Steamin Along

Once the costumes are all put away, & some downsizing has been reluctantly completed, the tiny house on wheels put back to right, it’s time to go on another adventure. I found myself exhausted & stressed after this festival, not sure why, but May have over peopled 😂 It’s great to be driving again, although the roads of the Coromandel Peninsula leave something to be desired. I find myself staggered at the appalling state of them, this being a major tourist destination in Summer. Deciding if travel with some lovely people I met at a rally I went on, we headed off towards Whangamata, stopping along the way for a look & some pics. Some weather coming in, & a rough road ahead A pig farm Waterworks on The 309 Road The 309 Road was a wake up  call for what might lie ahead of I travelled to the the top of the Coromandel, so I decided against it, until it’s dry again & I buy new front tyres. Let’s just say it’s safer to drive down the middle of the road, to avoid the po...

Next it was off to Thames for the steampunk festival. I arrived on the Thursday, after stopping along the way to take pics of our stunning countryside, as you do. I’ll share a few of those, & then get right to it with some pics of the festival. I must confess I was too busy participating to remember to take many pics 😂  Leaving Waipu Steep & windy hills with lush grass after some much needed rain Just a farmer out in his tractor. As you do in rural NZ, on gravel roads A hobbit house? Thames Yesterday was sewing, fitting, & a mad dash to get ready in time for the merry & greet. We had some newbies joining in & they needed to be, borrow & have parts of costumes made, so it took a while to get ready.  The meet& greet event was held at Bite, a new to me venue, that served an excellent selection of bites, meals & delicacies, at good prices.  A lovely council man, who reassured us it was fine to stay at Rhodes Park for longer than the stated 2 d...

I stayed at a farm stay experience in the hills of  Waipu for two nights, revelling in the quiet surrounds of the grazing alpacas, native bush & farmland. Kandiah was the most beautiful, peaceful spot I’ve stayed so far I think. I’m sure I must have said that before 😂 I counted two vehicles passing in two days. This definitely is the place to go for a peaceful weekend or week away.  Comes with cat, or not 😂  A soft rain shower ❤️  Feijoas from the trees Orange tamarillos, or tree tomatoes as we used to call them. yum! The girls checking me out. I think that’s Maniah. They live up to 20 years. A gorgeous bush walk Kauri trees Food forest Not only did the owner bake me bread, give me home made preserves & some fresh give honey, they wind&  dined me, with entertaining stories all evening. The wifi was pretty good for the remote area, & the apartment area private & beautiful. Clean as a whistle, with everything you need supplied, & a few e...

I’m heading south now, after doing a quick bit of sewing for the festival I’m going to.  One of the things I’ve discovered is that it’s stressful sewing for an event right up to the last minute. I’m a person who likes to be organised, to avoid that, so I take time out after peopling, to get that done. It’s quite tiring driving a truck too, as I have to be on my game 💯 of  the time, to avoid accidents. So I need time to rest & regroup after each leg of the journey. I’m doing better at my peopling now, I think 🤔  Today life happened! The fridge went on strike & refused to work, & after multiple attempts, I rang a specialist fridge technician for advice. The dear man fitted me in late in the day, & then brought my appointment forward, & she’s her usual frigid self again 😂 So thankful! So go to see Duwayne at Chill Out Refrigeration, in Parua Bay,  if you want a quality job. He’s excellent. So I had lunch at Solomons Point in Parua Bay, which I nev...