Caravan Rally at Te Horo

It seemed that Caravan Club rallies were coming thick and fast – it was only two weeks ago since our last one.  This time it was a Combined Rally where members from other clubs are invited to join us.  Held at Te Horo School, it was a lovely venue with a real country feel to it.  Although not too far from the main road, it was like being out in the country.  Plenty of big trees and abundant birdlife, and stock in the paddocks close by.  "Te Horo" in the Māori language means "the landslide".

We arrived in the late afternoon on Friday, which was to allow plenty of time for the pupils and staff to depart without our vans getting in the way.  As promised by the Met Service, the rain came down on Friday night, and kept falling all day Saturday without let up.  It was a cold, miserable day, and although there was plenty of attractions in the local area, most were happy just to stay put and socialize. With such a relentless downpour, the ground got more and more soggy and squelchy.  Wish we had packed our gumboots like some of the other campers had thought to do.

Camping in the rain

Fortunately we had use of the cozy hall to meet in.  On Saturday night tables were set up and we had a combined meal – where everyone prepared and ate their own main course.  Followed by a shared dessert, yummy.  All sorts of delights appeared from the vans, hot desserts, chocolate eclairs, lamingtons, brownies, and ice-cream.  There was plenty for everyone, and some of the blokes managed to fit in seconds.

Dessert table

Many thanks to Dianne and Barry who brought in boxes of grapefruit and lemons from their property.  Some came home with me, I love grapefruit for breakfast, and plan to make some lemon honey in the next wee while. 

Grapefruit and lemons

As often happens during weekends away, Sunday dawned warm and sunny.  So sunny in fact, that our kitten Gemma stretched right out on the window ledge, enjoying the warmth coming in the window.  She still has her plastic cone on, waiting for her wound to heal after being spayed. 

Gemma enjoying the Sunday sunshine 

It was a great weekend – and nice to meet up with fellow campers from other clubs who joined us for the weekend.  There were a few quizzes to test our brains, games of bowls and quoits in the hall for the energetic, and it is always interesting to listen to and take part in the wide ranging topics of conversation when a group gets together.  Maybe we didn't solve the problems of the world, but we always seem to have plenty to talk about!

Camping at Te Horo School

Long Weekend at Shannon

Just before we departed Marton on Friday morning, there was a tap at the door and our neighbours popped in to say hello.  They recognised our name from the NZ Motor Home Forum.  Sadly, their names went in one ear and out the other, sorry about that, blame old age.  I was fascinated to discover that the husband has gypsy lineage several generations back, just like me – perhaps we are related?  It was lovely to meet them, and chat about camping adventures.

Driving through Bulls, there are lifelike statues of big black bulls standing here and there.  Tourists traveling through this small town must get a real fright when they catch a glimpse of these creatures out of the corner of their eye.  Look – there’s one creeping out between those two shops.

One of the black bulls at Bulls

We had a lunch stop at Viv’s Kitchen, home of the world famous Cream Horns.  Not an easy thing to eat with any decorum, but we did our best.

Cream Horns at Viv’s Kitchen

Our destination was Shannon School for a three day caravan club rally.  But being a school day we couldn’t enter the grounds till 4.00pm, so we had a bit of R&R in a park, reading, relaxing and maybe a little snooze.  Seven vans attended, with one van making an epic journey to join us.  With SHI closed for some hours due to a truck tipping over and spilling toxic substance all over the road, the only alternative route was to travel over the Paekakariki Hill.   Don and Pamela were not thwarted by this difficult route, and bravely towed their van up and over the Hill to join us.  Not something we would like to do, at all.  

Shannon School

Early birds on site

Staying at sleepy little Shannon for a three day weekend would not necessarily be the place to spring to mind, but like most little towns, there is always a lot to see once you scratch the surface.  Shannon was named after Major G V Shannon, a director of the Manawatu Railway Co and began as a camp for railway construction workers in 1885, with the settlement growing rapidly.  The first North Island Dam and Hydro Electric Power Station was constructed in 1924 at Mangahao in the foothills east of the township and employed a staggering 700 workers – we certainly didn’t know that.  The historic Railway Station Museum tells the story of the area and is well worth a visit.

The old Shannon Post Office – just one of the lovely old buildings in the main road

Dot and Derek were our rally family for the weekend, and had organised several things to keep us occupied.  Like this Sunday competition, where we walked up and down the main street  to identify the locations of twenty photos.  The locals must have wondered what on earth all these grey haired people were doing.  Several managed to complete the task, but four locations eluded us.

Where in Shannon are these?

Just as well they had also arranged a stop for afternoon tea at the local Horseman Café – we all really needed to rehydrate and have a little sit down after all that exercise.

Time for Afternoon Tea

Lorraine had baked a chocolate cake especially for Geoff who had helped her recently with her caravan.  Sadly Geoff and Eileen could not attend this rally, so we helped to eat the cake.  Don’t worry Geoff – Lorraine promised to make you another one sometime soon.

Home made chocolate cake

It was a lovely weekend away, which we had incorporated into the final days of  our trip to Hamilton and New Plymouth.  It’s always great to catch up with our caravan friends again.

Weekend at Oroua Downs

It’s been a long time between caravan rallies, as far as the man of the house is concerned.  Never mind that we spent several weeks travelling around Australia – that doesn’t count.  With the three day Labour Weekend to look forward to, he finally got his wish, and we travelled about 30km up SH1 to Oroua Downs school.  The only problem with having a caravan rally in school grounds is that entry is not allowed till about 4.00pm, to allow the children to leave the grounds safely before our caravans turn up.  But we had a cunning plan so that we would not waste all those hours.  Those interested would leave home early, and meet up somewhere for lunch.

Our lunch stop was to be the Manawatu Boating Club grounds, on the banks of the Manawatu Estuary, and we were first to arrive.  The wind was fierce, and luckily we had parked the caravan against the wind, so that we weren’t fighting to open and close the door.

First to arrive for lunch

The cold wind didn’t seem to deter the keen fisherman trying their luck  from the wharf - and with the number of noisy squawking gulls around this fellow, it was obvious he was hauling up a few fish from time to time.

Fishing off the wharf

One by one the other caravans arrived.  I put the billy on for a cuppa, sandwiches were prepared, and we all ate lunch together in our van.  It was a very pleasant afternoon, chatting away and putting the world to rights.

We now have company

The time ticked by and it was finally time to leave and drive up to the school grounds.  Not too far to go, and we all made good time.

There was a bit of too-ing and fro-ing as the drivers decided where best to park the vans.  Although the ground looked flat, there was a  definite tilt, and some of us had to get the levelling blocks out.  Finally, five caravans and three motor-homes were parked up, and our weekend began.

Parked up at Ororua Downs School

We had the use of a small hall for the weekend.  The hall was built in the 1890s and started life as a Sunday School hall in Sanson, and cost 166 pounds to build.  In 1963 the hall was put up for tender, was moved to Himitangi, and was used by several different groups in the area.  It was moved again in 1992 to the school grounds, where it now used by a group running an after school programme.

The old hall, built in 1890s

We did wonder the story behind the aircraft propeller mounted on the wall.  It came from a RNZAF training aircraft which had crashed near Ekatahuna in 1943, and was donated by Mr  Bill Kendall to the Air Scout Troop which met in the hall in earlier years.

Propeller from training aircraft

Friday evenings are fairly low key and we met in the hall to catch up with everyone’s news.  As usual, Friday night is joke night, and we can always count on Val to come along with a few jokes to read out.  With a three day weekend there were plans afoot to keep everyone busy and entertained.  To make these plans happen, we really wanted fine weather.  Check in later to see what we got up to.

Over the Bridge and on to High School

There is the most wonderful foot bridge in New Plymouth, part of the 13km Coastal Walkway.  Last time we saw it, the weather was so cold and nasty, that after a quick look and a photo or two, we scurried back to the warmth of the car.  Yesterday, the weather was just perfect, and we joined many other walkers, family groups, kids on scooters and trikes, dog, and the occasional super fit cyclist, all out enjoying the afternoon.  With such glorious conditions, the weather gods must have forgotten that it really should be getting a lot cooler now.  Winter is sure to arrive with a vengeance, but in the meantime, we will enjoy the warmer temperatures for as long as we can.

First glimpse of Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

The tied arch bridge has a clear span of almost 70 metres and was opened in 2010.  Spanning the Waiwhakaiho River, its iconic form represents the sacred relationship between the land, sea and wind with the Ngati Tawhirikura tribe.

Views of the bridge

The bridge is perfectly positioned to frame Mt Egmont.  On a clear wintry day, when the mountain is cloaked in snow, it would make an amazing photo. You can just make out the mountain shrouded in cloud in this photo.

Te Rewa Rewa Bridge

We walked over the bridge and along a small portion of the walkway, enjoying the peace and quiet, punctuated with the sounds of mad keen runners going by, and the ting-a-ling as another sporty cyclist raced up behind us.

Then we drove to New Plymouth Boys High School for a nostalgic memory trip for Robin.  The old school gates were the same.  Day after day for four years he raced through these gates on his bike.

War Memorial gates at New Plymouth High School

While we were wandering around the school grounds a school master came out for a chat.  When Robin said he was an old boy, the teacher was most helpful and pointed out all sorts of new developments and changes which had taken place since Robin’s time here.

The school motto: “Comradeship, Valour and Wisdom”

The old Assembly Hall

It’s many years since Robin was a school boy here, and over time many of the old buildings have been replaced.  But there was plenty to stir up old memories of happy times playing sport and school friends.  He had often related that when boys were in trouble, they were sent outside to cut a piece of bamboo to hand to the teacher for a caning.  That wouldn’t happen these days.

 

Then in the evening, we ate out at Sun World Restaurant, a very popular Chinese buffet restaurant in the city.  Luckily we had thought to book a table, as the place was packed.  As it was Mother’s Day, there were lots of family groups all out enjoying themselves.  We conversed with a friendly couple from Australia who were travelling around New Zealand for a few weeks.  They have a camper-van at home, so of course the conversation turned to campsites, the price of fuel, hints and tips, and our various travels.

At Sun World Buffet