Fishing at Hawai

As the lads stood on the beach so the chap surf casting next to them reeled in a decent sized snapper.  Well bliss and joy worth staying for two days and giving the fishing everything they could.  Still no fish.

The campsite is another little quirky gem. Free hot showers fired by a Marshall boiler. Tidy little permanent sites neatly paved and flowered. And then plonked right in front of everything a massive backpackers blocking any sea view.

Still sister and I were pleased to have the time together and enjoyed walking the dogs along the pebbled beach.  The river flows to the edge of the beach then seeps through the shingle to reappear at the sea edge. At certain times of the year apparently the river does break through but the sea quickly washes the pebbles back up into a natural dam.

As the weather started deteriorating we decided to fishlessly move on. Joy divine Bro in Law decides to continue on with us.......more sister time yay! Just as well there are 2 bottles of gin and 4 lemons.

Looking back to Hawai

Moving on to Hawai

Well it's been a very melancholy sort of a day.  

First thing this morning I walked the dogs along the Pikowai beach. There was not a soul in either direction. The sky was pearl pink and a light mist serenely was on the calm sea. It was achingly beautiful. The epitome of living in the moment.  So easy to do when glimpsing heaven. So hard to do when trying to get through the work a day life.

The lads went fishing and sister and I cried over You Tube clips of the group "Young at Heart" singing "Forever Young" to a group of inmates in Jail and then "Fix You" to an audience.

Time to move on. Opotiki's very flash New World for a quick shop and then Tirohanga's Country Store to Fuel and Gas up.  Tirohanga was where our Mum and Desi Darling lived and then up the coast a little further to Torere where they were very involved in the Maori Anglican Church.

We stopped in at the front office and picked up the key to Holy Trinity, walked across the Marae and up to the church doors

Inside the memories and their presence was very moving. How they both enjoyed being a part of things there and how my sister and I felt the sadness of time passing and loved ones no longer being with us. We clung together and wept. Ahhh Mum you told us we would be sorry when you are gone.

And now we are camped at Hawai where other people are catching fish..........

Resting at Pikowai

Staying another night here just to kick back a bit. Did a heck of a lot of very little and am knackered. The early morning stroll down the beach, keeping the dogs well clear of the dotter ills nesting areas, resulted in a treasure find of an empty  twenty litre oil bucket that is perfect as a footrest for my sister.

Pikowai is a quirky little campground run by the local council. No power sites or kitchens etc but clean toilets , good rubbish collection, pleasant caretakers and THE best outdoor hot shower for only one dollar.

The shower requires something of an organised operation.  All clothing and towel needs to be hung On the hook and shampoo conditioner and soap  placed on the soap rack.  The cold tap should be turned 3/8 ths of eff all on then it's a run around the corner push the dollar into the slot back round to the shower , get the kit off and get under it. The hot water will have reached the shower head by now so all the ablutions may begin. It's best to execute all the necessaries in order of priority as once the time runs out it's back to cold. Another hazard is although there are privacy sides the shower is only 10 metres from the railway lines and massive logging trains thunder on by at irregular intervals. Can be very scary. Very very scary. Pays to have a spare dollar coin on hand.

Finally On The Road

 

Well we took the blue road later than the 10 am plan. It all started off reasonably well getting up at 7 am to a very foggy morning. Never mind that will burn off says best beloved as he ventures out to feed animals put up electric fences etc. 7.30 and I head for the shower. Teeth cleaning procedure and hullo! No bottom teeth in mouth to clean. (Brush and floss people, brush and floss). Not so unusual as they hurt and I often ditch them during the night in my sleep.  Couldn't find them. Meh ! They'll turn up.

Three hours later still can't find them. By this time I' m besides myself. No bottom teeth can't eat. No such thing as $2 shop temporary ones. Best Beloved arrives back home ready to shower and go. Major dilemma.  the teeth are very personal private and embarrassing. NOT TO BE MADE FUN OF. But I need help.  BB  starts looking , stops looking and hoses down the truck ready for the off.  I go inside and , as I have done before in desperation , ring my eldest daughter who is a bit fey-fey. Quick question Dort, where are my bottom teeth?  Totally unfazed she replied in your bed. So explained how the bed has been gone over shaken out then folded linen , stripped pillows, fine tooth comb, etc etc.

I get off the phone defeated. Decide  I'm not going to let this stop our holiday now and am putting last minute items in the truck when I hear BB calling I can see them, I can see them. Look through the bedroom door they are on the mattress smiling at me!

I felt the smiling at me comment was unnecessary. Got away 11.30 feeling the aliens really should play human experiments with someone else.

The plan was to meet my eldest Thames sister and Bro in law in their camper at Pikowai. Various routes were discussed but nothing confirmed.  The terrible start to the day turned to bliss and joy when driving up the Mamakus there ahead of us was their blue and white camper.

After setting up camp and having the usual cuppa sister and I decide to get down the beach and take the dogs for a walk. We are just getting along to the waters edge when I feel a burning pain on the sole of my foot. Stung! Not sure by what. Didn't collapse so we are guessing not serious.  Still typing this at 9 pm so definitely not serious just hot and sore. This is my excuse as to why today's photo is taken through the flyscreen.

The day before

One a.m.  And wake with a start...rain! YUS. Open the bedroom door to listen and imagine the holiday extending. Rain. Grass.  Happy cows. Rain stops but take a photo of the truck waiting patiently in the driveway. It will happen. Go back to bed and allow the wee small hour terrors to overtake. Obviously not going anywhere and three weeks of housework all there is to look forward to.

First light and I'm off out to the rain gauge to check the state of precipitation. 2 mls. OH FFS I could spit more than that.

At five a.m. the relief milker has turned up but soon after milking is at the house reporting mechanical problems. Soon fixed.....well maybe not so much fixed as patched up with fingers crossed. And then good news that rain is expected for the weekend. Best beloved makes the call we are going tomorrow morning. ETD 10:00am

Three weeks of housework now condensed down into one day. Priorities constructed around the possibility that we are killed on the road.  Worst of the grot subdued back to a tad grubby in the sure knowledge that my darling eldest daughter knows, should the worst happens, she is up here instigating damage control.

Home first

Before going on the road there is all the Not On The Road stuff to deal with. Now STUFF there is an awkward word that covers everything in the universe. In this universe it covers a dying then dead Father in Law and a Waikato drought. The demise of an In Law we can all relate to but the drought?  Well a Waikato drought is not to be confused with an African no rain for five years and a starving population drought. It's more of a not enough rain to create grass growth. And in the Waikato no grass equals  no protein for cows and no protein for cows equals no milk and when you are the wife of a dairy farmer on his family's farm that can mean the curtailing of a planned three week get away!

This blog is a personal view of three weeks off from my work as a receptionist for V E Vets in Otorohanga and getting a break from the dairy farm.  All happening in New Zealand. Spot the person trying to make the most of every moment of those three weeks.

So many clouds Cyclone Lusi, so little rain!