The big New Year blog
It is over two weeks since last I have Blogged – forgive me folks.
On December 23, after Lorna had finished a prolonged meeting we set out from Nelson for the Marlborough Sounds. We spent the first night at an old favourite stopping place, the Brown River reserve just out of Rai Valley. Next morning we headed off for French Pass. This is a narrow stretch of water between Durville Island and the sounds. The tide rushes through here at up to 10knots. Standing on the road about 100 metres above the sea I could hear the water rushing past the rocks. Before we went up the sounds we had been told that it was necessary to book sites at the French Pass camping ground, and so we were prepared to drive back out. On arrival we saw that the camp was not full and so were able to book in for a couple of nights. The camp is one of the best D.O.C. camps we have been to – only small, about 20 sites- but good toilets and right on the beach.
After setting up I launched the kayak, and within 10 minutes was catching cod. The limit is 3 per person, so after returning the first one to Tangaroa, I was able to select the three I kept and we had a feed of fish for Christmas Eve dinner. Our first Christmas day without any of our children since1968 was quiet but enjoyable. Christmas Dinner was lamb shanks and mint gravy with roast veges and peas. The weather was glorious and we made friends with some other motor home people, and played cards in the evening. We spent Boxing Day washing and I hooked several barracuda – eech. The next day we headed back and drove up to Tennyson Inlet. It was hosing with rain and the road, while sealed, was like some crazy twisted rope hung on a clothes line, most of the time winding through bush. We have been there! Before going up to Tennyson inlet we refuelled at Rai Valley. Diesel was $1.41 per litre. In Nelson when we left it was, and still is 98cents. That night we stayed behind the Trout Hotel at Canvastown where in the 1840s windy road to a settlement named Te Mahia. A signpost indicated that there was a wharf and logic told me that one could turn a bus and trailer round at a wharf –SUCKER! The wharf parking area was only about 12 metres wide and down one side were cars parked straight in to the side. Luckily there was one empty parking spot and we disconnected the trailer, backed the bus into that and turned round. While we were reconnecting the trailer a family came and parked in the vacant spot. We then drove up the sound to the D.O.C. camp at Kenepuru Head. On the way we passed several Camping grounds, but they were all small and full. Kenepuru Head is a large area with only a small portion of it mown. We were able to set up on the mown area near the beach. A single long drop toilet had to cope with up to 20 families. There were a couple of very cheeky wekas there, one of which actually checked out my toe to see if it was edible. I launched the Kayak and caught several spotties which I kept for bait. Next morning I set off down the sound to the edge of a mussel farm, but had no luck. When I arrived back at the head of the sound the tide had receded and there was about 200 metres of ankle deep mud to pull the Kayak through. This was real tough on an old dicky pair of legs. On the 30th December we moved on over 20 kilometres of narrow dusty road to arrive at the gates of the Titirangi Farm Park. We then descended about three hundred metres in 5 kilometres to a beautiful bay with a lovely sandy beach. The camp ground is the paddock next to the beach behind some low sandhills. There is a small toilet block and a tap. About thirty sites were occupied with groups of families and young people. It looked as though it would be a lively place to stay for new year and it was. New years eve I went fishing and caught 1 cod. This was actually enough for a meal for Lorna and me. A group from Motueka that we had got to know also went fishing. They caught two groper, several cod, scallops and mussels. Samples of these were consumed at the new year celebrations. A large group of younger people were really well organised with a massive sound system on the back of a ute which provided music for the whole valley. Our group had fireworks which were let off on the beach to see the new year in. Next morning we drove out through clouds of dust. The bus turned a yellowy grey and the trailer vacuumed a 5mm thick layer of the countryside onto everything inside. Mike was not happy driving around windy dusty roads with a hangover. However we visited some lovely spots on the northern shore of Kenepuru sound. St Omer House is a really beautiful old lodge with manicured grounds right on the water’s edge offered to get someone to turn the bus and trailer round for us. Oh she of little faith! So Mike demonstrated the he was quite capable. Lunch was at Raetihi and then we came back to fish bay where we spent the night. On the 2nd of January we set off reasonably early, and after purchasing some diesel at Portage (the minimum amount as the price was $1 47 per litre) had lunch at Anakiwa. We then drove round the Queen Charlotte drive to Picton and then on to Blenheim. We refuelled at the Mobil station for 98c per litre. While I was filling the bus Lorna asked the attendant if there was somewhere that we could wash the bus. She said we could do it right where we were as there was a hose at the large vehicle pump. 20 minutes later we drove off leaving a huge yellow stain across their forecourt! While in Blenheim we visited the Aviation Heritage museum which has a marvellous display of WW1 vintage aircraft. After leaving Omaka we drove up the Wairau Valley to to the village of Wairau Valley where we spent the night at a Park Over Property with rabbits, ducks and dogs around. Next day we drove up to St Arnaud where we had lunch before driving towards Nelson. We spent the night at a log dump (There were no logs there) in the Golden Downs Forest before coming back to Nelson before lunch. We picked up the little car and spent the night in the Trafalgar Centre car park. Friday the 5th January was spent catching up on Organisational things for the yachting regattas we are helping with and the night was spent at the yacht club. Club sailing resumed here on Saturday 6th and we moved back in to the camp. This has taken so long to do that I should now be writing another blog. I will get on to that in a day or so
On December 23, after Lorna had finished a prolonged meeting we set out from Nelson for the Marlborough Sounds. We spent the first night at an old favourite stopping place, the Brown River reserve just out of Rai Valley. Next morning we headed off for French Pass. This is a narrow stretch of water between Durville Island and the sounds. The tide rushes through here at up to 10knots. Standing on the road about 100 metres above the sea I could hear the water rushing past the rocks. Before we went up the sounds we had been told that it was necessary to book sites at the French Pass camping ground, and so we were prepared to drive back out. On arrival we saw that the camp was not full and so were able to book in for a couple of nights. The camp is one of the best D.O.C. camps we have been to – only small, about 20 sites- but good toilets and right on the beach.
After setting up I launched the kayak, and within 10 minutes was catching cod. The limit is 3 per person, so after returning the first one to Tangaroa, I was able to select the three I kept and we had a feed of fish for Christmas Eve dinner. Our first Christmas day without any of our children since1968 was quiet but enjoyable. Christmas Dinner was lamb shanks and mint gravy with roast veges and peas. The weather was glorious and we made friends with some other motor home people, and played cards in the evening. We spent Boxing Day washing and I hooked several barracuda – eech. The next day we headed back and drove up to Tennyson Inlet. It was hosing with rain and the road, while sealed, was like some crazy twisted rope hung on a clothes line, most of the time winding through bush. We have been there! Before going up to Tennyson inlet we refuelled at Rai Valley. Diesel was $1.41 per litre. In Nelson when we left it was, and still is 98cents. That night we stayed behind the Trout Hotel at Canvastown where in the 1840s windy road to a settlement named Te Mahia. A signpost indicated that there was a wharf and logic told me that one could turn a bus and trailer round at a wharf –SUCKER! The wharf parking area was only about 12 metres wide and down one side were cars parked straight in to the side. Luckily there was one empty parking spot and we disconnected the trailer, backed the bus into that and turned round. While we were reconnecting the trailer a family came and parked in the vacant spot. We then drove up the sound to the D.O.C. camp at Kenepuru Head. On the way we passed several Camping grounds, but they were all small and full. Kenepuru Head is a large area with only a small portion of it mown. We were able to set up on the mown area near the beach. A single long drop toilet had to cope with up to 20 families. There were a couple of very cheeky wekas there, one of which actually checked out my toe to see if it was edible. I launched the Kayak and caught several spotties which I kept for bait. Next morning I set off down the sound to the edge of a mussel farm, but had no luck. When I arrived back at the head of the sound the tide had receded and there was about 200 metres of ankle deep mud to pull the Kayak through. This was real tough on an old dicky pair of legs. On the 30th December we moved on over 20 kilometres of narrow dusty road to arrive at the gates of the Titirangi Farm Park. We then descended about three hundred metres in 5 kilometres to a beautiful bay with a lovely sandy beach. The camp ground is the paddock next to the beach behind some low sandhills. There is a small toilet block and a tap. About thirty sites were occupied with groups of families and young people. It looked as though it would be a lively place to stay for new year and it was. New years eve I went fishing and caught 1 cod. This was actually enough for a meal for Lorna and me. A group from Motueka that we had got to know also went fishing. They caught two groper, several cod, scallops and mussels. Samples of these were consumed at the new year celebrations. A large group of younger people were really well organised with a massive sound system on the back of a ute which provided music for the whole valley. Our group had fireworks which were let off on the beach to see the new year in. Next morning we drove out through clouds of dust. The bus turned a yellowy grey and the trailer vacuumed a 5mm thick layer of the countryside onto everything inside. Mike was not happy driving around windy dusty roads with a hangover. However we visited some lovely spots on the northern shore of Kenepuru sound. St Omer House is a really beautiful old lodge with manicured grounds right on the water’s edge offered to get someone to turn the bus and trailer round for us. Oh she of little faith! So Mike demonstrated the he was quite capable. Lunch was at Raetihi and then we came back to fish bay where we spent the night. On the 2nd of January we set off reasonably early, and after purchasing some diesel at Portage (the minimum amount as the price was $1 47 per litre) had lunch at Anakiwa. We then drove round the Queen Charlotte drive to Picton and then on to Blenheim. We refuelled at the Mobil station for 98c per litre. While I was filling the bus Lorna asked the attendant if there was somewhere that we could wash the bus. She said we could do it right where we were as there was a hose at the large vehicle pump. 20 minutes later we drove off leaving a huge yellow stain across their forecourt! While in Blenheim we visited the Aviation Heritage museum which has a marvellous display of WW1 vintage aircraft. After leaving Omaka we drove up the Wairau Valley to to the village of Wairau Valley where we spent the night at a Park Over Property with rabbits, ducks and dogs around. Next day we drove up to St Arnaud where we had lunch before driving towards Nelson. We spent the night at a log dump (There were no logs there) in the Golden Downs Forest before coming back to Nelson before lunch. We picked up the little car and spent the night in the Trafalgar Centre car park. Friday the 5th January was spent catching up on Organisational things for the yachting regattas we are helping with and the night was spent at the yacht club. Club sailing resumed here on Saturday 6th and we moved back in to the camp. This has taken so long to do that I should now be writing another blog. I will get on to that in a day or so
posted by Mike and Lorna @ 12:03 PM
1 Comments:
Wow, I'm both exhausted and inspired reading about your holiday! SOunds like you had a lovely time and some of those spots looked good too. Only a month until we see you. Will photograh Zoe today for Lorna as she is 7 months. Nope not crawling yet, just lunging and backing :)
Erin
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