Spent this morning mooching and deciding where to stop tonight.we headed off and spent an uneventful night at Plesant Flat in Haast Pass,long drive today and we both crashed out early,the pass was looking particularly splendid coated in snow,totally beautiful,
wednesday we drove from Haast to Hokitika via Haast beach ,let elvis out for a run and buried a dead fur seal we found at the beach,Got into Hokitika quite late and decided to stay at NZMHA POP,little did we know a raging storm was following us.we made a fire in the shed at the pop and had a cosy night with elvis snuggled up infront of it.Unfortunately the wind was so fierce when we went to bed that we had to move the van at 1am we were being blown around like anything.
Next morning back on the road again after a quick coffee and fudge stop..........YUMMY
We decided to go to nelson via blackball which was a little out of our way but also incorporated Reefton,had a cool day tikitouring and stoppindg to look around blackball which is an unusual place to say the least and the community centre /Holuiday park/most haunted building in NZ was intreguing,LOL.the pub named the Hilton was preety funky too.We finally landed in Nelson about 6pm.It was awesome to see Val again
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
The last month.
Mon 20th Sept
Up early and left Elvis with friends at the POP ,fred and Magoo,and off we headed on our journry to Doubtful Sound................
First up caught a bus to Manapouri pickup outside the POP and thenb transferred to a Boat .we were squished on like sardines and spent an hour or so cruising lake Manapouri .It was raining lightly but quite nice and fairly warm.Off the boat at the other end of the lake to be met by 2Kea who were partying hard at the visiotos centre for the power station.Our journey continued by coach deep underground to Manapouri Power Station which was huge and very cool.again back on coach and headed out to the sound via Wilmot Pass.To my utter delight the pass was waist deep in snow and had bween cleared spo we could continue our journey.We got out and made snow angels and had a snowball fight and then out to the sound.By the time we got there it was lunchtime and weather was sunny and warm??????????????????????????$ seasons in one day.
Doubtful was just mind numbingly beautiful and tranquil.I have seen Milford Sound too but had to say Doubtful was my fave.we saw seals and dolphins and penguins again yeah.Shane spent a lot of time schmuuzing with people which was cute,lol.
We finally headed back and got back to the pop at about 5:30 and packed up and headed off back on our journey up to Nelson.We spent the night exhausted at Kingston parked in the pub carpark with another van.
Up early and left Elvis with friends at the POP ,fred and Magoo,and off we headed on our journry to Doubtful Sound................
First up caught a bus to Manapouri pickup outside the POP and thenb transferred to a Boat .we were squished on like sardines and spent an hour or so cruising lake Manapouri .It was raining lightly but quite nice and fairly warm.Off the boat at the other end of the lake to be met by 2Kea who were partying hard at the visiotos centre for the power station.Our journey continued by coach deep underground to Manapouri Power Station which was huge and very cool.again back on coach and headed out to the sound via Wilmot Pass.To my utter delight the pass was waist deep in snow and had bween cleared spo we could continue our journey.We got out and made snow angels and had a snowball fight and then out to the sound.By the time we got there it was lunchtime and weather was sunny and warm??????????????????????????$ seasons in one day.
Doubtful was just mind numbingly beautiful and tranquil.I have seen Milford Sound too but had to say Doubtful was my fave.we saw seals and dolphins and penguins again yeah.Shane spent a lot of time schmuuzing with people which was cute,lol.
We finally headed back and got back to the pop at about 5:30 and packed up and headed off back on our journey up to Nelson.We spent the night exhausted at Kingston parked in the pub carpark with another van.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Its snowing in fiordland
Well am i not doing really well...............only 3 weeks since my last post.
so what the hell have we been up too and why am i tucked up cosy and warm with Elvis and daddy in Te Anau,Weather is Baltic and its snowing fiercly and settling fast Whoopee.
30th -4th
So we decided to go look at a church to buy on the West Coast in a place called Granity up near Karamea.A wild rugged place we had visited about a month previously.So abandoning all sane and rational thought,we turned the van around and pointed back north,and started our ascent back up to the north of the island Via Arthurs Pass.
Gees shes beautiful up there.We stayed monday night in Springfield ,close to Darfield(Ringing any bells yet) and famous for the Giant doughnut donated by the cast of the simpsons-unfortunately some locals didnt like it and burnt it down although it is soon to be replaced by a concrete one-LOL.
We spent the night there in the domain campground.To say it rained would be an understatement!!!!!!!!.Spent the whole of the next day in and out of the van going through the pass.Just totally awesome ,mind blowingly beautiful scenary.we stopped in Ross made famous by Rita Angus painting and where the trans alpine train visits.They are building a tiny wee golfcourse and the pub and gas station are miniturised too.LOL.You nreed to see pictures to understand that,LOL
We got attacked by two mauraudingly Cheeky Kea at Death corner in the gully,they ripped the silicone off the van roof,it was super funny they are THE cutest and naughtiest birds.
We spent a couple of days in Greymouth sussing the place out and applying for jobs and looking at housing and mortgage possibilities and then headed over to Westport and granity on friday and looked at The Church.It was on Trade me for $80,000 and we totally fell in love with it but it needed so much doping to it and things like jobs and risk of buying at such a speed and with no LIM report etc ent our dreams were crushed really.............................
the Vicar of Dibley i will not be for a while.
Spent thre friday night plugged in at Basils and that was the night the Earthquake hit!We felt it hard out in the van .We had stayed at 3 of the worst hit places in Christchurch,Weedons,New Brighton and St Albans only weeks before so we were very lucky.I did tell Shane to stop rolling around and waking me up bless him.He got up and stepped outside and the floor was jolting violently.We were far luckier than the guys in Christchurch.
So on Saturday 4th we headed back to Greymouth as friends of mine were playing in there band The Managers ,at The CoalFace that night.Hoolian nearly fell over to see me and Shane stood there and wer had a great nite dancing singing and drinking with the locals,Slept that night in the carpark across the road,LOL.Had another couple pof nights in Greymouth which were wet and Soggy.Poor shane caught the Lurgy and so did i so we both ended up on antibiotics.a bloody funny old week!!
5th -12th Sept
Spent most of the Week in Westport scouting stuff out and i had an interview for staff nurse post at Buller hospital an 8 bed ward where you are jack of every trade known to man.we stayed down by the rivermouth for a few days with the local whitebaiters..they are a lovely bunch but preety territorial,LOL.Headed out th Cape foulwind and Carters Beach where we looked at another property and wanted to buy that but it was rotton and Shane loved tHe Man Cave more than the house.We met 3 guys from Christchurch at Basils and did a bit of a road trip out to the Beach with them and there dog Gilby ,they came to look at ther house with us too as one of them was a builder.He said the house needed demolishing,
We spent days beachcoming and a great night around the campfire with a couple from the Naki and there 2 little girls.they were doing the same as us and had a big 9metre bus they were living in.Awesome.we had drinks and pizza by the campfire in the wild wind.friday night was sad as my brother was getting married in UK and i was real sad to have missed that but hey.Anyway we were planning on cancelling the trip that we had booked to Doubtful sound but they wouldnt give us our money back so we decided to head off next week on the road back down to milford............
Tues 16th Sept
Headed out of westport and drove down to Franz joseph a long drive but broken up nicely by a visit to our Fave Fudge factory Sweet Alice in Hokitika..I drove for half the journey and Shane had a fuckin heart attack,LOL.....................Stopped the night in the POP at Franz Joseph which was really stunning and well situated only 5 mins stroll out of main street.
Wed 15th Sept
Woke early and weathewr was stunning so decided to go Glaqcier spotting.We drove down to the glacier carpark and ended up doing the 2hr walk to the front of the glacier.(in Slippers!Whoops) bad Kiwi!!!!!!!!!!!we had lunch at foox glacier and then headed off to drive the Haast Pass.What an awe inspiring drive.Through the snow capped southern alps and ejected out through The Gates of Haast,a truely majestic breathtaking bridge traversing the Haast river over immense rocks.we visited waterfalls and rivers and took every opportunity to leap out and take photos.We did the walk around lake Mathieson at Fox Glacier toobeach
we stopped to make a drift wood sculpture and sign a large Quartz rock at a wild exposed expanse of Beach called Sandy Bay..........Stunning,and i found an amazing piece of Glacial rock thats gonna be pride of place in my next home. that night we stoppewd at Boundary Creek DOC camp and after dinner at 7 ish i fell asleep and awoke next morning at 9am......................................I was a little wasted.It was arctic conditions overnight and the mountains all around were snowcapped by the next morning.
thurs 16th Sept
Headed down to wanaka via Lake Hawea and Kidds bush,the wind was howelling and it was raining hard by lunchtime so we holed up in a cool cafe on the front of thew lake drinking coffee.Took Elvis for a huge 2hr walk in the arvo around the lake and after cooking chicken chasseur by the lake we went to our fave place in wanaka ,cinema Paradiso.Its an old school cinema where they srtill have an interval and serve hot cookies and beer ,its a cafe too.We sat on a busted old sofa laxing out watching the Movie.Blissed outHad a lovely day and stayed the night in Arthurstown at thew municipal campground which was great.
Fri 17th Sept
Spent the day cruising down slowly through Cromwell and Arrowtown and into Queenstown,We stopped off in Arrowtown where i had nevewr been before,Its so Quaint and Cute ,but ypou need to bew rich..We had a n expensive hot chocolate in a cafe and i bounced joyously down the main street as it began to SNOW.JOY JOY JOY ,We headed into Queenstown and it was blizzardlike conditions which ment we felt justified in lounging about at Patagonia Chocolateria by the lake watching the snowflakes gliding down frosting the street and sipping Hot Chocolate to die for and eating icecream which was a must its the law when you go into a gelateria.I had Dark patagonian chocolate and Macadamia nuts..................................................................................................
It carried on snowing and we headed out of Queenstown to Kingston on the Road to Te-Anau.Kingston is famous for the Kingston Flyer a Steam train which is parked up at the local pub/station house.Cool.We met 2 gorgeous Irish Sisters and spent the night chatting to them and sharing treavel stories and keeping warm in the Parlour .Elvis was holed up with us and took quite a liking to both the girls.we sneekily ran an extension cord out f our van and loaned them our lekky blanket for the night.
sat 18th Sept.
So heres how we have ended up in Te Anau in the middle of a huge storm.One minute its sunny and the next its grey and snowing.we have decided to stay 2 nights at a POP stop Park over property on the outskirts of the Lake with a young family who spent 7 yrs living in there bus.Hes a builder and they have bought the land and hes bukilding there dream home on it whilst working during the week.A lovely guy.They spent 2yrs on the beach in Whitianga before coming back to Te-Anau.We arte plugged in the heater is going and its lambsfry and oniongravey n mash for tea....Yummy.
Hopefully it will snow so much we wont be able to get the door open tomorrow and we can have a duvet day LOL....lifes one big duvet day .............i need a job my brain is officially mush.
We are going off to manapouri and Doubtful Sound on Monday,for the day and the family here have offerred to have Prince Elvis,lol and then we will retrace our steps back uyp slowly over to Nelson to try our luck with Jobs and rental properties over there.Bugger i ment to ring the other day for an application form.......Life is suddenly so serious.......Work /Jobs whats that all about.
Love you guys ..............wait patiently and all will be revealed.
Sat 18th
so what the hell have we been up too and why am i tucked up cosy and warm with Elvis and daddy in Te Anau,Weather is Baltic and its snowing fiercly and settling fast Whoopee.
30th -4th
So we decided to go look at a church to buy on the West Coast in a place called Granity up near Karamea.A wild rugged place we had visited about a month previously.So abandoning all sane and rational thought,we turned the van around and pointed back north,and started our ascent back up to the north of the island Via Arthurs Pass.
Gees shes beautiful up there.We stayed monday night in Springfield ,close to Darfield(Ringing any bells yet) and famous for the Giant doughnut donated by the cast of the simpsons-unfortunately some locals didnt like it and burnt it down although it is soon to be replaced by a concrete one-LOL.
We spent the night there in the domain campground.To say it rained would be an understatement!!!!!!!!.Spent the whole of the next day in and out of the van going through the pass.Just totally awesome ,mind blowingly beautiful scenary.we stopped in Ross made famous by Rita Angus painting and where the trans alpine train visits.They are building a tiny wee golfcourse and the pub and gas station are miniturised too.LOL.You nreed to see pictures to understand that,LOL
We got attacked by two mauraudingly Cheeky Kea at Death corner in the gully,they ripped the silicone off the van roof,it was super funny they are THE cutest and naughtiest birds.
We spent a couple of days in Greymouth sussing the place out and applying for jobs and looking at housing and mortgage possibilities and then headed over to Westport and granity on friday and looked at The Church.It was on Trade me for $80,000 and we totally fell in love with it but it needed so much doping to it and things like jobs and risk of buying at such a speed and with no LIM report etc ent our dreams were crushed really.............................
the Vicar of Dibley i will not be for a while.
Spent thre friday night plugged in at Basils and that was the night the Earthquake hit!We felt it hard out in the van .We had stayed at 3 of the worst hit places in Christchurch,Weedons,New Brighton and St Albans only weeks before so we were very lucky.I did tell Shane to stop rolling around and waking me up bless him.He got up and stepped outside and the floor was jolting violently.We were far luckier than the guys in Christchurch.
So on Saturday 4th we headed back to Greymouth as friends of mine were playing in there band The Managers ,at The CoalFace that night.Hoolian nearly fell over to see me and Shane stood there and wer had a great nite dancing singing and drinking with the locals,Slept that night in the carpark across the road,LOL.Had another couple pof nights in Greymouth which were wet and Soggy.Poor shane caught the Lurgy and so did i so we both ended up on antibiotics.a bloody funny old week!!
5th -12th Sept
Spent most of the Week in Westport scouting stuff out and i had an interview for staff nurse post at Buller hospital an 8 bed ward where you are jack of every trade known to man.we stayed down by the rivermouth for a few days with the local whitebaiters..they are a lovely bunch but preety territorial,LOL.Headed out th Cape foulwind and Carters Beach where we looked at another property and wanted to buy that but it was rotton and Shane loved tHe Man Cave more than the house.We met 3 guys from Christchurch at Basils and did a bit of a road trip out to the Beach with them and there dog Gilby ,they came to look at ther house with us too as one of them was a builder.He said the house needed demolishing,
We spent days beachcoming and a great night around the campfire with a couple from the Naki and there 2 little girls.they were doing the same as us and had a big 9metre bus they were living in.Awesome.we had drinks and pizza by the campfire in the wild wind.friday night was sad as my brother was getting married in UK and i was real sad to have missed that but hey.Anyway we were planning on cancelling the trip that we had booked to Doubtful sound but they wouldnt give us our money back so we decided to head off next week on the road back down to milford............
Tues 16th Sept
Headed out of westport and drove down to Franz joseph a long drive but broken up nicely by a visit to our Fave Fudge factory Sweet Alice in Hokitika..I drove for half the journey and Shane had a fuckin heart attack,LOL.....................Stopped the night in the POP at Franz Joseph which was really stunning and well situated only 5 mins stroll out of main street.
Wed 15th Sept
Woke early and weathewr was stunning so decided to go Glaqcier spotting.We drove down to the glacier carpark and ended up doing the 2hr walk to the front of the glacier.(in Slippers!Whoops) bad Kiwi!!!!!!!!!!!we had lunch at foox glacier and then headed off to drive the Haast Pass.What an awe inspiring drive.Through the snow capped southern alps and ejected out through The Gates of Haast,a truely majestic breathtaking bridge traversing the Haast river over immense rocks.we visited waterfalls and rivers and took every opportunity to leap out and take photos.We did the walk around lake Mathieson at Fox Glacier toobeach
we stopped to make a drift wood sculpture and sign a large Quartz rock at a wild exposed expanse of Beach called Sandy Bay..........Stunning,and i found an amazing piece of Glacial rock thats gonna be pride of place in my next home. that night we stoppewd at Boundary Creek DOC camp and after dinner at 7 ish i fell asleep and awoke next morning at 9am......................................I was a little wasted.It was arctic conditions overnight and the mountains all around were snowcapped by the next morning.
thurs 16th Sept
Headed down to wanaka via Lake Hawea and Kidds bush,the wind was howelling and it was raining hard by lunchtime so we holed up in a cool cafe on the front of thew lake drinking coffee.Took Elvis for a huge 2hr walk in the arvo around the lake and after cooking chicken chasseur by the lake we went to our fave place in wanaka ,cinema Paradiso.Its an old school cinema where they srtill have an interval and serve hot cookies and beer ,its a cafe too.We sat on a busted old sofa laxing out watching the Movie.Blissed outHad a lovely day and stayed the night in Arthurstown at thew municipal campground which was great.
Fri 17th Sept
Spent the day cruising down slowly through Cromwell and Arrowtown and into Queenstown,We stopped off in Arrowtown where i had nevewr been before,Its so Quaint and Cute ,but ypou need to bew rich..We had a n expensive hot chocolate in a cafe and i bounced joyously down the main street as it began to SNOW.JOY JOY JOY ,We headed into Queenstown and it was blizzardlike conditions which ment we felt justified in lounging about at Patagonia Chocolateria by the lake watching the snowflakes gliding down frosting the street and sipping Hot Chocolate to die for and eating icecream which was a must its the law when you go into a gelateria.I had Dark patagonian chocolate and Macadamia nuts..................................................................................................
It carried on snowing and we headed out of Queenstown to Kingston on the Road to Te-Anau.Kingston is famous for the Kingston Flyer a Steam train which is parked up at the local pub/station house.Cool.We met 2 gorgeous Irish Sisters and spent the night chatting to them and sharing treavel stories and keeping warm in the Parlour .Elvis was holed up with us and took quite a liking to both the girls.we sneekily ran an extension cord out f our van and loaned them our lekky blanket for the night.
sat 18th Sept.
So heres how we have ended up in Te Anau in the middle of a huge storm.One minute its sunny and the next its grey and snowing.we have decided to stay 2 nights at a POP stop Park over property on the outskirts of the Lake with a young family who spent 7 yrs living in there bus.Hes a builder and they have bought the land and hes bukilding there dream home on it whilst working during the week.A lovely guy.They spent 2yrs on the beach in Whitianga before coming back to Te-Anau.We arte plugged in the heater is going and its lambsfry and oniongravey n mash for tea....Yummy.
Hopefully it will snow so much we wont be able to get the door open tomorrow and we can have a duvet day LOL....lifes one big duvet day .............i need a job my brain is officially mush.
We are going off to manapouri and Doubtful Sound on Monday,for the day and the family here have offerred to have Prince Elvis,lol and then we will retrace our steps back uyp slowly over to Nelson to try our luck with Jobs and rental properties over there.Bugger i ment to ring the other day for an application form.......Life is suddenly so serious.......Work /Jobs whats that all about.
Love you guys ..............wait patiently and all will be revealed.
Sat 18th
Friday, August 27, 2010
This last week @#$%^
Apologies again people,as ever my promises to be better at the blog have failed miserably..................Firstly i just want to acknowledge the death of a very dear friend of mine and Shanes,only sadly for a short time but he was a huge influence and incouragement to us in going on this trip...............
Simon my darling friend ,we have loved,laughed cried and giggled.I will miss you so much and remember you always.Aroha darling ,you will be missed hugely by your family and friends.Go well and look over us with a smile.RIP
Friday 20th -Sat 21st
so after a long noisy night in the carpark we headed over to Brighton beach and stayed the day and night on a grassy knoll by the side of the road which was quiet and lovely and peaceful and again Elvis could hop out of the van onto his own beachfront playpark........... the next morning we woke early at 10.30 LOL and sat chatting to a local guy with his dogs for a while who suggested that we head over to Taieri Mouth Beach camp which turned out to be another total GEM of a place run by Diane a 78 yr old Dunedianite whpo had owned the camp for 10 or so yrs ,its tiny and very quiet and the washing machine is so fucked you have to fill it by hand.Ha Ha so funny,but it was great fun and we loved the quiet beach where i found heaps of Paua shells which is unusual,cool:)
So after a mammoth wash and dry and 3 showers in 24hrs ha ah.......................
Sunday 22nd August
we headed off back to dunedin on sunday and hung out at the museum and got shane some new sunnies for $20 a bargain had been $95.Cool we headed of really later over to the otago penninsula ,via pak and save and the warehouse to get a new fire lighter as i was ready to impale ours up someones arse.(I think i may have failed to mention that on friday morning while parked at some giant teeth on the waterfront in dunedin-WTF................we were sprayed by boulders from some hoon at 9am and he broke our windscreen and so we had to wait till tuesday to get it fixed)
So we parked up out the back of Scott Hall in near portobello ready to head off Albatross spotting......
Monday 23rd August
So monday morning we were up early walked Elvis and headed off to see some Albatross-45 Dollars they wanted each,so we had a coffe and sat in the carpark like all the other locals until one flew overhead in the carpark,Cheeky buggers.we then headed down to the scenic reserve next to piolet bay and had an altercation with a furseal,bless they are so lazy and cute.we tiki-toured aroud and didnt manage to find anywhere for Elvis to go for a run so he was fed up bless him.later that evening we headed back and sat on the beach for an hour waiting for blue penguins but failed miserably bit cest la vie.Early to bead as we had to get the windscreen done tomorrow and 4hrs walking round Dunners with Elvis arrrrrgggggggh.
Tuesday 24thAugust
So up early to have windscreen done got there to be told they wouldnt start it till 1pm so we went off for a couple of hrs to the Otago Settlers Museum.Its so cool this place far better than the other museum but is currently under refurbishment and development.They had two cool exhibitions a 70's Rumpus room and you could ferret around looking at things that made me feel very old ,and an amazing exhibition of paintings and artwork about Dunedin War Brides whuich was heartwarming sad and beautifully clever and stunning.The weathert had also been totally stunning for last 2 day
We then went back to Smith and smith via the dogs breakfast where we spent an extortionate amount on 2 cushion for me and shane as our bums were numb.Any ways it turned out that due to rust when they took windscreen out the couldnt put new one back in as needed repair work ,as youy can imagine we were beside ourself loomiong around Dunners with dog in tow and nowhere to go!@#$%^&*( oh Shit ) anyway the manager Ian was amazing did the repair work for free and let us stay around the back of the store in the van overnight Yippee-we love dunedin people they are cool.
That evening we went to The Best Cafe on lower Stuart street which is the most authentic chippie greasy spoon caff i have been too in NZ made me homesick for Scunny so it did .Lovely food and bread and butter and vineger ont tableLOL.YUMMY
we then went to the rialto cinema and had a loom around dunners in the dark,it is a completely beautiful and majestic city i havew to say i love it We went to see Michael Caine in Harry Brown.That man is a Super Star and the movie is AMAZING go and see it immediately,particularly if you enjoyed Gran Torino.
So back to the van at 11.30 TO FIND THET eLVIS HAD DESTROYED BOTH OF OUR BRAND NEW CUSHIONS BEYOND NORMAL REPAIR @#$%^&*.
Wednesday 25th August
apreety quiet day spent out and about in the freezing cold Dunners morning ,and then with our swanky new windscreen we headed off to the Art Gallery and then out of dZunedin headed back North through Palmerston and up to Shag Point where we stayed the night by State Highway one in a lovely spot by the beach.Managed to find a book shop that exchanged some books for us as our trip count stands at about 24 books to date -awesome .no tv we love it.ZShane found a classic mini manual as well,little bugger.
Thursday 26th August
Started off the day in a relaxed manner with a lay in and a trip into Mouraki to go to Fleurs Place .An award winning Restaurant full of ecclectic bric-a -brac and fossicced relics from the surrounding area.The meal lived up to all expectations .It was a treat for Shanes birthday and somthing we had planned to do all along on our trip so i really enjoyed relaxing and chatting with Fleur who is expecting a visit from her friend Rick Stein in the next few weeks when he comes back to nZ.I has groper stuffed with oysters in a cheese sauce with potatoes and vegies and Shane had Lamb Shanks with mash and a gravey to behold.We then headed off to do a little tiki tour of thee surrounding area.Headed off to look at the whalers monument and Marae in Mouraki and to a tiny village called Kaik which is literally end of the road.
We then headed back down south and just a 2-3 min drive out of mouraki decided to go to trotters gorge for a look.
A fateful descision as it turned out.............
Trotters gorge was picturesque little reserve surrounded by huge cliffs ans dense bush,the sun was shining and heeding the notes aboutr flooding in wet weather we stopped for a cuppa and a chat with an elderly guy that turned up .All was well and shane headed off to the Long Drop while i returned back to the van with Elvis .and so the nightmare began........
Elvis was following me back roaming around and just as i approached the van we both heard 3-4 huge barks and welping ..............we were both shouting and calling the puppy but no sign of him .After 2hrs it was getting dark and shane went to try and get help.Elvis has never been Bush-ever before and as it got pitch black still not a sound,By this time you can imagine we both really thought he was dead,caught by a wild pig or a trap or somthing.No cellphone reception and wild rocky treeain made it impossible to search.....................we were beside ourselves.Shane was amazing and i was a total wreck as you can all imagine.
With no tea and in sub zero temps we went to bed at ten thirty to start search at daylight.We had heard him wimpering at abot 9.30 bush bashing and climbing steep rocks to no availby this time i was verging on griefstricken asd was Shaneat 1.05 we were awoken to loud barking and crying up on the ridge but no ammount of called would bring our baby back.
shane had to jumpstart the van and headed to the only farm at the start of the gorge and woke the guy there asking desperately for help.We had rung DOC earlier but they cant do anything if its an animal.
Steve returned with shane as i had stayed to make sure Elvis knew we hadnt left him.It was the most terrible 10mins of my life i have to say.Pitch black ,Freezing cold and damp and Elvis wailing and crying .
Steve knew the area well and at 4oclock ion the pitch black with our torches failing Steve went upo a second toime and managed to find Elvis .He brought him down off a rockface where he had got lost and stuck ,but then he stopped following Steve and shot off terrified and cold in the dark.with nothing left to do till daylight at 4.15am we went back to bed.to start searchind at daybreak.Just as we turned off the lights we heard the familiar rattle of a collar and a whimper very close by and as Shane opened the door our little boy leapt into the van.HE WAS HOME.And not a scratch on him.We were both sobbing with delight.............OMG what a total and utter Nightmare.With the puppy safely tucked up in bed between us we finally slept at 5am.
Friday 27th August
another glorious day we woke at 7am as Steve came back to continue the search.He was completely amazing and we cant repay his kindness,Bless him.We headed over to Herbert just north of Mouraki to the most stunning forest camp and that is where i am writing the blog now.The van was a total mud filled disaster and me and shane desperately needed showert ans sleep.The camp is beautiful and after 6 loads of washing and a huge clearout and spring clean we finally settled.Elvis roamed around being his own disobedient serlf.Our plan for the day had originally been to go to the races at Oamaru but we weere exhausted so we plugged in to recharge our gear and re-group and watched a DVD and cooked a meal and turned the kitchen into a chinese laundry,I am sitting here in the van watching both my boys cuddled up together under the duvet like loves young dream and life is sweet again.We had a beer to remember our friend Simon who was buried today and then we slept.
Saturday 28th August.
Its raining !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yuck and with a serious amount of still very wet clothes and towels we are gonna finally go and explore Oamaru .We sailed through there the other day and didnt get to see it.Our plans for the next week are to go have a look around central otago following the rail trail,not on bikes its too wet and cold and Elvis is hopeless on a push bike LOL.Its 9;15 and i need a coffee and brekkie.The people here have been lovely and there dpog and elvis are now friends.and they have two really cute pigs that we fed lastnight.CUTE.Ok enough of our ramblings.Catch you later
Simon my darling friend ,we have loved,laughed cried and giggled.I will miss you so much and remember you always.Aroha darling ,you will be missed hugely by your family and friends.Go well and look over us with a smile.RIP
Friday 20th -Sat 21st
so after a long noisy night in the carpark we headed over to Brighton beach and stayed the day and night on a grassy knoll by the side of the road which was quiet and lovely and peaceful and again Elvis could hop out of the van onto his own beachfront playpark........... the next morning we woke early at 10.30 LOL and sat chatting to a local guy with his dogs for a while who suggested that we head over to Taieri Mouth Beach camp which turned out to be another total GEM of a place run by Diane a 78 yr old Dunedianite whpo had owned the camp for 10 or so yrs ,its tiny and very quiet and the washing machine is so fucked you have to fill it by hand.Ha Ha so funny,but it was great fun and we loved the quiet beach where i found heaps of Paua shells which is unusual,cool:)
So after a mammoth wash and dry and 3 showers in 24hrs ha ah.......................
Sunday 22nd August
we headed off back to dunedin on sunday and hung out at the museum and got shane some new sunnies for $20 a bargain had been $95.Cool we headed of really later over to the otago penninsula ,via pak and save and the warehouse to get a new fire lighter as i was ready to impale ours up someones arse.(I think i may have failed to mention that on friday morning while parked at some giant teeth on the waterfront in dunedin-WTF................we were sprayed by boulders from some hoon at 9am and he broke our windscreen and so we had to wait till tuesday to get it fixed)
So we parked up out the back of Scott Hall in near portobello ready to head off Albatross spotting......
Monday 23rd August
So monday morning we were up early walked Elvis and headed off to see some Albatross-45 Dollars they wanted each,so we had a coffe and sat in the carpark like all the other locals until one flew overhead in the carpark,Cheeky buggers.we then headed down to the scenic reserve next to piolet bay and had an altercation with a furseal,bless they are so lazy and cute.we tiki-toured aroud and didnt manage to find anywhere for Elvis to go for a run so he was fed up bless him.later that evening we headed back and sat on the beach for an hour waiting for blue penguins but failed miserably bit cest la vie.Early to bead as we had to get the windscreen done tomorrow and 4hrs walking round Dunners with Elvis arrrrrgggggggh.
Tuesday 24thAugust
So up early to have windscreen done got there to be told they wouldnt start it till 1pm so we went off for a couple of hrs to the Otago Settlers Museum.Its so cool this place far better than the other museum but is currently under refurbishment and development.They had two cool exhibitions a 70's Rumpus room and you could ferret around looking at things that made me feel very old ,and an amazing exhibition of paintings and artwork about Dunedin War Brides whuich was heartwarming sad and beautifully clever and stunning.The weathert had also been totally stunning for last 2 day
We then went back to Smith and smith via the dogs breakfast where we spent an extortionate amount on 2 cushion for me and shane as our bums were numb.Any ways it turned out that due to rust when they took windscreen out the couldnt put new one back in as needed repair work ,as youy can imagine we were beside ourself loomiong around Dunners with dog in tow and nowhere to go!@#$%^&*( oh Shit ) anyway the manager Ian was amazing did the repair work for free and let us stay around the back of the store in the van overnight Yippee-we love dunedin people they are cool.
That evening we went to The Best Cafe on lower Stuart street which is the most authentic chippie greasy spoon caff i have been too in NZ made me homesick for Scunny so it did .Lovely food and bread and butter and vineger ont tableLOL.YUMMY
we then went to the rialto cinema and had a loom around dunners in the dark,it is a completely beautiful and majestic city i havew to say i love it We went to see Michael Caine in Harry Brown.That man is a Super Star and the movie is AMAZING go and see it immediately,particularly if you enjoyed Gran Torino.
So back to the van at 11.30 TO FIND THET eLVIS HAD DESTROYED BOTH OF OUR BRAND NEW CUSHIONS BEYOND NORMAL REPAIR @#$%^&*.
Wednesday 25th August
apreety quiet day spent out and about in the freezing cold Dunners morning ,and then with our swanky new windscreen we headed off to the Art Gallery and then out of dZunedin headed back North through Palmerston and up to Shag Point where we stayed the night by State Highway one in a lovely spot by the beach.Managed to find a book shop that exchanged some books for us as our trip count stands at about 24 books to date -awesome .no tv we love it.ZShane found a classic mini manual as well,little bugger.
Thursday 26th August
Started off the day in a relaxed manner with a lay in and a trip into Mouraki to go to Fleurs Place .An award winning Restaurant full of ecclectic bric-a -brac and fossicced relics from the surrounding area.The meal lived up to all expectations .It was a treat for Shanes birthday and somthing we had planned to do all along on our trip so i really enjoyed relaxing and chatting with Fleur who is expecting a visit from her friend Rick Stein in the next few weeks when he comes back to nZ.I has groper stuffed with oysters in a cheese sauce with potatoes and vegies and Shane had Lamb Shanks with mash and a gravey to behold.We then headed off to do a little tiki tour of thee surrounding area.Headed off to look at the whalers monument and Marae in Mouraki and to a tiny village called Kaik which is literally end of the road.
We then headed back down south and just a 2-3 min drive out of mouraki decided to go to trotters gorge for a look.
A fateful descision as it turned out.............
Trotters gorge was picturesque little reserve surrounded by huge cliffs ans dense bush,the sun was shining and heeding the notes aboutr flooding in wet weather we stopped for a cuppa and a chat with an elderly guy that turned up .All was well and shane headed off to the Long Drop while i returned back to the van with Elvis .and so the nightmare began........
Elvis was following me back roaming around and just as i approached the van we both heard 3-4 huge barks and welping ..............we were both shouting and calling the puppy but no sign of him .After 2hrs it was getting dark and shane went to try and get help.Elvis has never been Bush-ever before and as it got pitch black still not a sound,By this time you can imagine we both really thought he was dead,caught by a wild pig or a trap or somthing.No cellphone reception and wild rocky treeain made it impossible to search.....................we were beside ourselves.Shane was amazing and i was a total wreck as you can all imagine.
With no tea and in sub zero temps we went to bed at ten thirty to start search at daylight.We had heard him wimpering at abot 9.30 bush bashing and climbing steep rocks to no availby this time i was verging on griefstricken asd was Shaneat 1.05 we were awoken to loud barking and crying up on the ridge but no ammount of called would bring our baby back.
shane had to jumpstart the van and headed to the only farm at the start of the gorge and woke the guy there asking desperately for help.We had rung DOC earlier but they cant do anything if its an animal.
Steve returned with shane as i had stayed to make sure Elvis knew we hadnt left him.It was the most terrible 10mins of my life i have to say.Pitch black ,Freezing cold and damp and Elvis wailing and crying .
Steve knew the area well and at 4oclock ion the pitch black with our torches failing Steve went upo a second toime and managed to find Elvis .He brought him down off a rockface where he had got lost and stuck ,but then he stopped following Steve and shot off terrified and cold in the dark.with nothing left to do till daylight at 4.15am we went back to bed.to start searchind at daybreak.Just as we turned off the lights we heard the familiar rattle of a collar and a whimper very close by and as Shane opened the door our little boy leapt into the van.HE WAS HOME.And not a scratch on him.We were both sobbing with delight.............OMG what a total and utter Nightmare.With the puppy safely tucked up in bed between us we finally slept at 5am.
Friday 27th August
another glorious day we woke at 7am as Steve came back to continue the search.He was completely amazing and we cant repay his kindness,Bless him.We headed over to Herbert just north of Mouraki to the most stunning forest camp and that is where i am writing the blog now.The van was a total mud filled disaster and me and shane desperately needed showert ans sleep.The camp is beautiful and after 6 loads of washing and a huge clearout and spring clean we finally settled.Elvis roamed around being his own disobedient serlf.Our plan for the day had originally been to go to the races at Oamaru but we weere exhausted so we plugged in to recharge our gear and re-group and watched a DVD and cooked a meal and turned the kitchen into a chinese laundry,I am sitting here in the van watching both my boys cuddled up together under the duvet like loves young dream and life is sweet again.We had a beer to remember our friend Simon who was buried today and then we slept.
Saturday 28th August.
Its raining !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Yuck and with a serious amount of still very wet clothes and towels we are gonna finally go and explore Oamaru .We sailed through there the other day and didnt get to see it.Our plans for the next week are to go have a look around central otago following the rail trail,not on bikes its too wet and cold and Elvis is hopeless on a push bike LOL.Its 9;15 and i need a coffee and brekkie.The people here have been lovely and there dpog and elvis are now friends.and they have two really cute pigs that we fed lastnight.CUTE.Ok enough of our ramblings.Catch you later
Sunday, August 22, 2010
OMG sorry we have been awful in our blogging !!!!!!!!!!!!!Well 2 weeks what have wew done.
Spent 3 days on Banks Penninsular which i have to say was a highlight for us.We went to Akoroa and did a half price tour of the harbour-Choice.Saw Hector Dolphins ans a really rare Hoi Hoi penguin and seals ans penguins,was so cool.
We also visited Okains Bay and the maori and collonial museum there run by thwe most gorgeous girl called Stacy.Its a tiny little settlement wit pop of about 100 people BEAUTIFUL.Has one of the best Tiki collections i have seen.We spent all 3 nights freedom camping and stayed one night on Summit road-really lovely
we hung out in Lyttleton for a day and went to timeball station and then on to Brighton again for a night to plug in and recuperate.The van battery died when we stayed out in the wop wop and we had an extremely scarey hour trying to work out what to do .Shane was a star as usual.
Headed out of Christchurch finally on Friday 13th and headed to Methven to see the snow and Mt Hutt.Stayed on a a POP stop with some lovely people called Ivan and Dulcie who were number 75 at NZMCA in the 1st year 1956.absolutely lovely people.The POP was there old truck yards out back and a dodgy old plug socket-very illegal but bloody funny.we relaxed in the rain all weekend and woke up on monday morning 16th HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANE 31 today.
we headed into Methven and had brekkie as a treat at Primo and secundo which is a funky cafe in centre of town and has all retro things everywhre ,you can buy anything including the plates u eat off and the furniture,very cool and funky.We stoppewd off in Ashburton to go to Bullrush chocolates where Shane Chose "Dark Ginga" and won a makeover with his Golden Ticket in a willie wonka style fashion.The ladies in Ashburton Amcal were scared when faced with shane demandind his free prize.They managed to hussle him out of the door with a few prizes,LOL.
We headed out to Lake Tekapo which as ever was stunning we went offroad and stayed at Lake Alexandria in a tiny fishing camp and woke up in the morning with amazing alpine views .We dashed over to the hot pools and then in the afternoon headed over to Timeru .On the way over we stopped at geraldine and farlie ,both are cute little places with the most amazing car and industrial equiptment museums.Shane was of course in his element,that must be the 67th he has visited since we started.Thankyou to Annie who came all the way from home to open up the cart museum and started up one of the engines for a delighted Shane.Lovely place,we tried to catch up with Mary Roberts but due to Technical glitches and the need to move on we didnt manage too ,bit upset about that and hopefully we may get back up there before the trip is over.
Loved caroline Bay and the docks area of Timeru.its a cool little place good museum and Art Gallery.Met some lovely people from invercargill at the car park by the Docks who gave us there address and want us to drop by when we are in town.Wednesday it was over to Waimate to a POP stop over there,Waimate is actually really quite a big place famous for its wallabies and a white horse .Wasnt even mentioned in my Rough Guide or Lonely Planets.Found a gem of a cafe there run by 3 Malaysian brothers called ArtRio,one is a photograper and coffee roaster ,one a chef and biologist and the 3rd is Maitre' d.The coffee was amazing and the place was so friendly and i even got a beautiful Beagle puppy artfully on my coffee,amazing.We scooted around town and took photos and visited the Free Wallabies in the public gardens that noone tells you abou,then we headed off abruptly on thursday pm after a phonecall from Shanes friend Mike who was in Dunedin for the night,we met up with hoim and spent the evening in a scungy student bar The Cook to get an authentic feel for nightlife in thew city.we all had a bit to drink!@#%^ and ended up staying in the van in a carPark in centralDunedin being woken every 5 mins by cars and road sweepewrs.
Next day after a failed attempt at the Museum we headed out to Brighton beach for a night and lasdt night 21st we have stayed at Taieri Gorge Campsite.$17 dollars plug-in for the night the sdun is shining this morning ,sky is clear and blue and i am now uptodate on the blog and a weight has been lifted from me...How sad the things you worry about when you haver no jpob ,LOL.
Elvis is Chomping at the bit to get out on the Beach and we are headed back into Dunners .we have to stay until Tuesday as some total Wankbreath sprayed us with pebbles on friday am and brokre the windscreen,thankgod we are not in Catlins . for a week or 2 and we will head to Catlins and Otago Penninsula.
Love to you all `
Spent 3 days on Banks Penninsular which i have to say was a highlight for us.We went to Akoroa and did a half price tour of the harbour-Choice.Saw Hector Dolphins ans a really rare Hoi Hoi penguin and seals ans penguins,was so cool.
We also visited Okains Bay and the maori and collonial museum there run by thwe most gorgeous girl called Stacy.Its a tiny little settlement wit pop of about 100 people BEAUTIFUL.Has one of the best Tiki collections i have seen.We spent all 3 nights freedom camping and stayed one night on Summit road-really lovely
we hung out in Lyttleton for a day and went to timeball station and then on to Brighton again for a night to plug in and recuperate.The van battery died when we stayed out in the wop wop and we had an extremely scarey hour trying to work out what to do .Shane was a star as usual.
Headed out of Christchurch finally on Friday 13th and headed to Methven to see the snow and Mt Hutt.Stayed on a a POP stop with some lovely people called Ivan and Dulcie who were number 75 at NZMCA in the 1st year 1956.absolutely lovely people.The POP was there old truck yards out back and a dodgy old plug socket-very illegal but bloody funny.we relaxed in the rain all weekend and woke up on monday morning 16th HAPPY BIRTHDAY SHANE 31 today.
we headed into Methven and had brekkie as a treat at Primo and secundo which is a funky cafe in centre of town and has all retro things everywhre ,you can buy anything including the plates u eat off and the furniture,very cool and funky.We stoppewd off in Ashburton to go to Bullrush chocolates where Shane Chose "Dark Ginga" and won a makeover with his Golden Ticket in a willie wonka style fashion.The ladies in Ashburton Amcal were scared when faced with shane demandind his free prize.They managed to hussle him out of the door with a few prizes,LOL.
We headed out to Lake Tekapo which as ever was stunning we went offroad and stayed at Lake Alexandria in a tiny fishing camp and woke up in the morning with amazing alpine views .We dashed over to the hot pools and then in the afternoon headed over to Timeru .On the way over we stopped at geraldine and farlie ,both are cute little places with the most amazing car and industrial equiptment museums.Shane was of course in his element,that must be the 67th he has visited since we started.Thankyou to Annie who came all the way from home to open up the cart museum and started up one of the engines for a delighted Shane.Lovely place,we tried to catch up with Mary Roberts but due to Technical glitches and the need to move on we didnt manage too ,bit upset about that and hopefully we may get back up there before the trip is over.
Loved caroline Bay and the docks area of Timeru.its a cool little place good museum and Art Gallery.Met some lovely people from invercargill at the car park by the Docks who gave us there address and want us to drop by when we are in town.Wednesday it was over to Waimate to a POP stop over there,Waimate is actually really quite a big place famous for its wallabies and a white horse .Wasnt even mentioned in my Rough Guide or Lonely Planets.Found a gem of a cafe there run by 3 Malaysian brothers called ArtRio,one is a photograper and coffee roaster ,one a chef and biologist and the 3rd is Maitre' d.The coffee was amazing and the place was so friendly and i even got a beautiful Beagle puppy artfully on my coffee,amazing.We scooted around town and took photos and visited the Free Wallabies in the public gardens that noone tells you abou,then we headed off abruptly on thursday pm after a phonecall from Shanes friend Mike who was in Dunedin for the night,we met up with hoim and spent the evening in a scungy student bar The Cook to get an authentic feel for nightlife in thew city.we all had a bit to drink!@#%^ and ended up staying in the van in a carPark in centralDunedin being woken every 5 mins by cars and road sweepewrs.
Next day after a failed attempt at the Museum we headed out to Brighton beach for a night and lasdt night 21st we have stayed at Taieri Gorge Campsite.$17 dollars plug-in for the night the sdun is shining this morning ,sky is clear and blue and i am now uptodate on the blog and a weight has been lifted from me...How sad the things you worry about when you haver no jpob ,LOL.
Elvis is Chomping at the bit to get out on the Beach and we are headed back into Dunners .we have to stay until Tuesday as some total Wankbreath sprayed us with pebbles on friday am and brokre the windscreen,thankgod we are not in Catlins . for a week or 2 and we will head to Catlins and Otago Penninsula.
Love to you all `
Sunday, August 8, 2010
Well hello there you lot......................Sorry for the delay in posts but we have been preety busy of late.
Left nelson just over a week ago and spent our 1st night in Murchison at the POP stop there(Park over Property)Spent the night there and then headed over to hamner Springs the next day through Lewis pass.snow covered Peaks everywhere,we stopped off at the start of St James walkway and let Elvis out for a runaround and a toilet stop.LONG DROP HELL .Think this is the toilet that people use after 5 days on the track-PHEW not nice,LOL.Headed over to hamner and spent a couple of nights at the POP stop just out of the township.Lovely spacious place and again free,you hjust have to time your toilet breaks carefully :)
Spent a couple of days relaxing and hanging out at the hotpoolswhich it turns out are not so hot in a force 10 gale.I was like a bloody prune by the time i plucked up courage to get out in the wind and rain.
Headed over to Christchurch on monday 2nd and stopped off to surprise Jane Newman and her hubby Craig who recently moved there.She was a tad shocked to say the least,It was truely lovely to catch up with her and Craig who we had not met before .There daughter Laura is both beautiful and intelligent and captivated us wuith her charm and wit,and Finn is still very little and super cute.Craig had been hunting the weekend before so we were treated to his venison and wild pork sausages for tea,YUM.Thankyou so much for your hospitality and Driveway,WE LOVE YOU.
Tuesday 3rd August
Another allustreious day in the life of a devoted Pixies fan,we headed into christchurch to find our bearings for the long awaited return of the Pixies to NZ.The gang as ever were completely amazing.Only 4000 tickets sold so the gig was much more intimate than Auckland.They thrilled us with all the doolittle classdics and the audience werte more than enthusiastic and friendly.We had an absolute ball .Kim Deal was so cute,she kept thanking us all for coming 80 hrs to see them,god love her most people had jumped on the number 60 bus to get there,lol.Elvis delighted the throngs outside .i think he thought they had all gathered to pat and fuss over him and he duly was entertaining and supercute and well behaved.Well worth the 80$ each metallica can sod off i am afraid unless we win tickets.Drove around for a while and found a great spot in St Albans at the park right next to some toilets-Day 5 freedom camping--Tight arsed Bastards eh??????????
Wed 4Th August.
Spent a great day looming around Christchurch city centre ,i sp[ent 2hrs at thew art Gallery which is not only beautiful but has so awesome collections.There was a particular exhibition of ophotographs by a woman called Tanis Simons an american woman whos photos were really thought provoking ,provocartive and some humerous and educational.headed to the canterbury Museum and accidentally locked the Keys in thew van,Whoops,loland when Shane managed to break in (Easily)
Left nelson just over a week ago and spent our 1st night in Murchison at the POP stop there(Park over Property)Spent the night there and then headed over to hamner Springs the next day through Lewis pass.snow covered Peaks everywhere,we stopped off at the start of St James walkway and let Elvis out for a runaround and a toilet stop.LONG DROP HELL .Think this is the toilet that people use after 5 days on the track-PHEW not nice,LOL.Headed over to hamner and spent a couple of nights at the POP stop just out of the township.Lovely spacious place and again free,you hjust have to time your toilet breaks carefully :)
Spent a couple of days relaxing and hanging out at the hotpoolswhich it turns out are not so hot in a force 10 gale.I was like a bloody prune by the time i plucked up courage to get out in the wind and rain.
Headed over to Christchurch on monday 2nd and stopped off to surprise Jane Newman and her hubby Craig who recently moved there.She was a tad shocked to say the least,It was truely lovely to catch up with her and Craig who we had not met before .There daughter Laura is both beautiful and intelligent and captivated us wuith her charm and wit,and Finn is still very little and super cute.Craig had been hunting the weekend before so we were treated to his venison and wild pork sausages for tea,YUM.Thankyou so much for your hospitality and Driveway,WE LOVE YOU.
Tuesday 3rd August
Another allustreious day in the life of a devoted Pixies fan,we headed into christchurch to find our bearings for the long awaited return of the Pixies to NZ.The gang as ever were completely amazing.Only 4000 tickets sold so the gig was much more intimate than Auckland.They thrilled us with all the doolittle classdics and the audience werte more than enthusiastic and friendly.We had an absolute ball .Kim Deal was so cute,she kept thanking us all for coming 80 hrs to see them,god love her most people had jumped on the number 60 bus to get there,lol.Elvis delighted the throngs outside .i think he thought they had all gathered to pat and fuss over him and he duly was entertaining and supercute and well behaved.Well worth the 80$ each metallica can sod off i am afraid unless we win tickets.Drove around for a while and found a great spot in St Albans at the park right next to some toilets-Day 5 freedom camping--Tight arsed Bastards eh??????????
Wed 4Th August.
Spent a great day looming around Christchurch city centre ,i sp[ent 2hrs at thew art Gallery which is not only beautiful but has so awesome collections.There was a particular exhibition of ophotographs by a woman called Tanis Simons an american woman whos photos were really thought provoking ,provocartive and some humerous and educational.headed to the canterbury Museum and accidentally locked the Keys in thew van,Whoops,loland when Shane managed to break in (Easily)
Thursday, July 29, 2010
on the road to Karamea
Hi all!!
sorry have been a little slack again...Have been decorating Vals toilet in sheet music.took me 2 days but it looks absolutely stunning i have to say and cost about 20 Dollars all up FANTASTIC.
We headed up to Karamea last week on thursday for 4 nights and had the most amazing time stayed in Mokohina and Karamea and Gentle Annie and thee DOC camp at the start odf the Heaphy track and myself and Val did a 2hr walk along the start of the Heaphy which was full on but beautiful through all the Nikau palms.
I will eloborate more in my next offering about our adventures and elvises misdomenours ,LOL
Today we finally leave out new temporary home in Nelson.we have been absolutely welcomesd with open arms by Valerie and she noww has a new home to show for it LOL.Its been the most time we have ever spent together in the 7yrs we have known each other and its been divine,we have enjoyed every single moment of it,but our great adventure has got to continue,we head off to murchison for the night and then for a few days to hamner Springs before getting to Christchurch on Tu=esday for my date with THE PIXIEs OMG i cant wait La La La .
mis ypou all my friends and family but excited about the next chapter in our journey,as is Elvis and the endless new beaches and possibilities to poop on new pastures,including his little jaunt into the middle of a full on Rugby game last week to take a dump mid game in the middle of the pitch...........................................................
OMG he is not my dog in thosre moments,ans we had no clean up bags ,LOL
Take care ,LOVE FROM SHane too
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
me you and Elvis too
sorry have been a little slack again...Have been decorating Vals toilet in sheet music.took me 2 days but it looks absolutely stunning i have to say and cost about 20 Dollars all up FANTASTIC.
We headed up to Karamea last week on thursday for 4 nights and had the most amazing time stayed in Mokohina and Karamea and Gentle Annie and thee DOC camp at the start odf the Heaphy track and myself and Val did a 2hr walk along the start of the Heaphy which was full on but beautiful through all the Nikau palms.
I will eloborate more in my next offering about our adventures and elvises misdomenours ,LOL
Today we finally leave out new temporary home in Nelson.we have been absolutely welcomesd with open arms by Valerie and she noww has a new home to show for it LOL.Its been the most time we have ever spent together in the 7yrs we have known each other and its been divine,we have enjoyed every single moment of it,but our great adventure has got to continue,we head off to murchison for the night and then for a few days to hamner Springs before getting to Christchurch on Tu=esday for my date with THE PIXIEs OMG i cant wait La La La .
mis ypou all my friends and family but excited about the next chapter in our journey,as is Elvis and the endless new beaches and possibilities to poop on new pastures,including his little jaunt into the middle of a full on Rugby game last week to take a dump mid game in the middle of the pitch...........................................................
OMG he is not my dog in thosre moments,ans we had no clean up bags ,LOL
Take care ,LOVE FROM SHane too
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
me you and Elvis too
Friday, July 16, 2010
its all over on the farm......................................
Hello you guys,well our time on the farm is over.we had the most amazing time looking after the Sheep and dogs and cats and Chooks.We were really sad to leave last night but we are moving on to pastures new.It was hard to leave Whitebait and Todd they were just the most beautiful animals.Elvis didnt know what had hit him last night when he hads tro put his lead on.he is looking very trim and handsome even if i do say so myself.he has spent virtually the whoole day at vals house sleeping infront of the fire.he finally had to be forced to get up at 11.30 to go pee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Hes his dads dog,lol.
we were sent off with some money and a dozen eggs ands a huge piece of venison,yum.Just gotta work out what to do with it now.I caught and crumbed my own fish today.What am i like :)We are gonna be back at Vals in Nelson for about a week ,doing some decorating and DIY and we are planning to head over to Karamea .Have heard its really stunningly beautiful over there so will take val away again for a few days break.Shane has sorted out the batteries in the van bless him ,hes such a love.
Not long now until we go see the PIXIEs again in Christchurch.we are also contemplating Metallica,but $179 Bucks thats fucked up.........catch ya laters
we were sent off with some money and a dozen eggs ands a huge piece of venison,yum.Just gotta work out what to do with it now.I caught and crumbed my own fish today.What am i like :)We are gonna be back at Vals in Nelson for about a week ,doing some decorating and DIY and we are planning to head over to Karamea .Have heard its really stunningly beautiful over there so will take val away again for a few days break.Shane has sorted out the batteries in the van bless him ,hes such a love.
Not long now until we go see the PIXIEs again in Christchurch.we are also contemplating Metallica,but $179 Bucks thats fucked up.........catch ya laters
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Sheep Sheep and more Sheep
Hello again.Its Friday and i am sitting here in the beautiful ,stunning sunshine on a farm in Havelock.We have 2 dogs,Chloe a foxy terrier and Todd a 9yr old Sheepdog.they are both very cute and well trained.They make Elvis look like a juvenile delinquent.He is absolutely beside himself being aloud to roam relatively free in the creek and amongst the sheep and cows and Chooks.We have24 Ewes who are in Lamb ,12 hens and a rooster and 9 mutton sheep who i was informed will end up as dog tucka......................oh yeah and a Ram.Hes totally cute and friendly BUT dont turn ya back.
The family went away yesterday morning and it feels like a constant round of feeding animals.I missed out the 2 cats.Whitebait who is 4 and Deaf ,and Jersey who only makes an apperance when necessary to be fed.
We are keeping both the fires in the house burning.The temp was down to -2 this morning with frost covering everything.Bloody freezing.I wont be going to feed the Chooks again in my PJs tomorrow.Nearly froze ma tits off,LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is so nice to be doing somthing,have been kept busy exercising the dogs,washing and finally started a bit of scrapbooking..Oh well its 4.30 and i have to go get more wood and put the Chooks to bed for the night in there palacial Hen House.the Rooster will get a boot up his arse if he pisses around again tonight,The girls were good.Ok off we go .have to get stuff done because when the light fades it PITCH BLACK and i mean Pitch Black.
The family went away yesterday morning and it feels like a constant round of feeding animals.I missed out the 2 cats.Whitebait who is 4 and Deaf ,and Jersey who only makes an apperance when necessary to be fed.
We are keeping both the fires in the house burning.The temp was down to -2 this morning with frost covering everything.Bloody freezing.I wont be going to feed the Chooks again in my PJs tomorrow.Nearly froze ma tits off,LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is so nice to be doing somthing,have been kept busy exercising the dogs,washing and finally started a bit of scrapbooking..Oh well its 4.30 and i have to go get more wood and put the Chooks to bed for the night in there palacial Hen House.the Rooster will get a boot up his arse if he pisses around again tonight,The girls were good.Ok off we go .have to get stuff done because when the light fades it PITCH BLACK and i mean Pitch Black.
Monday, July 5, 2010
that was a week that was
Well hello again my friends,Shane is parading around Vals house looking like Hugh Heffner in a robe.LOL!@#$%^&*
We have had a full on week,Sleep[ing abnd generally relaxing.Spent a fwew days repairing bits of the van that were dropping off and then we headed over to Golden Bay for a couple of days,Not nearly long enough i have to say.We went to Kaiteriteri and had a huge walk down to Split Apple Rock,which was just beautiful.Then headed overThe Hill to Takaka,and had the most beautiful meal at Wholesome Cafe,then headed over to Pohara and stayed the night there.Elvis in his element waking up to a run on the beach....bliss
Went for a couple of beers at the Penguin pub and got chatting with a girl hfrom Leicester,weird!!!!
Next day we headed to PuPu Springs which has the clearest waters in Australasia and then to The Mussell Inn up near Collingwood,a really funky cool old tavern which holds live music events and has composting toilets,lol
then Val had decided that she wanted to see the Troglodite stone in Cobb Valley.We headed off up into the hills west of lower Takaka and after a 30km drive we hit a fallen tree across the troad which had fallen only mins before our arrival.Spent an hour watching Fulton Hogan trying sucessfully toi move it .....Vwery exciting but scupperred our adventure as we had to be back in Nelson to see One Flew over the Cuckoos nest which was awesome.The weathwer is still lush.Off to the beach to walk elvis and then we are off farm sitting tomorrow
We have had a full on week,Sleep[ing abnd generally relaxing.Spent a fwew days repairing bits of the van that were dropping off and then we headed over to Golden Bay for a couple of days,Not nearly long enough i have to say.We went to Kaiteriteri and had a huge walk down to Split Apple Rock,which was just beautiful.Then headed overThe Hill to Takaka,and had the most beautiful meal at Wholesome Cafe,then headed over to Pohara and stayed the night there.Elvis in his element waking up to a run on the beach....bliss
Went for a couple of beers at the Penguin pub and got chatting with a girl hfrom Leicester,weird!!!!
Next day we headed to PuPu Springs which has the clearest waters in Australasia and then to The Mussell Inn up near Collingwood,a really funky cool old tavern which holds live music events and has composting toilets,lol
then Val had decided that she wanted to see the Troglodite stone in Cobb Valley.We headed off up into the hills west of lower Takaka and after a 30km drive we hit a fallen tree across the troad which had fallen only mins before our arrival.Spent an hour watching Fulton Hogan trying sucessfully toi move it .....Vwery exciting but scupperred our adventure as we had to be back in Nelson to see One Flew over the Cuckoos nest which was awesome.The weathwer is still lush.Off to the beach to walk elvis and then we are off farm sitting tomorrow
Monday, June 28, 2010
Nelson
Well bit of drama with the van.The door fell off virtually on Saturday am.Was quite funny but a bit perplexing too.We have been accepted to house/Farmsit on a small farm in Havelock from 8-15th July so that will be fun.
We headed off Saturday morning over to Nelson and are currently cheating again sitting in front of the fire and being looked after by my lovely friend Valerie Bone.She has a new house in Bishopdale in Nelson,and has a Hen and a Rooster and a cat called Mikey who is none too keen on Elvis.
Had a relaxing day Saturday and Sunday it was absolutely beautiful.We stacked wood for Val and did a bit of fannying around ,i took Elvis for a long walk.
Today is monday and Shane did us proud by getting the van fixed again for Free,hes a total Gem.I am engrossed in the new Dan Brown book which seems to be taking up a lot of my time,good job i have plenty of it eh??
Took Elvis to the Beach and he had a romp around much to his delight,and a visit to Savemart-Bliss LOL.
Going to the Cinema tomorrow night to see A Single Man and we are heading off on Thur/fri up to Motueka Kaiteriteri area for a look around and then to the Theatre on Sat night in Nelson to see One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest.Wicked and all good fun
We headed off Saturday morning over to Nelson and are currently cheating again sitting in front of the fire and being looked after by my lovely friend Valerie Bone.She has a new house in Bishopdale in Nelson,and has a Hen and a Rooster and a cat called Mikey who is none too keen on Elvis.
Had a relaxing day Saturday and Sunday it was absolutely beautiful.We stacked wood for Val and did a bit of fannying around ,i took Elvis for a long walk.
Today is monday and Shane did us proud by getting the van fixed again for Free,hes a total Gem.I am engrossed in the new Dan Brown book which seems to be taking up a lot of my time,good job i have plenty of it eh??
Took Elvis to the Beach and he had a romp around much to his delight,and a visit to Savemart-Bliss LOL.
Going to the Cinema tomorrow night to see A Single Man and we are heading off on Thur/fri up to Motueka Kaiteriteri area for a look around and then to the Theatre on Sat night in Nelson to see One Flew over the Cuckoos Nest.Wicked and all good fun
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tues 22nd june 2010
Spent monday night in Wellington.Had a scoot around Te Papa and the new Paperskin exhibition which was cool .Then decided to go to the cinema to watch The A-Team which i enjoyed far more than i should have.Bloody expensive tickets though $16.30..aaarrrgh.Like Wellington a lot,its such a fuinky city but bit hard to do in a campervan.Did find a pack and save though and nearly ended up in the middle of a Police courden with armed offenders Squad .6 cop cars and flashing blue lights.Very exciting.Didnt see any TV cameras though.Stayed the night in Petone on the foreshore,lovely and calm and no rain so a good nights sleep and up early to get the ferry.6am bloody hell its still dark.
Thursday 24th June 2010
Well Hello PoPpickers,we are here in Havelock at the top of the South Island.Its so beautiful and yesterday was THE most stunning day which was awesome because we did the ferry crossing.Elvis was really good he only howlled for about half the journey.we went on the huge Interislander ferry which was virtually empty.Nice to be over in the South island and we headed to Havelock.Its sunny and gorgeous today .not a cloud in the sky.
Friday 25th June
Went to the pub last night for $6 pub grub which was really yummy,burger for me and Steak sandwich for Shane.Been raining all day yesterday which was a bit of a shame but cest la vie.Much nicer today.Its all go this morning just sold the Suzuki X90 with a phonecall and been asked to house sit on a farm down the road for a couple who are going away for the week.COOL we will go see em this afternoon.Its on a farm 10km from Havelock.Will be looking after some animals and free rent for the week.can just chill out and relax .Can you imagine Elvis???More cow shite than you can shake a stick at to roll around in.God almighty the dog has just farted and nearly gassed me out of the place(Pretends to vomit)
Heading over to see Valerie Bone in Nelson for a few days,god love her she wont know whats hit her,Will loom around nelson area for a week or so then back over here to farm sit if it works out,OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH how exciting.Its not raining,life is sweet and carefree and adventures are around the corner.I am on my 3rd book of the trip so will have to go raid the 2nd hand shops in Nelson.Joy oh joy.Door of the van is hanging on by a fingernail and one screw so will cewrtainly need to do some running repairs,LOL.all in lifes rich pattern.its quite a rollercoaster ride wondering if the bloody thing will fall off when you go to the loo.The draft excluder fell off this morning.All good :) Ha Ha
Spent monday night in Wellington.Had a scoot around Te Papa and the new Paperskin exhibition which was cool .Then decided to go to the cinema to watch The A-Team which i enjoyed far more than i should have.Bloody expensive tickets though $16.30..aaarrrgh.Like Wellington a lot,its such a fuinky city but bit hard to do in a campervan.Did find a pack and save though and nearly ended up in the middle of a Police courden with armed offenders Squad .6 cop cars and flashing blue lights.Very exciting.Didnt see any TV cameras though.Stayed the night in Petone on the foreshore,lovely and calm and no rain so a good nights sleep and up early to get the ferry.6am bloody hell its still dark.
Thursday 24th June 2010
Well Hello PoPpickers,we are here in Havelock at the top of the South Island.Its so beautiful and yesterday was THE most stunning day which was awesome because we did the ferry crossing.Elvis was really good he only howlled for about half the journey.we went on the huge Interislander ferry which was virtually empty.Nice to be over in the South island and we headed to Havelock.Its sunny and gorgeous today .not a cloud in the sky.
Friday 25th June
Went to the pub last night for $6 pub grub which was really yummy,burger for me and Steak sandwich for Shane.Been raining all day yesterday which was a bit of a shame but cest la vie.Much nicer today.Its all go this morning just sold the Suzuki X90 with a phonecall and been asked to house sit on a farm down the road for a couple who are going away for the week.COOL we will go see em this afternoon.Its on a farm 10km from Havelock.Will be looking after some animals and free rent for the week.can just chill out and relax .Can you imagine Elvis???More cow shite than you can shake a stick at to roll around in.God almighty the dog has just farted and nearly gassed me out of the place(Pretends to vomit)
Heading over to see Valerie Bone in Nelson for a few days,god love her she wont know whats hit her,Will loom around nelson area for a week or so then back over here to farm sit if it works out,OOOOHHHHHHHHHHHHH how exciting.Its not raining,life is sweet and carefree and adventures are around the corner.I am on my 3rd book of the trip so will have to go raid the 2nd hand shops in Nelson.Joy oh joy.Door of the van is hanging on by a fingernail and one screw so will cewrtainly need to do some running repairs,LOL.all in lifes rich pattern.its quite a rollercoaster ride wondering if the bloody thing will fall off when you go to the loo.The draft excluder fell off this morning.All good :) Ha Ha
Monday, June 21, 2010
sitting in a beautiful spot just outside Opotiki.Finally headed off this morning much to the relief of Paul and Lisa,SORRY GUYS.LOL.We drove out of the Mount after chatting to a couple from Ruakaka and looking at there bus which was at least 10times larger than ours.Stopped off in Whakatane to see Shanes aunty Jenny and cousin Sandra and went out to the Heads,it was wild and rockin out there.
Headeded off early afternoon and decided to stop in Opotiki.just outside on the beach front.Its absolutely beautiful and wild and the campsite is near empty other than a few Samoan kiwifruit pickers.We have had pasta for tea and after taking Elvis to the beach for a walk he has a belly full of pasta and is officially stuffed.SO CUTE.
We are sitting in the van trying to get the internet working and listening to natures Best.How Bizarre......................
Really feel like the adventure is about to start and doesnt feel like we are cheating anymore.i am gonna have a shower and put my PJs on and veg out with a book.Work,whats that?
Love to all
Suss Shane and Elvis tooxxxxx
22nd June 2010
Well am I not the Greatest at keeping the Blog up to date................................
OK maybe not.So where do I start.
Well We headed off from Lisa and Pauls on Queens birthday and headed over to Opotiki .Next day we landed in Rotorua.Spent the day walking round the lake with Elvis and then sorting out the wireless internet which was playing up.Spent the night at a Motorcamp on the Old Taupo Road which turned out to be 2 mins walk from our lovely friend Woz who met up with us and we decided on a plan to stay a couple of days and meet up with Shanes Aunty Maire and his Cousin Cherry and her hubby HP.So after a morning dip in the naturally heated Spa Pool we headed out to a park for the day and then then spent the night with Cherry ,HP and there son Simon.We had a fantastic evening catching up with them in there glorious new home overlooking the sparkling city of Rotovegas.We slept in the van so no cheating,but there new home is to die for ,with an amazing "Industrial styled" kitchen in a 70s retro feel.We LOVE you guys XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
Next morning we caught up with aunty Maire who I have to say is not only one of the most interesting and warm people I have met ,but if you could epitomise "Spunky and Gutsy "she is it!!!!!
We could have spent days with Maire but we had plans to collect WOZ and head off on the road again...........
So ladened with peanut biscuits and big cuddles we headed out of town now in a crew of 4.
So off we went heading down to Wairaki and into Huka falls .Visited Wairaki thermal power Station and had a drive out to the lookout ,Shane and Woz in there elements and then a local guy told us about Reids Farm a local camping groungd .we holed up for the night there..quite cold but good fun .I managed to prepare a splendid sausage and mash dish and we all slept well.Up relatively early next day and into Taupo to get a new gas bottle for ther van.The old one being 10yrs out of date.WTF.
Woz wentr mad on supplies and armed with mountains of Jim Beam/Coke and Shots we headed out to "The Desert Road"and spent the night off road,in the wilderness drinking and laughing and having a few games of cards.elvis let loose and was totally in his element rolling around in shite!!!and following Shane and Woz like the good little boy that he is.We notice a change in obedience on a daily basis.He is such a pleasure to travel with and keeps us entertained on a regular basis.Give him a bone to chew and he will spend hours trying to bury it under the squabs in the van or his blankets.Its hysterical.I will video him doing it at some point.
Next morning off to Waiouru army museum which was really impressive.woz caught the bus back to Rotovegas at midday and then we headed off on a wild goose chase to National Park.Unfortunately it turned outr that there were no powered sites there so we ended up driving for ages and decided on a place outside wanganui called Turakina Beach.A hidden Gem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ended up staying there 3 nights in a tiny campsite.Powered and free showers and washing machine all for $10 a night.Awesome.Weather not brilliant but made up for it by veging out.Slept one day until 2pm when we were rudely awoken by a phone call from a friend Jan who was ringing to invite us over to her home town of Foxton to catch up.Elvis spent 3 days running up and down the Beach and catching driftwood......pig in s%^t springs to mind..............
So off again with fully charged batteries both physically and literally.Next stop Paihiatua for the night via the Manuwatu Gorge and woodville........Yummy mummys cheesecake shop was a find and a half.we had stopped in palmerston North at the I-Site and spotted that little gem.Ladened with 2 cheesecakes and a caramel slice and Cherry Ripe Slice we headed in search of the windfarm.Not hard to find as it dominates the skyline around the area.impressive but UGLY !!!!!!!!!!!!
Spent the night in Paihiatua and then the next morning Shane got up real early to prepare himself for the Ladies at "TUI HQ ",whre we did the tour ,had lunch and Shane took a few pics.If your in the area its such a cool thing to do $15 well spent .Really entertaining and a great free handle to boot and 3 Beers.Really awesome.
Onwards and upwards ,we headed over to Levin and got lost ,suddenly finding ourselves in Danniverke,Bloody hell Viking Heaven .LOL.So back on track we stayed the night outside Levin in a DOC Reserve ,Really remote and off the beaten track.HARDCORE Camping....................
So hooked up with Jan and adrian in Foxton.spent the night pluggedin at Jans fathers house,which was just stunning.He has an amazing conservatory !!!!!!!!!!! well industrial sized greenhouse with swimming pool and spa pool.NICE .Spent the night by the fire................Cheating again...........LOL.
Next morning into Foxton where Shane managed to spend 3hrs at Foxton Local radio Station and Tram and Bus Museum.We went up the windmill and Elvis had an hour and a half walk along the beach.Foxton Beach is absolutely Stunning i have to say.we made friends and everyone was really friendly.Shane and Elvis have given it a huge thunbs up much to Jans HORROR LOL..............not really.
Jans Shed is coming on really well.She left hospice about a week or so ago and has scored a great job in Palmy North Hospital.It was incredibkly lovely to see Jan ,Adrian and meet Neil her son and her family .we were sad to leave i have to say..it was the best beach and whern Elvis woke up to it on saturday morning hew was really excited.had 3hrs roaming around the beach and slept the resat of the day.
headed off next to featherston/Martinborough and spent the night at a remote POP stop,Thats park over property.It was on Lake wairapa,really beautiful.The people who own the gardens were away but luckily there son Alan was there and he was a toptalgem,came hooning down ther road to save us when we missed it and sat and let Elvis smooch him late into ther evening ,being cute and sweet.That dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We drove over to Ngawi,a tiny fishing village out on the way to cape palliser.The fishermen have adapted the beach with bulldozers to launch and drag there Boats up onto and off the beach,its a really unusual site.weather was horrid unfortunately so we scrapped thew idea toi go to the lighthouse .we did drive over the pinnacles though whuich was stunning,then on to lake Ferry for the night,well afternoon and night.Really beautiful tiny village,stayed the night in a motor camp which was deserted,and that was fun .Met the Local Vicar from Featherston who was delightful and he said he will say prayers for our safe journey and an enjoyable time.
Headeded off early afternoon and decided to stop in Opotiki.just outside on the beach front.Its absolutely beautiful and wild and the campsite is near empty other than a few Samoan kiwifruit pickers.We have had pasta for tea and after taking Elvis to the beach for a walk he has a belly full of pasta and is officially stuffed.SO CUTE.
We are sitting in the van trying to get the internet working and listening to natures Best.How Bizarre......................
Really feel like the adventure is about to start and doesnt feel like we are cheating anymore.i am gonna have a shower and put my PJs on and veg out with a book.Work,whats that?
Love to all
Suss Shane and Elvis tooxxxxx
22nd June 2010
Well am I not the Greatest at keeping the Blog up to date................................
OK maybe not.So where do I start.
Well We headed off from Lisa and Pauls on Queens birthday and headed over to Opotiki .Next day we landed in Rotorua.Spent the day walking round the lake with Elvis and then sorting out the wireless internet which was playing up.Spent the night at a Motorcamp on the Old Taupo Road which turned out to be 2 mins walk from our lovely friend Woz who met up with us and we decided on a plan to stay a couple of days and meet up with Shanes Aunty Maire and his Cousin Cherry and her hubby HP.So after a morning dip in the naturally heated Spa Pool we headed out to a park for the day and then then spent the night with Cherry ,HP and there son Simon.We had a fantastic evening catching up with them in there glorious new home overlooking the sparkling city of Rotovegas.We slept in the van so no cheating,but there new home is to die for ,with an amazing "Industrial styled" kitchen in a 70s retro feel.We LOVE you guys XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXx
Next morning we caught up with aunty Maire who I have to say is not only one of the most interesting and warm people I have met ,but if you could epitomise "Spunky and Gutsy "she is it!!!!!
We could have spent days with Maire but we had plans to collect WOZ and head off on the road again...........
So ladened with peanut biscuits and big cuddles we headed out of town now in a crew of 4.
So off we went heading down to Wairaki and into Huka falls .Visited Wairaki thermal power Station and had a drive out to the lookout ,Shane and Woz in there elements and then a local guy told us about Reids Farm a local camping groungd .we holed up for the night there..quite cold but good fun .I managed to prepare a splendid sausage and mash dish and we all slept well.Up relatively early next day and into Taupo to get a new gas bottle for ther van.The old one being 10yrs out of date.WTF.
Woz wentr mad on supplies and armed with mountains of Jim Beam/Coke and Shots we headed out to "The Desert Road"and spent the night off road,in the wilderness drinking and laughing and having a few games of cards.elvis let loose and was totally in his element rolling around in shite!!!and following Shane and Woz like the good little boy that he is.We notice a change in obedience on a daily basis.He is such a pleasure to travel with and keeps us entertained on a regular basis.Give him a bone to chew and he will spend hours trying to bury it under the squabs in the van or his blankets.Its hysterical.I will video him doing it at some point.
Next morning off to Waiouru army museum which was really impressive.woz caught the bus back to Rotovegas at midday and then we headed off on a wild goose chase to National Park.Unfortunately it turned outr that there were no powered sites there so we ended up driving for ages and decided on a place outside wanganui called Turakina Beach.A hidden Gem!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ended up staying there 3 nights in a tiny campsite.Powered and free showers and washing machine all for $10 a night.Awesome.Weather not brilliant but made up for it by veging out.Slept one day until 2pm when we were rudely awoken by a phone call from a friend Jan who was ringing to invite us over to her home town of Foxton to catch up.Elvis spent 3 days running up and down the Beach and catching driftwood......pig in s%^t springs to mind..............
So off again with fully charged batteries both physically and literally.Next stop Paihiatua for the night via the Manuwatu Gorge and woodville........Yummy mummys cheesecake shop was a find and a half.we had stopped in palmerston North at the I-Site and spotted that little gem.Ladened with 2 cheesecakes and a caramel slice and Cherry Ripe Slice we headed in search of the windfarm.Not hard to find as it dominates the skyline around the area.impressive but UGLY !!!!!!!!!!!!
Spent the night in Paihiatua and then the next morning Shane got up real early to prepare himself for the Ladies at "TUI HQ ",whre we did the tour ,had lunch and Shane took a few pics.If your in the area its such a cool thing to do $15 well spent .Really entertaining and a great free handle to boot and 3 Beers.Really awesome.
Onwards and upwards ,we headed over to Levin and got lost ,suddenly finding ourselves in Danniverke,Bloody hell Viking Heaven .LOL.So back on track we stayed the night outside Levin in a DOC Reserve ,Really remote and off the beaten track.HARDCORE Camping....................
So hooked up with Jan and adrian in Foxton.spent the night pluggedin at Jans fathers house,which was just stunning.He has an amazing conservatory !!!!!!!!!!! well industrial sized greenhouse with swimming pool and spa pool.NICE .Spent the night by the fire................Cheating again...........LOL.
Next morning into Foxton where Shane managed to spend 3hrs at Foxton Local radio Station and Tram and Bus Museum.We went up the windmill and Elvis had an hour and a half walk along the beach.Foxton Beach is absolutely Stunning i have to say.we made friends and everyone was really friendly.Shane and Elvis have given it a huge thunbs up much to Jans HORROR LOL..............not really.
Jans Shed is coming on really well.She left hospice about a week or so ago and has scored a great job in Palmy North Hospital.It was incredibkly lovely to see Jan ,Adrian and meet Neil her son and her family .we were sad to leave i have to say..it was the best beach and whern Elvis woke up to it on saturday morning hew was really excited.had 3hrs roaming around the beach and slept the resat of the day.
headed off next to featherston/Martinborough and spent the night at a remote POP stop,Thats park over property.It was on Lake wairapa,really beautiful.The people who own the gardens were away but luckily there son Alan was there and he was a toptalgem,came hooning down ther road to save us when we missed it and sat and let Elvis smooch him late into ther evening ,being cute and sweet.That dog!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
We drove over to Ngawi,a tiny fishing village out on the way to cape palliser.The fishermen have adapted the beach with bulldozers to launch and drag there Boats up onto and off the beach,its a really unusual site.weather was horrid unfortunately so we scrapped thew idea toi go to the lighthouse .we did drive over the pinnacles though whuich was stunning,then on to lake Ferry for the night,well afternoon and night.Really beautiful tiny village,stayed the night in a motor camp which was deserted,and that was fun .Met the Local Vicar from Featherston who was delightful and he said he will say prayers for our safe journey and an enjoyable time.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
osteopath
Its been raining!!!!!!!!!!!!!!and raining.............and raining......................
Bit of a let up this morning and went out for a walk with Shane Elvis Rochelle and baby Leroy.
Having a few problems with my back so had to go to seek medical assistance.Then to the osteopath,its better but not brilliant which is not helping with my new health regime.
Had the most hysterical moment with Elvis yesterday where he was running along the beach and next thing all i saw was him disappearing and a huge splash as the ground turned into a 6ft drop into water.It was a total you've been framed moment ,bless him.
Just chillin out with the family and friends at present .Will hang around here till mon /tuesday,gotta see the osteopath again on friday,bugger....
Getting lots of hard earned rest,very relaxing..
Bit of a let up this morning and went out for a walk with Shane Elvis Rochelle and baby Leroy.
Having a few problems with my back so had to go to seek medical assistance.Then to the osteopath,its better but not brilliant which is not helping with my new health regime.
Had the most hysterical moment with Elvis yesterday where he was running along the beach and next thing all i saw was him disappearing and a huge splash as the ground turned into a 6ft drop into water.It was a total you've been framed moment ,bless him.
Just chillin out with the family and friends at present .Will hang around here till mon /tuesday,gotta see the osteopath again on friday,bugger....
Getting lots of hard earned rest,very relaxing..
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Mt Maunganui
Headed over to the Mount yesterday.Had a chilled out day at the hotpools and walk on the beach with Elvis and his beloved Felix.Bit of a disaster as Shane wanted Copenhagen icecream,but it was closed.Shane packed a sad bless him.So up early this morning to take Tom to squash in Te-Puke,he won and i was like a proud mother LOL.
Then over to the mount for aforementioned icecream and thenback home to lax out infront of the fire.
This campervan life is a dream........................................bring it on ha ha.
I may live to regret that comment.Weather has been beautiful heading off to the snow soon
Then over to the mount for aforementioned icecream and thenback home to lax out infront of the fire.
This campervan life is a dream........................................bring it on ha ha.
I may live to regret that comment.Weather has been beautiful heading off to the snow soon
Friday, May 28, 2010
Saturday Morning Bliss
Awoke this morning to brilliant sunny day at Waihi.Shane desperate to go to the toilet and so we headed off into Waihi Beach to answer the call of nature,LOL.
Got a herald and had breakfast in the Reserve,Vogels and a read of the newspaper....BLISS.Elvis had a romp on the beach and then we headed over to Mt Maunganui to "House Sit" AKA bludge off friends for a couple of nights while they head up to Auckland.I LOVE my friends eh ?
Got to the Mount to realise that we had driven away without the step-up for the van............Bloody hell this motorhome thing is complicated.We had to go and buy one which was far more adequate than the one we did have.Hopefully me and Elvis won
t break our bloody necks now.
Taking the opportunity to check e-mails and update Blog etc.Gonna go for a walk round the mount and a swim at the hot pools later.
Got a herald and had breakfast in the Reserve,Vogels and a read of the newspaper....BLISS.Elvis had a romp on the beach and then we headed over to Mt Maunganui to "House Sit" AKA bludge off friends for a couple of nights while they head up to Auckland.I LOVE my friends eh ?
Got to the Mount to realise that we had driven away without the step-up for the van............Bloody hell this motorhome thing is complicated.We had to go and buy one which was far more adequate than the one we did have.Hopefully me and Elvis won
t break our bloody necks now.
Taking the opportunity to check e-mails and update Blog etc.Gonna go for a walk round the mount and a swim at the hot pools later.
And we are off.........................................
Finally headed out of Auckland yesterday morning at 11ish.YEAH :) All good ,went to pick up batteries in Otahuhu and then on to takanini to the HQ of the Motor caravan Association to join up.Upon payment we realised that Shane had left EFPOST card in Otahuhu so back we went to pick it up.AARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRGH !@#%^&
Finally left Auckland at 3pm and after a relaxing cuppa made by our own fair hand in Karangahake Gorge we headed for Waihi Beach for the night where we "Freedom Camped" LOL in the RSA carpark to test the batteries out................How sad is that .But we just loved every minute of it and so did EWT (Elvis Walding Thompson).
Asian Buffet at the RSA and a pint and got signed in by a local,Just chillin with the Homeboys ha ha.....................
Early to bed after a walk,YES a WALK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Finally left Auckland at 3pm and after a relaxing cuppa made by our own fair hand in Karangahake Gorge we headed for Waihi Beach for the night where we "Freedom Camped" LOL in the RSA carpark to test the batteries out................How sad is that .But we just loved every minute of it and so did EWT (Elvis Walding Thompson).
Asian Buffet at the RSA and a pint and got signed in by a local,Just chillin with the Homeboys ha ha.....................
Early to bed after a walk,YES a WALK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Shoes
Well what a Grim day it was today!!!!!!!!!!Weather sucked...Prompting us to head off to buy thermals and gloves,LOL.Suspect we shall be needing these soon.
Elvis Walding-Thompson has been relegated to the cheap seats after chewing Aunty Dawns shoes...............................................Little SHIT!!!
He was perfect all day and then waited till Dawn got home from work and went to the kitchen before devouring the heel off her shoe.I really hope this is not an indication of the shape of things to come,or EW-T will be finding his own way back to Auckland.
We are planning to head off either wed or Thurs am o not long now...........may be much sooner if Elvis doesnt stop destroyoing Dawns belongings.
TTFN
Suss n Shane n Elvis too
Elvis Walding-Thompson has been relegated to the cheap seats after chewing Aunty Dawns shoes...............................................Little SHIT!!!
He was perfect all day and then waited till Dawn got home from work and went to the kitchen before devouring the heel off her shoe.I really hope this is not an indication of the shape of things to come,or EW-T will be finding his own way back to Auckland.
We are planning to head off either wed or Thurs am o not long now...........may be much sooner if Elvis doesnt stop destroyoing Dawns belongings.
TTFN
Suss n Shane n Elvis too
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Domesticated Bliss
Well!!!!!!!!!!!
We are well and truely over cancelling things and changing adresses and sorting the finer points of dog ownership while on the road.
Some things are easy to sort but others appear to transpire to fy@k u up and make it blinkin hard.In the meantime Elvis is well and truely in total laxed out mode.He has to be surgicallly removed from out friend Dawns sofa to do anything.We need to get off on the open road ASAP before he turns into a complete couch potato.Shane is not far behind,I would have got SKY HD ages ago if i had realised that it would get Shane out of bed at 7am,LOL...................
Still quite a lot of sorting to do ,Drs appointments and still a car to sell!@#$%
Hoping to be off on the road by Wed next week by the latest,Watch this space
We are well and truely over cancelling things and changing adresses and sorting the finer points of dog ownership while on the road.
Some things are easy to sort but others appear to transpire to fy@k u up and make it blinkin hard.In the meantime Elvis is well and truely in total laxed out mode.He has to be surgicallly removed from out friend Dawns sofa to do anything.We need to get off on the open road ASAP before he turns into a complete couch potato.Shane is not far behind,I would have got SKY HD ages ago if i had realised that it would get Shane out of bed at 7am,LOL...................
Still quite a lot of sorting to do ,Drs appointments and still a car to sell!@#$%
Hoping to be off on the road by Wed next week by the latest,Watch this space
Monday, May 17, 2010
Me and you and Elvis too
Well here we are then.Its Monday 17th May and my 1st official day of un-employment.Mummy Daddy and Elvis are at Dawns house and we have been chillin out not doing too much.Thats what we do best.I (Suss) did go shopping but didnt buy anything!!!!!!
I have just created this blog page on google, I think?? dont really understand it too well yet but i like the name its kinda catchy.
meandyouand elvistoo.
Elvis is perfectly blissedout.We got home from the comedy festival late nite live on sat nite and Elvis miraculously appeared in Dawns front room.He was wearing an added appendage in the shape of Dawns catdoor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WTF...................................................................
We had locked him outside and he had decided to squeeze his silf like body inside via aforementioned catflap.Needless to say catflap was NO match fpor Elvis gut ......The glazier will be here at 9am tomorrow to replace the broken glass.................
Lots of stuff toi achieve this week including catching up with friends and going to cinema,celebrating Shanes mums birthday and getting Campervan ready for our epic Great Escape
I have just created this blog page on google, I think?? dont really understand it too well yet but i like the name its kinda catchy.
meandyouand elvistoo.
Elvis is perfectly blissedout.We got home from the comedy festival late nite live on sat nite and Elvis miraculously appeared in Dawns front room.He was wearing an added appendage in the shape of Dawns catdoor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WTF...................................................................
We had locked him outside and he had decided to squeeze his silf like body inside via aforementioned catflap.Needless to say catflap was NO match fpor Elvis gut ......The glazier will be here at 9am tomorrow to replace the broken glass.................
Lots of stuff toi achieve this week including catching up with friends and going to cinema,celebrating Shanes mums birthday and getting Campervan ready for our epic Great Escape
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