Time to head home

On our last day in Napier, we went out to lunch with Helen and Owen.  Where to but the “world famous in Hawkes Bay” Silky Oak Chocolates.

It was hot and sunny, a typical Hawkes Bay day, so we sat outside the café under the awning.  Even under the awning it was so bright we needed to keep our sun glasses on to stop us squinting.  The age old question, what to order?  Robin ordered a BLT and I had a salmon roulade, and of course we needed one of their delicious iced chocolate drinks as well.

Our delicious lunch

Helen, Jenny, Robin and Owen at Silky Oak\

We called into the Chocolate Shop to buy some drinking chocolate, and to be honest a few little chocolates came home with us as well.  The staff member told us about the flood rushing through the buildings during Cyclone Gabrielle a year a go, and showed us how high up the internal walls the water rose.  All the stock had to be thrown out of course, and the business was closed for six months while repairs took place.

The following morning we packed up, said our goodbyes, and headed for home.  Just prior to Dannevirke we stopped and waited, and waited some more.  I guess that we were held up here on the road for a good 15 minutes at least.  What was wrong, we wondered?

Waiting, waiting

Onwards traffic rolled towards us, then finally we were given the all clear to proceed.  The workers were laying asphalt, what a hot job that must have been in the conditions.

Hot work on the roads

We stopped for lunch at a lay-by at the beginning of Dannevirke.  Oh look, there’s a fine looking Viking to welcome us.  While we sat relaxing in  the van eating our lunch, a couple of ambulances and police cars, sirens blaring, rushed back the way we had just come.  Obviously some sort of accident, lucky for us we were off the road when it happened.

Lunch stop at Dannevirke

On our way again, we headed over the Saddle Road.  Plenty of wind turbines were turning lazily on the top of the ranges.

Saddle Road

Then it was an easy drive the rest of the way home.  The caravan was unpacked in the stinking hot Levin weather, the first load of laundry was put on, and then we sank into our seats to get our breath back – whew, it was so hot and sticky!  We certainly didn’t notice the heat while driving with AC on.  That’s our Christmas/New Year holiday done and dusted.

Thunder and plenty of Rain at Red Barn

What a weekend of strange weather we had at the rally, it was warm, wet and thundery.  Generally, the days were fine, but by late afternoon the clouds would roll in, thunder would rumble, and the heavy rain would fall, and fall, and fall.  Although we didn't sight any lightening, Mr Google tells us these two always come hand in hand,  and it is not possible to have thunder without lightning. Obviously it wasn't happening overhead and we didn’t notice it, but the lightening would have been flashing across the sky not too far away.

The six early bird vans were joined by four others on Friday, making a total of  ten vans for the weekend.  It was very handy having the implement shed to gather in for our morning teas and 4zees, but the resident swallows were not at all happy with our presence – I think they were busy building nests inside the shed.   The birds  were rather agitated and flew about, swooping from corner to corner.  Gemma came on her lead to join us during the day  and really enjoyed the interesting smells everywhere, until one of the swallows swooped low and buzzed her!  People were bad enough, but to bring  a cat as well, just too much!

On Friday evening we gathered again in the handy implement shed and our hosts Geoff and Colleen came to give us a talk about their life in South Africa and how they came to arrive in New Zealand, settle in Auckland then come to live in Palmerston North.  Life in South Africa could be quite dangerous and they spoke of multiple locks and alarms on their doors, and motion sensors outside around their home. Certainly a different way of life than we experience here.  Moving to Canada or England were discussed, and soon rejected, much too cold.  Australia was considered, but they didn't meet the criteria, but they did for New Zealand, so it all eventually fell into place.

Collen and Geoff

Gathered for the evening talk

Palmerston North is well known for the wind turbines on the hills and we had a good view from this property.  Love them or hate them, these turbines swish around producing “clean green” electricity.

Wind turbines on the hills

Robin, Dave, Russell and Pat, wonder if they are talking about cars?

Pat planned a little 4WD adventure on Saturday, he was told that he could drive through the farm and reach the Manawatu River.  So off we went, three 4WDs in a row, with the front car opening the gates, and the back car closing them, as you must do on a farm.  The grass was so thick and lush we remarked it was rather like driving over the African  savannah.  Instead of being attacked by lions, we were set upon by a bunch of steers who galloped up from the adjacent paddock. Just as well there was a fence between us.

Here they come

We reached the stop bank, but where was the gate we had been told about?  There it was at the other end, so off we drove again.  But once there, a few of us decided that as the gate couldn't be opened, those with sore backs and knees better not try climbing over.  Some of the more energetic ones did, climbed up and over the wooden gate without doing themselves a mishap, and got a glimpse of the river.

We made it, but the river is over the stop bank

Rally Family Dave and Deb had a couple of quizzes for us on Saturday night.  Dave had insisted his quizzes were easier that his previous ones and that we would all get every answer but……….  Never mind, it certainly gave us something to think about.  All too soon the rally came to an end, and it was time to hook up and depart for home.  Many thanks to Dave and Deb for the weekend, to Flo and Deb for the home baking, and to our hosts for giving us a big bowl of mandarins to share.

We were one of the last to leave, and drove through Palmy to the dump station.  This is in a very attractive setting surrounded by large trees.  The caravan ahead of us got caught up on a steel bollard protecting the dump area, ooops, the wife was driving and hubby was not at all pleased!  Luckily Robin did much better and we drove out unscathed.

At the dump site

Solway Park for the Weekend

We departed for our weekend caravan rally a day early on Thursday, just because a three day weekend is always so much nicer than just two days.  There was a discussion which way we would go – travelling to the Wairarapa means crossing the Tararua Ranges in the North, or the Rimutaka Hill in the south.  Both trips take about two hours, just a shame there isn't a handy tunnel close by.  In the end we decided to head north, and we may well do the complete circle on Sunday and drive back home taking the southern route.  So up and over the Pahiatua Track we went, passing quite close to those huge wind turbines.

One of the many turbines

Sign at the top

Once down the other side I got our lunch out to eat while we were driving.  “Something I prepared earlier”, as the TV cooks say.  Bacon sandwiches, a muffin  and coffee were very welcome as we drove along.

Lunch on the go

A little further along we were slowed down with a Stop-Go sign and road cones keeping the traffic to one lane.  It was the “tree fellas”  busy trimming some trees below the power lines on the side of the road.  There’s always something to see when you drive along.

Working on the trees

We soon turned into Solway Park and found where we were to park up.  There are a limited number of power sites available, so it is a matter of first come, best served.

Robin put the club flag up, and there were four early bird vans which arrived on Thursday.  The weather was a bit too chilly so our first 4zees of the weekend was spent inside Bill and Val’s van, thanks very much.

Early birds, three vans and a motorhome

Later in the afternoon we heard the clip clop as horses walked past.  Here they go, with the riders all kitted out in their riding gear.

So nice to see the equestrians go by

Unfortunately there is no handy hall for our club to use so we will just have to work around the weather and hope the weekend stays fine. 

Trip to Carterton

The Wairarapa towns are not too far away over the Ranges as the crow flies, but where we live it’s quite a different story going by road.  We have a choice of heading north then crossing over the Tararua Ranges or traveling south and driving over the Rimutaka Hill – a two hour trip whatever choice we make.  Driving over on Friday we opted to go north, up and over the Pahiatua Track.

New sign at the top of the hill

It was a little misty at the top of the hill and we spotted some of the new wind turbines through the mist.  This project has been in the news lately as things have not been going to plan.  Power generator Mercury has run into problems to get its turbine blades up the hill to the Turitea Wind Farm.  The 99 12-tonne, 55-metre-long blades stored in Palmerston North were due to start being transported to the top of the Tararua Range in September.  But a new track being built to bypass a steep, tight S-bend on the Pahīatua Track has slipped and failed, forcing turbine suppliers Vestas to look for another way up.

The schedule for completing the 60-turbine, $465 million wind farm had already been challenged by the Covid-19 lockdown, when work on turbine tower foundations and transmission line preparations stalled.  The current goal is to have the 33-turbine first stage of what will be New Zealand’s largest wind farm completed in April to July 2021 and the second, southern stage by Christmas 2021.  Part of the challenge of getting the turbine blades up the hill was that they were 10m longer than envisaged 10 years ago.  We saw on the TV news that the blades are being transported at night, standing up at quite an angle, what a job that must be.

Goodness, that’s a long load

Once over the ranges, we have to travel south into the Wairarapa, and our first stop was at Eketahuna at the rather royally decorated public loos.  What is the Beefeater doing with those corgis in tow?  Maybe the Queen had a comfort stop here some time ago and this is the royal acknowledgement of her visit.

Seen at Eketahuna

Our next stop was at Pukaha National Wildlife Centre at Mt Bruce for lunch.  We admired a lovely carving of the now extinct Huia in the café.  Their beautiful tail feathers were much prized by the Maori people who wore them in their hair.  It is interesting to note that the female huia has a much longer beak than the male.

Pukaha National Wildlife

Just a week ago there was a ceremony here when  the 942 hectares of  Pūkaha Forest, home to native birds and conservation work  in northern Wairarapa has been gifted to the nation by Rangitane “for everyone to enjoy”. The Rangitane people had received the Pukaha Forest in its Treaty Settlement in 2017 but has now officially gifted it to New Zealand.  Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has described it as an "extraordinary act of generosity" by the iwi, and she said  it was a privilege to accept the gift.

Gifting of Pukaha Forest

Henley Lake at Masterton was our next stop, such a lovely peaceful place.  Many species of water fowl make their home here, including both black and white swans.  We whiled away a little time soaking up the atmosphere.  The drive into the park was through a a line of beautiful trees sporting their Autumn colours.

Henley Lake

Our trip to Carterton was touched with sadness, we had travelled here to attend the funeral of of SLG friend Les.  Les and his late wife Anne had been much loved members of our Super Leisure Group and we had enjoyed their company at many of our monthly outings.  RIP Les, you and Anne are now together again.