We’ll be up early tomorrow

We’ve had a slight change of plan with our travel arrangements tomorrow.  Originally we had arranged to overnight in the caravan at the wharf before we set sail in the morning.  That way, we reasoned, we would miss the early morning commuter traffic when the workers travel into the big city.  But when we double-checked our arrangements during the week, we were told an emphatic “no”.  No, we cannot stay overnight on the wharf – any and all arrangements made earlier have been rescinded. It is amazing that arrangements can be made for the Rugby World Cup but once it is all over it is back to the status quo and provide nothing for the domestic traveller, oh well maybe we expect too much to be treated as tourists as well.

We were offered parking on the wharf by the Bluebridge Terminal but they will not take caravans or motor homes over 7 metres so that counts us all out and what’s more they are price gouging at $50 per van per night when the Auckland International Airport only charges $39 per van per night and no restrictions as to size. I thought that there was NZ Standard for Campsite sizes? Silly me!

So we will be setting the alarm to go off bright and early in the morning and plan to be on the road by 6.00am to drive into the city.  We would rather arrive bright and early than be running late.  We will then have time for a quick breakfast in the caravan while parked up on the wharf, or maybe we might even have breakfast on board the ship once the journey is underway, we will decide tomorrow.

Robin has got his fingers crossed for a smooth crossing – he is not a good sailor at all.  Hoping “Sealegs” will do the trick.

And as for Muffy, she’s not going to think about the sailing tomorrow – she’s too busy catching up on her beauty sleep.

Lots of things to do

With our South Island Odyssey coming up fast, there are lots of things to do.
So far we have:

both been for haircuts
collected prescription medicine for the time we are away
had our tow car serviced
filled up the caravan gas bottles

Today we visited the local AA (Automobile Association) office and collected several South Island travel guide books to take with us.  These contain all sorts of interesting information together with travel tips, local attractions and facts and figures.

Tomorrow we will start packing the caravan.  Food, clothes, what else?  Mustn’t forget to take Muffy the cat – she’s coming down south with us too.

Sand Sculptures

Romany Rambler: Travelled 20186Km; 345 Nights Away

It was art of a different kind down on Himatangi Beach over the weekend.  Plots were measured out and for the princely sum of $2.00 anyone was welcome to “give it a go”.  Chris and Anne-Marie borrowed a folding spade from Robin and took their young family down to see what they could come up with.  We wandered down to the beach later to have a look.  There were all sorts of sculptures on display, and most of them had a seaside theme.  Our favourite was this very lifelike seal, created by a young lad who told us he won the competition last year.

The seal – our favourite

Humpty Dumpty

A Mermaid

The entries were judged by an artist from out-of-town and he wandered around with his clipboard taking notes and making his assessments.   He got chatting to us and told us that he chose the winner (a starfish) as it filled the whole plot and he liked the way the background had a different texture.  All the children got sweets so that kept them happy, and the winning adult sculptures won vouchers.

The winner – a starfish

The “Beach Ranger” was on duty making sure that vehicular traffic kept to the speed limit of 30km and drive sensibly.  The Ranger comes down each weekend and volunteers her time to safeguard all beach users.  She is authorised to issue tickets to those who break the law, and collect photographic evidence to use if the cases come to court.  

 

The Beach Ranger on patrol

Himatangi Beach Motor Camp

The motor camp was full to bursting over the long weekend.  With the beach just a short stroll away the motor camp is ideally situated.

  Himatangi Beach Holiday Park

Many people have on-site caravans with attached annexes and come out each weekend to escape from city life and enjoy a weekend at the beach.  Fishing is very popular on the coast, and dune buggies and motor bikes seem to be another “must have”  accessory for the weekenders.  There must be a bike for every member of the family in this truck and trailer load.

How many bikes and buggies are loaded up here?

Our caravan club members were on sites at the front of the camp, and consisted of 5 caravans, two motor homes and a tent.

Some of our Heretaunga Caravan Club members

The much larger Wainuiomata Caravan Club was also staying at the camp and they were sited down the other end of the camp.  This club was celebrating their 400th rally this weekend, and the club started way back in 1975.  Our members were invited to join in their celebratory morning tea.  Foundation members Les and Edith did the honours and cut the cake.

  400th Rally Birthday cake

Our task for the weekend was to collect some driftwood from the beach and make something with it.  So it as “eyes down” in the sand, looking for just the right piece of driftwood amongst the debris.  Once the wood was collected it was a matter of taking it back to camp and deciding just what sort of creation to make.  I must say that the entries were rather varied and it was interesting to see just what people came up with.

A selection of beach art

Neptune’s Garden, complete with a crab claw

The Camp Manager Margaret was asked to judge the entries.  Mmmm, she had a hard time deciding between two and we saw her looking from one to the other as she made up her mind.  And the winner was this friendly fellow, Oswald Owl, made by Carol and Graham.

The winning entry

We had a lot of fun over the weekend.  Several walks along the beach, which is always nice, followed by an ice-cream or two from the local shop.  We all enjoyed a delicious evening meal out on Sunday night at the local Cossie Club.  And several of us are sporting sunburnt noses, even after a liberal dose of sunscreen protection. 

What’s this – caravans towed by tractors?

This was certainly an unusual sight – a whole lot of tractors trundling slowly along the road down to Tangimoana beach.  Surprisingly, each one was towing a small caravan behind.  Now just what is that is all about?  “Nothing ventured - nothing gained” we decided, so there was only one thing to do, turn around and find out.  There they were, parked on the side of the road. 

Seen on the back roads, vintage tractors towing caravans

All these tractors and caravans belonged to members of the Waikato Vintage Machinery Club and they were travelling along the back roads to a rally at Rongatea starting the next day.  The men and their machines were staying in Tangimoana overnight.  Their vintage tractors don’t get to do much farm work these days they told us, and they seemed a little surprised by the interest their road trip had created. 

And another

A relaxed speed of travel for these old tractors.

Himatangi Beach

The showers cleared away by mid afternoon so a group of us decided to walk down from the motor camp to nearby Himatangi Beach. The overcast weather was keeping the swimmers at home, but some hardy souls braved the water and  very sensibly were swinging between the flags.  The group of young lifesavers told me they were hoping for better conditions and sunny weather to make their stint of duty more interesting.

Life Savers on duty at the beach

Swimming between the flags

Further down the beach we came across a family group using a Torpedo Kontiki to take their line out.  This bit of fishing kit was a Christmas present and cost $2500 we were told.  It comes complete with a GPS which keeps the line on course and in the right place.  The limit is 25 hooks of this type of line and the family were hoping that they would get plenty of fish to take home. The powered line reel was another expensive piece of kit at $4000 and this was the only item on show as the Kontiki was out at sea.  It may be expensive but as the owner said it was still less expensive than buying a boat.

Powered Reel for the Torpedo Kontiki

The tide was out and the wet sand made for quite easy walking.  We came across several Puffer fish which had washed up on the shore.  Those nasty spikes could do quite some damage if you happened to step on one.

Watch out for those spikes- poisonous

The temperatures were rising as our walk progressed and off came the jackets and jerseys.  After our walk we all decided to call into the local beach shop for an ice-cream, and sat at the picnic tables outside the shop trying to finish them before they melted in the sunshine.  Guess it’s a fact of life that our little bit of exercise was cancelled out by consuming that delicious ice-cream. 

Down the road to Tangimoana

A long weekend away at a beach camp seemed like a good idea, so good in fact that two vans arrived on Wednesday, and two others, including ourselves arrived on Thursday.  We might as well have an extra long weekend away, we reasoned.  While the others went off on a shopping jaunt on Friday morning we decided to explore the small seaside village of Tangimoana, as we had driven past the turnoff to this area many times.   Driving down the road to the settlement, lined with cabbage trees and roses, we came across a set of magnificent brick gates.  Wonder what grand establishment lies up this drive? 

What’s up here?

And there it was, a beautiful large country home set on rise, surrounded by lovely gardens.  We were sure that this house had been the venue for many  fashionable fine dinners and afternoon teas with the elite of the area, and perhaps the house boasts a ball room as well.  Sadly, no-one came to the gate to invite us in to look around, so we snapped our photos and drove away.

  A fine country homestead

Tangimoana is a small seaside settlement, which seems to have fallen on sad times.  It boasts a school, boat club and health clinic, but the corner shop has long ceased trading. 

We drove down to the Rangitikei River Boat Ramp and were amazed to see masses of driftwood piled up an adjacent stream over 1km from the beach.  The huge logs attest to the power of the sea on this coastline.

Driftwood piled up in the top reaches of the estuary

There we noticed a white faced heron delicately picking his way amongst the reeds while looking for his next meal.  These birds stalk their prey as they creep stealthily, and strike at  whatever may may swim nearby.

  White faced heron

There is no vehicle access to the beach, as we found out.  This part of the coastline is now the Tawhiroa Scientific Reserve, and  the sand dunes, fauna and wildlife are all protected.  This last remnant of coastal wilderness stretches 206 kms from Hawera in the North, through Tangimoana and down to Paekakariki in the south.  Sand is carried inland by the wind, trapped by sand binding plants  which encourage the growth of dunes as the plants grow.  The dunes trap rain and ground water and these damp hollows and estuaries become home to rushes, sedges and other rare wetland plants.

We were happy to just read the signs and leave this important Scientific Reserve to itself to get along with slowly growing and evolving.