blue cod & chips

Sunday:  Orewa to just past Whangarei

I had slept like the proverbial log & decided to give the on board facilities a go as the weather was on the damp side & l didn't really fancy a dash through the trees to the washrooms.  Our motorhome back home has a rear bathroom with walk in shower, the Kea had shower & loo compartment combined, together with a flip-up washbasin, a bit of a 'only use when you absolutely have to' sort of bathroom as you can't get dressed or anything like that so have to avoid the hob when using a towel, not the best but we knew what the van layout was when we booked so a case of get on with it.  

Anyway after breakfast & a quick text to friends who live to the north west of Whangarei off we set, rejoining the Route 1 north.  The countryside of hills & forest were hidden in the mists & drizzle, towns with familiar sounding names like Warkworth & Wellsford plus the unusual like Waipu slipped past in the mists as did the tourist attraction of Sheep World, who for reference offered overnight motorhome stops.  Fortunately by the time we past Waipu, the weather had started to improve revealing the amazing scenery across Whangarei Harbour to the high, jagged, volcanic peaks of Whangarei Heads.

With constantly improving weather we passed through the town of Whangarei heading westwards, passing some sort of gymkhana / horse show at the town's show ground before turning off along country lanes though very beautiful countryside, reminiscent of The Shire, past vast herds of grazing black & white dairy cattle.

We made good time, & it was not long before we found the drive to our friend's farm, an unsealed road flanked by stately eucalyptus trees & the tall grasses & wild flower meadow, home to S's small herd of calves.

Now at this point l ought to mention that l haven't actually met S & her husband before, but l have known her through blogging through the Country Living Magazine & laterly, good old Facebook.    Anyway, introductions out of the way, here we were at a really wonderful, glamorous bungalow swathed in the dripping greenery of an overabundant vine.   One most of the amazing things when you meet fellow bloggers, especially those who started of on the Country Living magazine, is how very similar we all our.  By that l mean personality & outlook on life, rather funny l suppose.

Needless to say, we all got on like a house on fire.  Once the guided tour of the interior which was French Pastoral themed, we tucked into homemade pizza, salads all washed down with copious amount of the excellent local wine.  Bliss.  The kitchen was nice too!  Sort of Mark Wilkinson cross Clive Christian.

The afternoon just whizzed by non-stop chatting, the conversation eventually turned to motorhomes, how to ensure you park 'flat' & which way is best to ascertain this; a mini travel spirit level or the non-rolling baked tin test.

As the afternoon turned to early evening & using the excuse of trying out the Kea, we leapt aboard heading to town for a fish & chip supper of blue cod &  chips.   So there we were, the only hire camper parked in the car park adjacent to the Town Basin & its Heritage Trail & Art Walk.  Such fun!  The Heritage Trail was great fun too, interactive sculptures along the banks of the harbour.

Today's mileage = 86miles