As mentioned in the previous blog post, there was another get together on the horizon. We’ve been planning to get together for a while but it just didn’t seem to work out until now. We headed off to Whakapirau to Jacky & Chris’ as our mutual friend Judy was coming up to stay for a few days.
A bit of background here, we all lived and socialised together when we were all in Auckland. Judy & Pete’s two daughter went to the same school our children went to and we’d met Jacky & Chris through kindergarten, so we all go back a few years. We all had a passion for good food and along with that goes good company as well as the odd vino or two which brought us all together at various times.
Although we’ve met up with them individually, it’s only now that we’ve managed to get together as one group. Judy’s husband Pete sadly passed away a number of years ago.
Jacky had invited Jude up for a few days which coincided with our stay at Uretiti which made for an opportune time to get together.
Great food was eaten, stories told, much laughter ensued over our time together, and shock horror, I took a couple of photos!!
The view from the deck looking across to PahiThe tinfoil hats came out to protect us….you had to be there!The new outdoor pavilion area where we sat in front of the fire in the early evening.Cheers! A toast to Pete. L-R Roy, Chris, Jude, JackyAnd another toast.Reflective views in the morning Looking across to Pahi on a calm morning.
Nothing more really needs to be said, as you know what they say, what goes on tour stays on tour. However, I can say we all had a great time with one member of this touring party having over indulged slightly! It was so much fun that we plan to meet up again soon to carry on from where we left off.
Whilst at Uretiti we took the opportunity to visit a few friends. Now regular readers will know that I am very good at getting caught up in the moment whilst inevitably forgetting to take any pictures, with a couple of visits proving to be no exception to the rule.
We visited Gary & Marg in their new home at One Tree Point for lunch one day and spent all afternoon talking without a single picture being taken. It’s always a laugh and a half catching up with these two, we’ve known them for a very long time as Gary used to work for Roy at Kinleith. To put it into perspective, Roy was at Kinleith as head of what was called EDP (think computing, now called IT) from the late 1960’s through to the late 1980’s. We have visited and spent lots of time hanging out with Gary & Marg over the past 8 or so years as they have lived in Tokerau Beach and Waipu where we’ve managed to meet up with them.
Another person who worked for Roy at Kinleith is Mark who along with his wife Glynnis now live aboard their new boat at the Marsden Marina. Again, we’ve caught up with them over the past few years as they used to live at Ruakaka and prior to that in Havelock & Waiau in the South Island.
Roy, Glynnis & Mark on the top deck of their boatThe view across the marina from the top deck.
We spent a wonderful afternoon catching up on all their news and enjoying the views over the Marina and the comings and goings of boats. before heading back to Uretiti.
Marina picture that Glynnis took.
We headed down to Waipu to meet up with other friends Pat & Steve who recently moved there from their farm further north. We had a wonderful afternoon and evening talking and eating, it’s so nice to be able to pick up where we left off last time.
Carol & Glen arrived a couple of days later and settled into their favourite spot just a short walk from our van. However with some heavy rain due in a day or two thanks to Cyclone Vili, they were to move over closer to us and higher ground.
Of course we spent a bit of time with Garry, he came and stayed at Uretiti with us for a week or more and we also spent a couple of days helping him with some finishing projects on his newly built tiny home in Mangawhai. We really enjoy Garry’s company, he is a lot of fun and we enjoy a lot of similar interests.
Pat & Steve came for a return visit one fine morning (no pictures …..again) and Gary & Marg visited in the afternoon.
Roy, Gary & Marg
We also managed to catch up with a couple of ex camp managers of Uretiti , Joe & Glynis and also Cindy & Ray. A very busy social time with lots of good conversation and laughter, it is so lovely to be able to meet up with everyone.
There was also another get together which had been planned for a while, but that deserves its own blog entry which I will endeavour to write about soon. Stay tuned!
Monday morning and the weather had finally turned up, clear blue skies, very little wind and very warm with temperatures in the late 20’s early 30’sC. Whilst pottering around, we saw that our favourite parking spot was available so we decided to move.
Tucked up in the corner, there used to be a massive macrocarpa tree on the left which took up a lot of room as well as providing a lot of shade until the afternoon. Now it’s a glorious spot that we can tuck ourselves into and we are hidden from view from the road through the campground.
We settled ourselves in, making ourselves comfortable before Garry arrived that afternoon. John had given us some fresh fish which I cooked for dinner that evening.
Snapper with tomato, avocado, orange & olives.
The following day we were at the beach ready to fish.
Line out.Garry just along from us….not too many others on the beach!Roy and Garry picking up the fish off the lineA couple of nice fish to start off withAnd a nice trevally to turn into sashimi Sashimi trevally, delicious!
Whilst we were on the beach I got a phone call from Jacky….”I’m at your van”, she says, “where are you?” She came down to the beach as we were just packing up for the day. 7 snapper and a trevally for the afternoons effort, enough for us to share.
We returned to the van for a welcome cuppa and a good long chat before Jacky had to return home. But not before we made plans for a catch up at Whakapirau shortly.
Jacky
The next few days were spent on the beach enjoying good company, fishing and telling of tall tales.
The sun is up, line in the water, cuppa in hand, and a laugh or two. What more could we ask for?Garry and Roy in deep contemplative conversationMen at workSnapper with red onion & caper dressing
The freezer is filling nicely, although we don’t need or want too much as soon we shall have to empty out the fridge and freezer whilst we are away for a while. More on those plans at a later date!
We’ve managed to capture some stunning sunrises and sunsets too.
Sunrise over the Hen & Chicken IslandsSunset over the hills.
We are here for a wee while so we shall have a good opportunity to meet up with lots of friends, share some fish and generally enjoy the north.
We had planned to leave the park on the Monday morning, with all good intentions and despite the best laid plans…we had everything packed up ready to go when over the weekend storms were predicted to arrive with heavy rain and thunderstorms forecast. We woke early on Monday morning to torrential rain and the loudest lightning and thunder I have ever heard. Lightening struck the hillside just a few metres from our van but with the rain so heavy any burning would have been extinguished immediately.
We heard on the news that there was flooding all around Auckland, roads were closed, businesses affected, homes flooded and some schools near us were also closed with severe flooding. We were fortunate that we didn’t get the expected rainfall that was forecast although there was more than enough to soak the ground.
Departure day was postponed. Roy managed to also change an upcoming appointment he had with the urologist to the coming Wednesday, it was a follow up after his annual check up, so that meant Thursday would now be our departure day.
Thursday arrived and we were ready to roll bright and early. However again our plans for an early getaway were to be delayed. First with some farewells to be said to a regular camper we have got to know quite well over the years whom we haven’t seen for a while, it would have been rude not to have stopped and chatted with him for some time. Then there was Skip & Mindy (fellow volunteers and friends) to say hooray to whom we met at the entrance gate to the camp on our way out. Next was the farewell from the Rangers who met us at the top of the hill, Bruce, Emma & Rae…hooroo until the end of the year when we return.
Our next stop was at Gulf Harbour to empty the waste tanks but first I had to nicely ask the man parked over the dump station looking at the scenery to please move so we can access the dump! Then we were off to Silverdale to get some fuel which is a bit of an eye watering exercise these days. By this time to wind had really started to blow and was strengthening with every passing minute or so it seemed. Next destination was to Dairy Flat where we know we can fill with LPG, but by the time we got to Dairy Flat it was really blowing, so plan B was quickly formulated.
Starting point at Shakespear Park then (A) Gulf Harbour, (B) Silverdale, (C) Dairy Flat and (D) the North Harbour Sports & Country Club
We headed just down the road to the North Harbour Sports & Country Club where by this time the wind was really gusting somewhat ferociously.
Clearly signposted where we should park. NB: the roosters in the garden….they make their presence known a little later!
We parked in the end position and we were alone for most of the afternoon until another RV came in.
Plenty of room to park, note the bush behind our van to the left, it’s significance will be noted shortly.
We met our new neighbours when we invited them to join us at the club for a drink. Over a very pleasant drink or two and interesting conversation the evening went by very quickly. Roy & I had dinner in the club as well which was a welcome night off from cooking for me.
The next morning we were off at a reasonable hour as I had been woken at some ungodly hour (3.30am) by 5 roosters who just so happpened to be perched in the above mentioned bush outside our bedroom windows, they then proceeded to have a crow-off for the next couple of hours! In desperation I got up to try and chase them away with Roy joining me in the chase. I was not impressed at being woken so early. But just as well we were ready to leave at a reasonable hour as the wind had dropped considerably so we felt good to go. The drive north was uneventful although it does seem to be never ending stream of road works along the route.
Soon we were at the top of the Brynderwyn’s, not the usual clear blue skies to welcome us to the north but nevertheless there is always the welcome sight of the Whangarei Heads.
Over the top of the Brynderwyn’s to the view of Bream Bay and the Whangarei Heads.
It wasn’t long until we pulled off the main road into Uretiti DOC camp.
Arriving at the entrance to the campsite.Todays route
Once we passed pleasantries with camp manager Steve and caught up with each other’s news, it was off to find a parking spot. Should we head straight to our favourite spot or find somewhere new. But what’s this? Who is that over in the corner but none other than John & Gaylene’s bus, called “The Sad Bastard and the Mrs”, let’s go park up along from them. And what do you know? John & Sarah are parked up opposite, this will be a nice social time I’m sure.
John & Gaylene on the left, us on the rightL-R, Roy, John aka Sad B, Gaylene, John & Sarah with yours truly behind the camera
That afternoon and evening the wind blew with gusts rocking us to sleep but by the following morning it had eased somewhat.
We had a couple of good happy hours with lots of chat and laughter. John (sad bastard) went fishing and that afternoons happy hour we were all treated to a couple of smoked snapper. Delicious.
Roy carrying in one of the fish
I forgot to take a photo of the following days happy hour when we all sat outside in the sun eating snapper but I’m sure that John will have one in his blog. But I did get a couple of the other John filleting the fish.
John being supervised by Gaylene
With both of the others leaving on Sunday, Roy and I went down to Mangawhai to catch up with Garry and give him a hand for the day on his new build although I am not sure if we were more of a hinderance than a help. Garry is coming to join us at Uretiti after the weekend so we can do some fishing together. Something to look forward to.
Our last weeks at Shakespear have come around very quickly which meant a bit of a flurry of activity getting all the things done that we should have done ages ago but have been putting off until ‘tomorrow’, isn’t that always the way? Appointments were made and we trotted off all around Auckland getting things sorted. The park has continued to be busy at the weekends but a lot quieter through the week since schools have gone back which is a bit of a welcome break and also an opportunity to catch up with people.
We stayed with Antony for a couple of nights each time whilst we were in his part of Auckland and it’s always nice to catch up with him plus we still have boxes of stuff stored with him to sort out.
We’ve had a few very welcome visits from friends; Wade & Lindsay called in a couple of times and it’s always lovely to catch up with them and have a good laugh. Other friends Peter & Wendy came in their RV to stay for a couple of nights, it’s nice to see them whilst enjoying their company. John & Sarah were the next to visit, and again it was lovely to see them, and in my usual fashion I neglected to take a picture although I know that John did and it will undoubtedly be on his blog sometime soon.
Lindsay & Wade ….oh yeah, we played cards too!
Looking back over our summer at Shakespear, I have to say that it was a very cruisy one for us. Covid dictated how much/little interaction we had with people and that included Ranger staff as well. But apart from that it was a hot, humid summer that seems to be stretching on into Autumn.
Jonathan has been visiting the camp at Shakespear every year for at least the last four years. He is quite friendly in his own stand-off-ish sort of way, always making himself known to new campers when they arrive in the hope that he may be in for a bit of a tasty morsel or two.
He is quite distinctive being a little bit different to everyone else and he really does stand out from the crowd, as you see he has one broken wing. Yes, Jonathan is none other than Jonathan Livingstone Seagull or at least our version of his famous namesake.
Jonathan Livingstone Seagull
When children tell us about the seagull with a broken wing, we explain that he is perfectly fine, that he can fly and soar with the best of them but he is friendly and always looking for a snack or two. We tell them that we have named him Jonathan and that they should ask their parents to explain why. However, we soon get a return visit from children to tell us that their parents have no idea of who Jonathan Livingstone Seagull is, so we tell them to ask their grandparents (or google).
The sentiment of the book and the movie based on the book (and the song by Neil Diamond) is just as pertinent today as it was when it first came out in the early 1970’s when I was an impressionable young teenager, although one member of our touring party was married with two children in the early ‘70’s!!! Anyway, I digress, Johnathan is a welcome sight around the camp, although it is difficult to know is he really is Jonathan, she could be a Joanne. We do see him with a young one whom he appears to be parenting and a possible partner. No matter, Jonathan is a welcome sight and we look forward to seeing him again next year.
The Vanninis' Manoeuvres 