We made it home

The last stop on our South Island Trip was Koromiko – where we started our trip back in mid December, all those weeks ago.  This is a beautiful place, surrounded by totara trees, and the cicadas were having a fine old time, making plenty of noise in the trees while looking for mates.  We were to stay here for two nights while we waited to board the Inter Island Ferry on Thursday.

Staying at Koromiko

It’s no secret that both ferry companies have been having maintenance problems.  We received a text telling us our trip the following day had been cancelled, costs would be refunded, and clients had to get on to the web site and rebook themselves.  We had heard of campers waiting several weeks before they could get another booking and cross Cook Strait. What to do?  We decided to drive down to the ferry office and front up to a real person.    The staff confirmed that our booking for the next day was cancelled, perhaps we would like to go on the standby list for a sailing later in the day?  No guarantees that we would get on board of course, but better than waiting weeks.

So back we went to Koromiko, hooked up the caravan and returned to the ferry terminal in the afternoon.  The sailing on the Kaiarahi was pushed back later and later, but at least we had the comfort of our caravan to rest, have a light meal, and a toilet on board, not that we really relaxed, wondering would we get onboard?  Eventually every one else had boarded and then it was the turn of the standby group.  Oh no, we were almost turned back at the last minute but that was overruled, and we were sent up a steep ramp and parked up.  We had made it!

.Finally boarded the Inter Island Ferry

Because we were one of the last vehicles to board, we had a little trouble finding a couple of seats together, but a kind couple moved along and made two seats available for us.  We settled down in the lounge and our sailing got underway at 11.00pm.  The captain made an announcement apologising for all the delays, and assuring us he had four engines all working – a reference to earlier problems when engines failed and the ships were drifting towards rocks!  Three hours later the announcement came to go to our cars, we had arrived in port.   We waited our turn, in this case last on certainly meant last off.  The rain was falling, the temperatures had dropped dramatically, welcome to Wellington.

We had made it to Wellington

We had decided to spend the night at Plimmerton NZMCA Park, and off we went, up the Ngauranga Gorge in heavy rain in the dead of night.  At 4.00am we pulled into the park, left the car looked up to the van, opened the caravan door and collapsed into bed.  It had been a long day, but we were so relieved to be back in the North Island.  We weren't quite ready to go home, so drove up to Foxton  for our caravan club rally.  It was great to catch up with our caravan club buddies after being way for so many weeks.  We finally made it home on Sunday.

Gemma was really good during our long trip away, except for waking us us bright and early, anywhere between 4.00am – 6.00am, insisting on going outside, no, she want allowed to!.  By the time she finally settled down, it was time for us to make an early morning cuppa, and check out the news of the day, especially after the cyclone hit the country.  She is fairly predictable, loves to snooze in my computer bag while I’m busy blogging.  And if the tiny wardrobe door is left afar, she is very keen tp pop inside and hide there for a while.

Snoozing in the caravan

Once home,  we had unpacked the caravan, done several loads of laundry, and then I just couldn't help myself.  It’s been such a long time since I had pottered around in my sewing room.  But, I told myself, before I do some real sewing, I needed to do a little mending.  My pair of summer shorts needed repair, and a dress I took away with me was a little loose around the neck.  I can’t abide necklines which slips off my shoulder, so I unpicked the back facing, adjusted the back neck seam, and restiched the facing.  There, that fits much better.  As a reward to myself, I found my remaining flag blocks (have already made a small quilt using girly coloured flags)  and started arranging the blocks, and pinning.  Maybe I’ll get stitching them tomorrow.  It’s good to be home again.

Flag blocks

Holiday Handwork

While packing for our South Island caravan holiday I had to make sure I had plenty of hand work to do.  First, some knitting.  I quite enjoy knitting on car journeys, so I cast on a double knit cardigan/jacket for myself.    I bought the big cone of pure New Zealand navy  8ply, double knit wool at a good price so I’m very pleased with that.  The design is reasonably plain so should be fine for car knitting.

A cardigan for me

And just in case I feel like a change, I gathered up some part balls of yarn to made two toddlers jumpers.  One for a boy, and one for a girl.  Any leftovers can be used for baby beanies.  I had some of this yarn given to me so it will be good to use it up.

Extra projects, just in case

I really need a stitchery project too  so decided to do Noah’s Ark. This had been on my mind to do for some time.  Bur first I had to get the pattern enlarged – it was designed for stranded cotton and I like to do my stitcheries in Perle no 5.  Gemma jumped up to help me with when I got the light box out to start tracing. 

She is such a big help

It’s nice to have some hand work to do in case the weather turns bad and we decide not to get out and about exploring.   Or sitting out side after dinner in the cool of the evening.   But if not much gets done, it doesn't really matter – if will be available if I need it.

Let me tell you about our journey down to the South Island, there was certainly a speed bump involved.  Tuesday was a lovely day, nice and sunny, just right for a trip across Cook Strait.  But it wasn’t to be.  We left Plimmerton in good time for check in, and arrived at the terminal.  There the staff told us that the 1.00pm sailing was cancelled, due to Covid wrecking havoc on staff numbers, and it was unable to sail!   Turn around and go home we were told, keep your phone turned on, and wait for an update. So we headed back to Plimmerton camp.    As the day wore on, a message came through to advise that we had been booked on the 2.00am sailing on Wednesday morning.  It was a long day waiting, and we sensibly indulged in a Nana nap in the afternoon.

Back to Wellington we drove at 11.30pm, lined up in the queue at the booking office.  Here we were given our boarding pass and various large coloured tags to display on the dashboard.  I thought the “old folks label” was very apt!  We also had to fill in a declaration for Gemma – she was taking her journey inside the caravan. 

Our various tags

Waiting

For a treat, we had decided to book into the Premium Lounge, a first for us.  A little pricey, but very comfy indeed, and no children allowed. As it turned out there were only about ten of us in the lounge, but we were told that sometimes it is at full capacity, so it made for a nice quiet sailing, as we all tried to get a little shut-eye as  the trip continued.  As we arrived we were presented with a glass of orange juice.  It was  breakfast service  on this trip, so we enjoyed bacon, eggs, and other delights from the self service counter.  Pastries were available, hot tea and coffee, and a trolley of sushi was on offer later in the evening, or should I say, very early morning.  It certainly was a nice experience, and I would like to sample it again during a day time sailing.

Breakfast at 2.00am

The ferry arrived in Picton at 5.30am, the break of dawn, and we were soon off and away to Koromiko.  We were so pleased that this camp had a policy of “arrive anytime, settle in, then make payment by direct debit”.  So we did,  settled down and climbed into bed for a couple of hours, catching up on that missing sleep.  It had been a very  long day and night!