Steamin Along

After passing through quite a few small towns on my way down state highway two, I stopped for lunch in Waipawa. They had a library with a seat outside & free wifi 🤩 So I shamelessly sat & uploaded pics for you 😂  I found a great little settlers museum too, but didn’t go in this time. I will do at some stage though, as it looked to be on a level with Motat in Auckland, with a miniature street boasting shops etc. I took pics of some things outside that I’ve never seen before though. Someone asked me where I’d been a day or two ago, & I couldn’t remember 😂 Then I realised all I had to do was look at the blog to see. It’s a very common issue with us travellers apparently, as we go to a new place every other day or so. The only places to stay longer are DOC sites or free places where I am now. It’s right opposite the Tui Brewery, which is advantageous if you drink beer eh 😉  I didn’t go across as one of my neighbours told me the actual brewery part is all closed dow...

 Today I didn’t feel great, & wasn’t sure what was wrong. So I stepped out for a walk on the mound of tiny stones that make up the beach, in this wild tempestuous place. I was lucky enough to be blessed with shellfish for dinner tonight. They were literally thrown up onto the beach, after being dug out by the waves. The sea was downright violent today, & not to be toyed with.  Beautiful beach with dangerous deep trenches & undercurrents Interesting rocks including lots of fossils here Gorgeous sunrise & sunset I win 🥰 Funny moment watching the seagulls waiting patiently for some shellfish to be thrown up on the beach for them. The competition was on, for me to beat them to it! 😂 They are Fast! They grab the shell & take it up out of the way of the backwash wave, then break into it with their sharp bills & eat what they can. I never realized how hard their bills must be, as the shellfish have very thick shells here & are a good mature size. I chatt...

Travelling to Napier from Wairoa proved to be an easier eventful trip. I take my time, so I can smell the roses, so to speak, & also because my dear old girl is very heavy & doesn’t stop quickly. The momentum she builds up going downhill is astounding. She’s almost 5 tonne loaded, & that’s nearly a class 2 license, for those who aren’t familiar. I just lack the size & big shiny wheels. She’s a truck the size of a furniture removal truck without a trailer. Cute eh! I stopped a lot on this trip, because New Zealand in history presents itself well in this part of the journey.  Reflecting on the farms I saw, tucked way up in the alpine like conditions, isolated on seemingly barren hills, I have to take my hat off to our farmers! Those guys do a stellar job growing out sheep, beef, goats, & sometimes turkeys 😂 Farming away quietly How cute is that beige playhouse! A Harsh but beautiful climate Way up high above the clouds  I had all my winter gear on! Winter me...

After the huge drive through a long gorge yesterday, I decided to do a short drive today. Both to progress the journey, & to spend time recovering, & a little more sewing. I found out that the gorge attracts rain! Go figure.  It seems to be following me Singing 🎶  I’m on the top of the world Doing a great job in the back blocks of NZ Seen at the entrance to a farm, complete with woven  flax mat! Wow! So I stopped in Wairoa for the night, after choosing a nice safe parking spot in town. I was welcomed shortly after by two lovely camping ambassadors, who chatted to me about the town, that boasts free town wide wifi, & two dump stations. So I’m off across the river into town in the morning, to upload a few pics for you. I have so many to choose from, it’s hard to choose.  Parked up at the War Memorial Parking area An old wooden style ❤️  My lounge when I sew 😂  Not to mention a beautiful river & amazing sea view, with green patches of country...

Today I realized I only have a week to get to Wellington, & make a complex costume 😬  So I set out to go around the East Cape, until I ran into a lady (not literally) in Opotiki, who’s been on the road full time for 12 years. Another real gypsy! She had a horse truck, that was converted, so cool! Anyway,  she told me I’d never make it, & should go straight to Opotiki, then onto Gisborne etc. I landed in Opotoki after just over an hour, & decided to push myself the extra 160km to Gisborne.  Gisborne  Mistake 😂 274 kilometers later, and an hour or so through the Waioeka Gorge, I’m shattered 😂 But I still managed a time consuming part of the garment construction, so I’m pleased with that effort. It’s amazing what we can achieve when we push ourselves eh. Yup 😂  So many amazing things I wish I could have photographed, but going through a gorge makes that difficult. I stopped & captured a few though.  I want to buy it! Every day I have decide...