16th July 2011,
What a great day, the sun is shining and very little wind.
At 11.00am our friends Peter and Barbara arrived from Taupo in their van Day' N 'Lu for the weekend. After lunch Pete and Barb with John's instructions, took me to look for a new camera . Off to Harvey Normans we went and thanks to Peters advice I brought a Nikon D5100 with 2 lenses. I hope you will all see more clearer photos now.
Margaret and Rob from Napier arrived when we were out. They also came to stay the weekend.
It was decided a few weeks before that it was a good time to have a mid year christmas dinner while we were at the camp ground. What a great idea Barb.
Had a lovely Lamb roast thanks to Barb, Margaret did the roast veggies and I did a steam pudding with christmas cake and slice for supper.
In between preparing all this we were busy still booking people in the camp.
After a lovely tea and a few drinks it was time for a spa. Yes we all got into it and managed not to overflow the water much.
What a way to end a lovely evening with friends. Sunday brought another sunny day . John took our friends on a tour of the camp while I managed the office.
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| Three bathing beauties |
Thanks for coming Peter and Barb and Margaret and Rob . It was great seeing you and we look forward to the next one . When is the next weekend get together Barb.
25th July.
Reuben and Isobel arrived back from their holiday overseas . We have now decided to move on to our next job in Waverly on the 3rd August. Getting a house and surrounds ready for sale for a friend.
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| BBQ area Top 10 Hastings |
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| John, Karina, Marg, and Max morning tea with the team |
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| John mowing the lawns on a Zero turn mower |
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| Marg and feathered friend |
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| Kiwikoala and car parked by units |
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| Marg driving the girls toy on a linen run |
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| Richard and Julia Butler and there Van . |
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| Ducks swimming around in the gold fish pond |
26th July,
A day off yah (actually 2), first time in 5 weeks.
A lovely sunny day so we decided it was time to get the BMW out of storage and go for a ride and take in some of the Hawkes Bay scenery.
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| Black Beach Haumoana |
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| Cliffton Beach |
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| Cliffton Beach Cape Kidnappers |
First stop Black Beach, Huamoana 15 minutes from Hastings . A great surfing beach. It was so good to be back on the bike . John was smiling from the time we left home till we got back to the bus.
From Black Beach we rode to Cliffton Beach which is near Cape Kidnappers.
Cape Kidnappers has 4 main Gannet Colonies with over 17,000 nesting birds. The Australasian Gannet (takapu) is a member of the Booby family and return each summer to Cape Kidnappers to nest. Gannet pairs will mate for life, breeding only 1 chick each season. When the chick is approximately 16 weeks old it will take its first migratory flight to Australia, returning to it's birthing area 3 - 5 years later and begins mating approximately 2 years following its return. Gannets have a life span of around 25 - 40 years.
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| Snow capped Mount Ruapehu taken from Te Mata Peak |
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| Westshore Beach Napier |
27th July,
A day for another bike ride, still sunny here with a little breeze. Visited the Opossum store in Napier .A very interesting store and well worth a visit if in town .
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| 5 Tenors |
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| Trappers Hutt and visitors |
An estimated 70,000,000 Brushtail Opossums eat 21,000 tons of foliage each night in New Zealand. A big nightmare for us kiwi's. It is along Marine Parade near the putt putt golf.
Then onto the Classic sheepskin Tannery to see how they tan and manaufacture lamb skins. This we found very interesting from the first stage of Pickled & Tanned to Shaped and dried, then Ironed and polished. From here it gets cut and then sewn and graded, then to the shop and overseas. We were the only ones on the tour so it was great being able to ask questions and get the answers.
By the time the tour was over it was lunch time. RSA Taradale here we come . Had a lovely roast of the day (Roast Lamb and Ham) with veggie's .A very large plate full. $10.00 each. The evening roasts are only $6.50.
Having a lovely ride home John spoted the Silk Chocolate factory with a quick turn around back we went and had a sample, very nice but a little expensive. We treated ourselves to 6 cholocates . Last of the big spenders they cost us $8.00. We had two and when we got back to the bus I hid the other 4 so they would last for another day.
