A lazy weekend was spent around Golden Bay. Saturday we went off into Collingwood to check out the town and its surrounds.
Busy main street Saturday Northernmost mural in SI
We checked out the museum and the library, wandered the main street then set off around the town only to discover a chocolate shop along the foreshore. Well, someone had to try a few to find out if they were any good! Indeed they were.
Farewell Spit floats above the horizon!
From Collingwood you get a good view of Farewell Spit, its dunes and indeed trees growing out near the end of the Spit. The top of the Lighthouse is just peeking out behind those trees, but we will find out more about that once we do a tour of the Spit Monday.
Saturday night and back to the Pakawau Old Scool Cafe where we met up with some other fellow motorhomers and went in for afternoon drinks. The six of us were sitting outside having a few drinks, telling a few tales when the most bizarre incident took place….which on reflection could only happen in small town New Zealand! A young woman came into the bar with a baby in a pushchair. We saw her chat to the barman/owner then she came outside and made a beeline for our table. “I know this is going to sound weird” she said, “but I wondered if you could look after my baby whilst I race into Collingwood to get same baby formula?” “here is a jar of food, I wont be long, thanx”. Well, what could we say? She left immediately. Robbie the owner came out and laughingly said “ You guys are game”. We jokingly wondered if she was indeed going to return, then Robbie told us he hoped she was, as she had just borrowed his car to go into town!! Here we were, literally left holding the baby! We spent the next wee while entertaining the wee 9month old, coming up with all sorts of elaborate stories of ‘what if…..’ Mother did indeed return, returned the car, picked up her infant and left! Rumour has it the partner/husband was supposed to come home earlier in the day. We suspect there may have been a few words later that evening.
Sunday we headed up the Aorere Valley which is inland behind Collingwood. This is also the access road into the start of the Heaphy Track. We crossed over the Aorere River which was just beautiful in its colour and clarity. And we wandered in to see Salisbury Falls which is not too far off the beaten track.
A decent sized slab of rock dropped in the river during the last flood in the valley some twelve months ago.
River lookin down from the bridge and the falls just upriver of the bridge.
Of course in this area is the Bainham Store, famous for the fact that it is pretty much still in its original state and it continues to run a Post Office and has its own postmark. We stopped here for a while to explore its treasures, and to partake of their Devonshire style tea. Delicious!
The owner was exceptionally hospitable and we chatted for some time, we also managed to find a couple of books to buy from the second hand collection. (Not the usual culprit doing the buying either!!!)
Mosaic Sofa at the back of the Bainham Store
We just so happened to find out that Reg Turner, ex Solitaire and Cassimir Lodges, now lives in the Valley, so we gave him a call and visited to catch up on old times. Oh the Lodge tales that were told!
Back to Pakawau and a night at the Cafe watching the netball live on the Cafe’s TV. A very exciting but frustrating match. However, dinner at the Cafe was excellent and we can highly recommend the meals here all delivered with warm, friendly hospitality. And its a damn good place to stay to explore this area.
Pakawau Cafe cat – looks awfully like Benny, RIP!