Back over the hill

Well we are back in Motueka doing laundry once again. Last Thursday, after a quiet night at the trailer park we fronted up fro our tour of Farewell Spit. Six passengers and the driver set off in a small van at the appointed time of 10 am. Two kilometres down the road the Hi Ace refused to go into gear, so it was back to the depot. We then set out –still six passengers and the driver - in a 35 seater bus. The trip was excellent. We saw seals and many birds which our driver, Tim identified for us. His commentary was really good. The trip up the beach was not very exciting although I could feel the bus slow down a couple of times in soft sand. After eating our sandwiches at the Lighthouse we returned. The wind had picked up to about 25 knots and the sand blowing along the beach made a half metre high sand storm. The spit is extending with all this sand movement. Look out North Island the Southern Alps are coming to take over. As it was late when we arrived back we ate hamburgers at the Collingwood Café before bedding down again at Sollys’ trailer park. Next morning we drove over to Whanganui Inlet. This should be the port for the West Coast, but no, that would spoil a beautiful harbour. Friday night was spent at the Golden Bay Motor Camp at Tukurua Beach Charging batteries and doing laundry. A pretty camp with very good facilities but expensive. On Saturday we fed geese and chooks and donkeys and a yak and lamas and pig and of course the eels at the Bencarri animal park. Then we went next door to the Anatoki Salmon Farm where Mike caught two salmon which were hot smoked and eaten – Yum! Last night we parked behind the Junction Hotel in Takaka. This is another good spot to stay; a grassy area well away from the pub. This morning we drove back over the Takaka Hill to Motueka. This is a steep windy drive of 25 kilometres, but a good road and no real effort. We are now camped at the Kina beach reserve where we will probably spend a couple of nights. The internet is not good so this will be sent when we get good coverage.