Happy Campers

We spent 5 days at Foxton Beach to see the New Year in.  The New Year’s Eve dance was the highlight of the rally, and the hall was crowded with revelers.  A bit too crowded for us so we sat around outside the vans in the evening, having a drink and a nibble, and enjoying each other’s company. Although we did make an effort and put in an appearance at the hall in time to see the New Year in at midnight.

The sun and sky had an eerie tinge to it, smoke from the terrible fires which are ravaging Australia.  Sadly, the fire damage seems to be getting worse, and our hearts go out to our Aussie cousins who have lost lives, homes, businesses, livestock and property.  Because of the difference in our trees, plants and conditions here in New Zealand, we don’t suffer the sort of catastrophic fires as they do in Australia.

Smoke haze from Australia over the sun

Then a group of seven vans left Foxton to go on Safari, led by Owen and Helen.  We will be traveling to all sorts of exciting places over the next couple of weeks.  Driving  up SH3 through Patea, we stopped to get  diesel for the 4WD.  In case you hadn’t heard, I seem to have a bit of a reputation with laundry obsession – and was tickled pink to see this sign “Lost Sock Laundromat”  at the service station.   No, I didn’t stop and put a load of laundry on.

Across the road was the Aotea Canoe, a Patea icon.  Erected in 1933, this is a token of remembrance to ancestors Turi and Rongorongo and fellow voyages.

Aotea Canoe in Patea

Then it was on to Hawera for the next two nights, staying at the NZMCA Park.  The wind was so strong, it blew and blew relentlessly, not nice at all.

There was even a welcoming committee which came waddling towards , a mother duck and her teenage ducklings, it seemed.  We knew not to feed them around the vans, or we will never get rid of them.  And taking a walk around I saw these beautiful hydrangeas, such lovely colours.  It was through these bushes that naughty Gemma escaped out the door and ran – Robin was close behind trying to scoop her up and wasn’t at all interested in the gardens he told me after all this excitement was over.

Duck family and hydrangea bushes

Mt Egmont (Taranaki) was a little hazy but still looking lovely – of course I needed a photo.   Mount Taranaki is New Zealand's most perfectly formed volcano. It is around 120,000 years old and last erupted in 1775 and volcanologists agree that the mountain is 'dormant' rather than extinct.  At lower altitudes there are tall rimu and kamahi trees; higher up the volcano, sub-alpine shrubs and herb fields are found above the snow line. Lush rainforests can be found on the mountain’s slopes and are a result of the area’s high rainfall and mild coastal climate.

Mt Egmont

Apart from escaping out the caravan door and running away (naughty girl), Gemma seems rather unsettled and anxious this trip, and we presume it is because of the incessant wind.  In between times she has been relaxing on the bed. 

Nap time

Gemma has also taken a liking to her new favourite toy, a white feather I brought from home.  She pounces on it, tosses it in the air, and carries it around in her mouth like a trophy.  And finding an open locker in the caravan is always worth exploring.

Gemma with her feather, and exploring an open locker

I haven’t done a great deal of stitching this trip, just a little hand quilting, but nothing worthy of a photo at this stage.  I brought three hand stitching projects plus my knitting, and I’m sure I’ll get some more done soon.  But it doesn't really matter on holiday time, does it.