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Greetings from the sunny Barrier. We’ve been here for a few days or weeks now – I lose track. It’s been fantastic weather, and we’re hiding over here while our mainland house sells (we were getting sick of having to tidy the place every day in case buyers would visit).
We flew back to the mainland for a few days last week. I had to go to the 50th Reunion of Intensive Care at Auckland Hospital (where I used to work many moons ago). My friend Jenelle was on the organising committee and had organised a fantastic ball at the Stamford Plaza. I had to squeeze myself into some glamware for the occasion (gosh, how clothes shrink when you don’t wear them for a while).
Then our friend Greg hired a plane so we could fly back to the Barrier. And I got my first aeroplane flying lesson. Greg generously let me fly the plane across the water from Ardmore to the Barrier. I was tempted to take up his offer to land at Claris (International) Airport, but then common sense prevailed and I let the experienced pilot land the plane, which was fortunate given it was a very windy and turbulent landing and if I had been doing it, it could have been quite messy all over the freshly mown airfield.
Today we were woken by the dolphins noisely spitting water out their blowholes as they frolicked in the sea in front of our house. Peter launched the dinghy after lunch and we went for a blast around Tryphena Harbour and spent some more time watching dolphins do what dolphins do (which today seemed to be a game of chasing a giant stingray across the bay).
Now I am being summonsed to help Peter with the dinghy – I think he has got the trailer and van stuck in the gravel on the driveway. Oh well, I guess we might have to put some concrete down this summer. Or perhaps we can just watch dolphins instead. So much to do, and so little time.
Lion Rock at Piha
Now that the house is finished and on the market, we get some time for midweek breaks away in the new motorhome. It’s a whole new world out there for us. We’ve joined the Motor Caravan Association and learned all about Self Containment Certification and Regional Park and DOC season camping passes. And we’ve been to our first motorhome ‘bits’ sale, where we joined a flurry of other motorhomers in a frenzy to buy accessories at heavily discounted prices (for the cliche one day only) for the new toy. Now I see why Barbie is so appealing - it’s all about accessorising!
So as member number 35376 we’re now “in the fold” with a huge network of other motorhome owners known as ”Grey Gypsies” (hmmm, I didn’t think we were that old), “Movanners” (weird name), and “Nomads” (just as weird). Perhaps we could just be “Motorhomos” (oh dear).
We can highly recommend the Auckland Regional Council Parks. For $60 per year, you can park your motorhome up in any one of 12 fantastic Regional Parks and wake up right next to a deserted beach (they generally lock the public out after 9pm, so you have the place to yourself until gates open in the morning).
Parked up at Mahurangi
Last week we stayed at Shakespear Regional Park. We thought we were the only people there until a throng of screaming school kids armed with torches appeared at about 9.30pm (bugger – we were locked in the park by then). Yay – school camp! Luckily the little sods were packed off to bed by their teachers nice and early, and fortunately the camp was on the other side of the park, so by 10pm, we had the place to ourselves again.
Piha sunset
Just to make you all feel better, it’s not all play and no work. We do have to pop home each week to tidy the house for open homes, and finish off little bits here and there in the garden and around the house. And then, of course, we have to start getting really for the impending Garden Party! Only 4 weeks to go till partytime!
