Our November Holidays + Janine & David's wedding
So we took off from Wanaka, Central Otago on Labour day (Monday 27th of October) headed for Christchurch to stay with the Ritchie Family - Keighley used to work with Sandra when she was at Montana Wines. 6.5 hours driving; kids handled it pretty well.
Stayed two nights then off to Blenheim, stopped 4 lunch in Kaikoura and made it to Rossmore (a big 100 year old farm station belonging to the Westernras - yes the Westernra family (we're distantly related in a roundabout way don't you know, if only my brother would actually marry Jill then we would be family) down the Molesworth Valley. Got there about 4pm. Kids were crap that night.
Next day went and saw some sheep up close with the kids and checked out some genuine Merino wool. Then off to the Ferry (Bluebridge; our preferred Cook Strait travel supplier) and made it to mum and dads for dinner.
Stayed there a few nights.
Janine and David got married up at the Botanical Gardens - weather was crap, the nibbles were plentiful and I outdid Warren on the profiterol wedding cake. Delicious.
Oh, the bride looked fab darling. Great BBQ the next day too. Cheers guys.
We caught up on family stuff, abandoned the kids a few times and finally went on the Silverstream Railway just up the road from the folks - only lived there for 30 odd years, so can't rush these things you know.
Then off to Palmerston North to stay with Lynda & Allen & Morgan & now Riley, on Melbourne Cup Day. We met thru the anti natel group in Auckland when Emily was born. Great to catch up and the kidsm well they behaved like nearly 3 and 1 year olds do.
Next day was off to Kinloch 20 kms from Taupo to see Marty, Rachel and now Adam.
The kids were horrible that night, I think Charlie was cold and we ended up with Emily in our bed. Oh joy.
Rachel and Keighley went for a spin on the new mtb trails the next day only to find they were logging and closed 45 mins into it. Never mind.
The final push was upon us - Waihi Beach here we come.
You can see our journey thus far here
Ah, the beach. A Cafe within an easy stroll and another 20 yards to the white sand.
Went there every day we did. What a contrast to living in the middle of the South Island where it's the best part of 2-3 hours to dip your toe in the salty water - hang on that could be Penrose to Piha on a snarled up day !
Fish & Chips from the local chippie;
"how much is the fish"
"fresh or frozen?"
(groan from Keighley) "um, what's the difference in price please?"
"$2.60 for frozen and $3.00 for fresh"
"we'll take the fresh please"
Mate, we pay about 5 bucks a piece for something that might have been near a fish at our local in the 443.
We had F & C's several times let me tell you.
The hot pools at Athenree were the business. Hardly tourist prices !
We gathered the gang for a bbq on Saturday night (Warren and Lisa; don't forget Milo the Lab, Kimmy and Jimmy and Steve. Helen was hanging with her girly mates.
I did an Al. and got distracted after unsucessfully getting the expired gas bottle filled - Del Woodford was mowing lawns so I bid Keighley farewell and headed inside with Del for a beer.
Keighley came and dragged me off when I was looking for beer # 4 and had rather rosey cheeks....
Sunday was a mtb in the K gorge; from Dickies Flat, along the riverm thru a tunnel, along more river through the old Tallisman workings, up the hill, down Dubbo and back to Dickies flat. Sensational ride. 10/10 and the newish 29er was well behaved and didn't spit me over the bars.
For 6 nights we nodded off to the sounds of the sea rolling up to the high tide mark.
Bliss I tell you.
With the meter running it was time to saddle up and head back home.
Left Waihi about 3pm and just kept going (Thelma) and got to my folks place in the Hutt Valley at 12.45am.
Phew. Marathon. Kids handled it exceptionally well.
A couple more days hanging in Wellington, more bike riding with Trevor and Jill, an early family Xmas dinner with the folks.
Oh and Emily glued to the dvd of Wallace & Grommit.................
8am sailing on the ferry and off to..............well Christchurch looks ok if we can get hold of Kelvin & Sandra, but they seem to have gone awol....so we'll just keep going inland.
Tea in Oxford - unfortunately Jo Seagers cafe was closed and Keighley had great delight pointing out that Teriaki was a Japanese sauce, not battered fish at the local takeaway !
The gas light came on not far from Methven, so that was us for the night.
Found a nice little cottage (5 doors down from the Fire Station so we found out later on).
Sunday was a pretty good run down to home.
Emily lost it completely when we stopped in Geraldine for morning tea, but thank god they pretty much snoozed the rest of the way.
Pulled in the drive and Wayne our neighbour from the North side of Frye Cres comes up and says "Good you're home, is the coffee machine on yet ?"
The McElrays had us over for dinner, so it was just like we hadn't left.
Just like a good novel, it was full good times and bad, tragedy and triumph. And I got the girl ;-)
Pictures of our adventures are here
posted by Redwoods @ 11:24 PM
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