with our SLG friends during the week, so I took them to “The George” for lunch.  The George is a restaurant in the rather expensive Speldhurst Estate, built on the grounds of the former Kimberley Hospital here in Levin.  The grounds are lovely, full of beautiful large mature trees.

The George

This must be our table

Non of our guests had dined here before, nor even Robin.  I had though in my social get-togethers, and had  been here previously for lunch and morning tea.  We soon settled down to peruse the menu and make our choices.  I enjoyed my Seafood Pasta, and Robin had a nice steak, while a couple of the others chose from the cabinet food.  Les couldn’t find his old favourite of lambs fry and bacon on the menu, so had battered fish instead. I’m always amazed that the staff take photos so willingly, guess it’s all part of their training and service, to keep the customers happy.  I really do appreciate it, as most go out of their way to snap several photos from different angles so graciously.

Les, Trish, Ashley, Yvonne, Jenny and Robin

We were a slightly smaller group this time, as one couple had a previous commitment.  But still good fun, good food and good company.  After a drive around the grounds to see the huge amount of building taking place, everyone met back at Villa 50 for coffee and cake.  Did I mention this was an early birthday lunch for me?

Celebrating my birthday a little early

Poor Gemma nearly came to grief when we were enjoying a piece of carrot birthday cake.  One of our guests had been to the bathroom, come out and left the door closed.  Which meant that Gemma couldn’t access her dirt box – no wonder she was running to and fro and getting agitated.  Catastrophe finally averted, but we will have to remember the door issue next time we have visitors.