Erikson Road

Just a final note about Gentle Annie – extra research has told us that “Gentle Annie is a long uphill road or trail without a resting place”.  Not named after an Annie at all, local, well known or anonymous.  So now we know.

Our group has been enjoying several days staying at Erikson Road NZMCA camp in Napier.  This camp has room for 180 vans, mostly parked on grass with a small amount of hard standing, with lovely raised beds with shrubs separating each area.  Murray and Sue joined us, and Bill and Val arrived a day or two later.  Many thanks to Eileen and Geoff who shouted us all a delicious Red Velvet cup cake in the afternoon, to celebrate Eileen arriving on these shores 50 years ago.

Staying at Erikson Road Park, Napier

Laundry always needs doing while on holiday, so we found a laundromat and took our big bag of washing for a ride in the car.  One of the regulars recommended we brush down the filter tray on the dryer, makes it work much better, we were told.  Makes sense, as we all do this at home, don't we.

Housekeeping at the laundromat

Our Weber BBQ got a real work out on Sunday.  Robin cooked our traditional bacon and eggs for breakfast, then we had toasted sandwiches for lunch, that’s the first time we had cooked them on the BBQ.  Then for dinner we had BBQ belly pork in maple sauce, so yummy, with roast kumera.  With a couple of extra veggies cooked inside the van, it was a great meal indeed.

Dinner cooked on the Weber

It’s always great to catch up with my sister and her hubby when we are up that way, they have now moved into a rest home complex so there were forms to fill in, and a declaration to sign.

Kathleen and Dennis, with me as “piggy in the middle”

Not so much sight seeing took place in Napier, it all seemed to be getting out and about and eating out.  Lunch that day was at Silky Oak Chocolates.  As it was such a hot day we both ordered an Iced Chocolate, so rich and decadent!  And of course a few hand made chocolates came home with us too.  Guess these items aren’t on our keto diet, but goodness me, did they taste delicious!

Decadent lunch

We went out for a Fish and Chip dinner at Takitimu Fisheries, our first visit there.  Certainly a popular place, with patrons queuing up and the waiting time for orders extended to 40 minutes.

Takitumu Fisheries

It was a lovely evening so we took a drive around the coastline.  The marina was full of expensive looking boats, and there  were several trendy restaurants full with patrons enjoying dining with a sea view.  After all the Covid doom and gloom with hospitality venues, it was good to see these businesses booming again.

Peaceful evening at the waterfront

Geoff and Eileen departed on Tuesday morning and Robin gave him a hand hooking up as there wasn’t much room between their van and the one behind.   They will be joining us again on Friday evening.

Lending a helping hand

The weather in Napier was glorious, hot and sunny and temperatures about 25C most days.  Just right for a trip to the iconic Rush Munro’s Ice Creamery in Hastings, a much loved institution dating back to 1926. With plenty of flavours on offer, it was hard to choose.  We both took a while to ponder the many possibilities.

Mmm, what shall I have?

And this is what we came up with, two lovely ice-cream sundaes.  The big one for him and the smaller one for me, so delicious.

We enjoyed these outside under the shady trees.  There were family groups galore, all tucking in to their tasty ice-creams.  Such a nice way to spend the afternoon.  Our time here in Napier is coming to an end, it has been a lovely relaxing stay here at Erikson Road.

Summer has Arrived

The 1st of  December was officially the first day of Summer, but who would have known.  We were driving 170kms over the Napier-Taupo Road, it was cold and miserable, the wind was blowing a gale, low clouds and mist made it hard to see and the temperatures dropped to 8 degrees.  I don’t like this road at the best of times, up and down all the way, and in these conditions it was not a fun trip at all. We were both pleased when it was over.

Another day later here in Hastings it’s like being in a different world altogether.  We wanted to plug into power after all the bad weather we had in the previous few days  so are staying at the Hawkes Bay Golf Club, many thanks to our caravan club friends recommending this place.  

The golf course looks very well cared for, and we were made very welcome when we went to pay our fees for staying here.  In fact we were advised that the club restaurant is open on the next few nights when twilight golf is in session and is open to campers as well.  We just might have to try it out before we leave.  Robin used to be a golf player in an earlier life so would appreciate these surroundings.  

Hawkes Bay Golf Club

Hawkes Bay is touted as the “Fruit Bowl of New Zealand” and what says Summer more than beautiful red cherries!  We stopped at a road side stall to get some cherries, and lovely looking peaches too. Don’t they look delicious.

Summer fruit time

While here in Hastings we are catching up with family.  I wanted to see my sister Kathleen as she is scheduled to have surgery just prior to Christmas.  Then we met up with my niece Lisa and her family for a meal out at Breakers restaurant. 

Catching up with family at Hastings

In the evening the sky turned a glorious shade – such a wonderful sunset.  A wonderful finish to a great day.

Just look at that sky

The following morning was spent at the local laundromat  - we needed to get the washing up to date as when we leave here we are not going home, but spending the weekend at a caravan club rally.  While we waited patiently for the machines to finish the cycle, we watched a young family arrive.  Mum, Dad, four children,  a new baby, and a tiny 3 month old puppy (no lead) running every which way, even out on the road at one stage.  I thought to myself that the young Mum perhaps should have left the family and dog home with Dad, and gone to do the laundry on her own enjoying some “time out” by herself  for a while.

And it was “dining out” on our last evening here at Hawkes Bay Golf Club.  With Twilight Golf in full swing, Cuzzy’s Café was open for business for those who had a hit around the golf course.  And others too, like us campers who are staying here.  Robin enjoyed his big burger, chock full of all the good stuff such as beetroot, bacon and egg, juicy beef patty and salad greens.  My chicken dinner was very tasty too, just loved the veggies in cheese sauce.

Dining at Cuzzy’s Café

We will be moving on in the morning, heading southwards  to catch up with our caravan club buddies at Rangiotu for our Christmas Rally.  Should be a good one, and we are looking forward to it.

Pauanui is rather Posh

The trip from Waihi Beach to Pauanui is only 80km, but seemed to take us forever.  The narrow winding road took us  up and down hills, around lots of corners, keeping our speed low.  We were off to Pauanui to join the other ICA members for the Christmas Rally.  Both Bill and Vaal and ourselves arrived two nights early and got ourselves settled on site.  We enjoyed a Happy Hour together in the club bar.

Early birds at Pauanui Club

I had never been to Pauanui before and Robin’s last trip was many years ago in another life, so we took ourselves sightseeing.  The holiday paradise of Pauanui is a resort town designed and built with relaxation in mind. Lying on a narrow strip of land between the Pacific Ocean and a shallow tranquil harbour, it is across the water from neighbouring Tairua, although it's 30km by road. Red coloured roads welcome visitors into this town, which was built for the wealthy and well heeled.  Just how many places have an airstrip for those private planes, with hangers built into the homes?  Certainly not something we see in our hometown.

Private plane on the private airstrip

It’s not just airplanes which are catered for in Pauanui.    There is an area of exclusive real estate built around a series of canals, with private moorings for each home owner. It’s certainly rather posh here in Pauanui.

Pauanui canals

As the washing machine at the camp was out of action, we drove to the next town of Tairua with our laundry bag.  Not at all successful as it turned out.  As we put our gold coins in the slot one by one, the amount still showing was not reducing – what to do except keep adding more cash.  We went to the café next door to while away the time with a cup of coffee, then put the washed laundry into the large dryer.  Despite two cycles it came out warm but still wet, so needed hanging out in the sunshine on our return to camp.  I was not at all happy with my laundry experience at all, certainly would not recommend this facility.

Tairua laundry

There was a bright spark found on our trip to Tairua, we followed the sign to the ferry.  The Tairua to Pauanui ferry was not operating at the moment, but it certainly looks like it would be a nice little trip.

Tairua to Pauanui Ferry

Back at camp later in the day we had quite a fright,  we were sitting outside enjoying the sunshine and Gemma was with us, sniffing around the grass and trees while safely on her harness and lead.  Another camper’s dog, running loose, came barking and running over to Gemma, baled her up against the fence  and goodness knows what would happened if we had not been outside too.  Luckily Robin intervened, shouted out to the owner, managed to pick the dog up by his harness, and gave the owner a piece of his mind, as I did too.   It was all rather upsetting.   All campers should be aware of the rules which clearly state all dogs should be kept on a lead, as we do with our cat too, no excuses. 

Waimate, Horses, and the Waihao Box

The NZMCA Waimate Park is a lovely place to stay – and has dramatically increased in size since our previous visit.  And it is lovely to be surrounded by lush green grass after all the dried yellow grass we saw in Otago.  We are staying two nights, and although the other two vans who took part in yesterday’s Happy Hour have moved on, there are sure to be more arrivals as the day wears on.

Plenty of room for new arrivals

And here’s a photo from the archives.  Dot and I were taking advantage of the warm sunny weather to keep the washing up to date here in Waimate way back in 2012.  It was hands down in a bucket of water, while Muffy watched on.  We have learnt our lesson now, all that hand washing and wringing out is much too hard on our hands, and these days the holiday washing gets a trip to the laundromat.

The bucket brigade from 2012

Waimate has it’s own version of a White Horse, situated high up on the hill, and looking down over the town.  The monument was the inspiration of Mr Norman Hayman and modelled on the Whitehorse of England, to commemorate the work done by the Clydesdales in the agricultural development of Waimate.   When we were here in Waimate in 2012, we travelled up to the hill and tried in vain to find that dratted horse, only to almost trip over it almost by accident.  Read all about that our frustrating afternoon here.

The White Horse of Waimate

There are a couple of horses over the fence behind our van and they were getting most excited when they spotted a man approaching with his ute.  They were running this way and that, and kept looking to see where he was.  Their owner perhaps, with some extra feed for them?

Two horses getting all excited over the fence.

And still on the subject of horses – as we were exploring today we came across another monument on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.  This rather unassuming stone marks the site of the first New Zealand Grand National Steeplechase held on 18th May 1875.  This was unknown to us, but it’s amazing what you discover when you stop to check things out.

Monument to the first NZ Grand National Steeplechase

We drove into Knottingley Park not really knowing what to expect.  The native reserve was formed on 169 acres in 1854 and the Park was opened in 1890.  These days many sports clubs make use of the lovely grounds and it is a popular place for picnics and weddings.

Knottingley Park grounds

And then we discovered a lovely little motor camp tucked away, with plenty of power points, all the usual facilities,  and what’s this, even a washing machine.  All for $24 for two people, which isn’t too bad at all  these days.

Knottingley Park Campgrounds

The main aim of our exploration today was to find the Waihao Box on the gravel beach.  After a couple of false starts  (compounded by roads closed with bridges no longer there) and and back tracking, we finally found the correct road to view this simple but effective engineering marvel.

The Waihao Box is an ingenious structure that helps create an opening through the gravel beach to the sea for the Waihao River. It has proved vital in preventing flooding over tens of thousands of hectares of valuable farmland and helps maintain the health of a natural wildlife habitat of national importance.  There are warnings to keep right away off the gravel banks as sliding gravel is unstoppable, and there have already been fatalities there.

 

The Waihao Box

Financed by local farmers, the Waihao Box was built in 1910 to replace an earlier 1896 structure.  The purpose of the box was to assist drainage and reduce the risk of flooding.  Coarse sand and gravel slip down the banks beside the box as the water is flowing. Because there is no permanent river mouth to the Waihao catchment, the strongly-built timber box culvert prevents the shingle barrier from completely blocking the Waihao River. Therefore, the box culvert assists with drainage and reduces the risk of flooding.

It is believed that the Waihao Box is the only functioning one of its kind in New Zealand and possibly in the world. In 2010 a wooden monument was unveiled “To commemorate 100 years of benefit to drainage and recreation for the community”.  We saw two elderly kayakers paddle around the calm waters of the lagoon while we were there, and Freedom Camping is permitted on the area.

Commemorating 100 years

Ardmore Airfield

On departing rural Arapuni we checked out another freedom camping spot - the Little Waipa Reserve, on the shores of Lake Karapiro.  This is another attractive place to stay, great for picnics, toilets available, and overnight camping is allowed.  Several campers were already in residence.  A place for summer, we think, and it is sure to be very popular with fisher folk and boaties too.

Little Waipa Reserve

Our curiosity satisfied, we headed up back on SH1 and made our way to Hamilton.  The plan was to stop for lunch at the Jukebox Diner, in the Classic Car Museum.  What’s not to love about the diner?  A 1950s themed diner, walking into my idea of teenage heaven through a 13 m tall 50s replica Wurlitzer Jukebox.  With the black and white tiled floors, red formica tables and chairs, and pictures of rock’n’roll stars on the walls, I really expected the Fonz from Happy Days to swagger in the door.

Jukebox Diner

The four of us ordered our lunches, a Big Elvis breakfast for the big breakfast aficionado amongst us, an omelet, and  burger and fries for the others.  I couldn’t go past the American Hot Dog and Coke Ice-cream Soda, reminiscing that this was the beverage of choice when I attended the Capistrano Youth Club (Hutt Valley) all those years ago.

With my Ice-cream soda

Fed and watered, we went on our way again, travelling on to Auckland, with the traffic getting heavier the closer we got.  Our Sat Nav took us a round-about way, eventually making it to the Ardmore Airport NZMCA Park.  After finding a spare space, we parked up, signed in and paid our fees for our two night stay.

 

Such a big place, and chocker-block with caravans, campers, buses and 5th wheelers.

There is water and rubbish disposal available at this site.  Plus a little secret – when the Big Tick is on the building next door, campers can walk through the gate to the Air Training Corps buildings and use the showers, toilets, and washing machines for very reasonable prices. 

Ablution block (usually) available to campers

We got up bright and early intending to have a shower in the ablution block this morning, to find that the big tick had been replaced with a big red cross.  Which meant that the ATC trainees in residence had first use of the facilities.  Luckily the red tick was replaced a little later and I got in to do a load of washing. 

There is a lot happening over the road with helicopters and small planes coming and going all day.  And here comes another one now.

Lots of small planes landing and taking off over the road

This is certainly an interesting site, and is our first time staying here.  We’ve been told that there is an Air Force Café not too far away which serves nice coffee – I think we will need to find it.