Week 12

Sunday 5th February. Rob had a lie in, he didn't get home until 2am. We cooked salt (corned) beef in slow cooker. Was really looking forward to it as don't get it in France and believe one can only get it on order at butchers in UK. One of the things I look forward to when we are here. Sadly it was a bit too salty but still edible. Said to Rob that perhaps we should have soaked it but he said not, it's usually OK. Monday 6th February. Quiet day at home, very hot. Tuesday 7th February. Expecting Phil and Helen, friends from France who have moved to Melbourne, this evening. We are giving them our room, we shall sleep in the sleepout and Rob on the put u up in the sitting room Phil, Helen and Me. Phil, Helen and Me. Story! . So changed beds and tidied up. Cooked chicken which we shall have cold with salad for supper. Popped in to the shop. Very hot and humid. Had second shower of the day! Then all organised by late pm so sat on the swing seat and read. Chatted with Rob when he got back and then Phil and Helen arrived about 8pm. They'd had quite a delay at the airport and then the Auckland traffic was, as always, bad so it had been a long day for them. So we had an aperitif, supper and lots of chat. Good to see them again. Enjoyed sleeping in the sleepout especially as we had the fan going all night! Wednesday 8th February. Not so hot and quite overcast, much better for going out and about. We had a lazy morning chatting again, so much to,catch up with them. Lunch on the deck. I took them down to the boat ramp and we had a walk on the estuary. Low tide, a lot of wading birds seeking food in the shallows On our deck On our deck . Then into the shops for a few supplies and I went in to the hairdresser and made an appointment for a cut, tomorrow. Back home to pick up Nigel and we went down to the beach. Nigel and Phil got settled on our two chairs and Helen and I had a short walk and paddle. Then we swopped over and Nigel and Phil went for a long walk to the end of the beach. Back home where I cooked a risotto and we had another pleasant, chatty supper.. We were going to eat on the deck again but the rain, which had been forecast, arrived. It was good, later, to lie in bed in the sleepout and hear the rain and wind and know that the rain was topping up the water tank. Thursday 9th February. It was still raining, on and off, when we woke but it stopped mid morning. Helen came with me to the library as I wanted to exchange jigsaws. They made preparations to leave after lunch Waipou forest Waipou forest Story! . They have rented a place in Keri Keri, 2 hours north of here, for 10 days. They left about 2pm but it's only au revoir as we shall be going up to spend a couple of days with them shortly. I went to the hairdresser in Mangawhai Heads. Always difficult to trust a new hairdresser but she was brilliant. We had quite a discussion about what she should do with my "mop" which had got rather long and scruffy. She then set to work with the scissors and we chatted away. I was very pleased with the end result and I'll definitely go back there again before we leave. It didn't take long either, I was there for 2.30 and home by 3.15. Still windy but clouds are breaking up and sun coming out again. Friday 10th February. Much cooler, quite nice! I went into the Heads to get a birthday card for Jonny. The post shop has a large selection of gifts and stationary. So easy to buy a stamp and post something compared to France! At home I have to psych myself up to go to the post office. Our local one, in Grenade, always seems to be busy and the lady behind the counter is not very friendly or helpful and certainly doesn't rush! Otherwise quiet day preparing to leave on our "road trip" tomorrow Saturday 11th February . Left at 10 am. Filled up with petrol in Mangawhai and drove on to Kaiwaka and then up SH 1 and then off left towards Dargaville The tree The tree . Went past the Kauri Museum. Long straight road to Dargaville. Dargaville is apparently the Kumara (sweet potato) capital of New Zealand! It didn't look to have a lot more to recommend it! Continued on SH12 and drove up through the Waipou Forest. We stopped for lunch at a cafe which was signposted left off the main road. I was somewhat concerned as we drove a good kilometre along a narrow, unsealed road before arriving there. Once there it was fine and we had a good lunch. I wanted to see Tane Manuta, the oldest living kauri tree in NZ which was further up the road. I had seen it on our last visit but at the time it was raining, real heavy rain, and N had stayed in the car. I wanted N to see it and to see it without the rain. It's only a short walk from the road to the tree but somehow the magic had disappeared as there were so many people there. A coach had pulled into the park just after us so there were many people gazing upwards at the majestic tree. I heard one woman saw that it had lost some branches! At about 2000 years old it's not surprising I wanted to say! I'm glad that I saw him previously, in all his glory, even in the rain. Onwards then to Rawene and the car ferry across the Hokianga harbour. We carried on through the Waipou forest and then came to the top of the hill with views down to Oponui and Hokianga harbour, the Tasman sea to our left. The sky was a perfect blue and the water a deep aquamarine Waipou forest Waipou forest . Stunning! We arrived in Rawene just as the ferry was leaving so we parked in the ferry lane and went over the road to the Gallery and Cafe. I ordered two iced coffees and had a long chat with the guy there. He was chatting about the UK mostly, said his idea of a perfect afternoon was a beer in an English pub! I admired the floor, wood and I suspect it was kauri, and he said that it had been there for 110 years. N and I sat in the shade outside, drank our coffee and looked out over the harbour. So on to the car ferry for the 15 minute ride across the harbour and then on to Kaitaia. More beautiful scenery, magnificent views round every corner. Arrived at Waters Edge in Kaitaia about 5.30. We found it easily but it's rather strange as it's at the end of a residential road and then along a narrow driveway. We were given the choice of three rooms. All very much the same and all small but well appointed. A very nice pool round the back so I had a welcome dip in the pool as soon as we had unloaded the car Hokianga Hokianga . Rob tells us that Kaitaia is the murder capitol of NZ! We had to venture in to the town centre to get something to eat. Certainly some shady looking characters around and not much open in the way of eating establishments. Our hostess at the B and B had suggested a place called Town and Country but when we finally located it it had a very shady looking character lounging outside. Also the menu, on the window, was photos of the food, never a tempting proposition. Happily, over the road we spied an Indian restaurant that looked acceptable so we dived in there. Service and food was good or as good as anything else we had seen in the town. Didn't hang around for long before returning to our room and relaxing. . https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/jan/02/beautiful-and-doomed-new-zealands-capital-begins-the-fight-of-its-life Pictures & Videos