Away at the Beach

Nothing much of interest happened in the first half of last week and because of ANZAC Day (Public Holiday kind of like Remembrance Day in the UK) being on Thursday 25th we only worked the first three days.  As the better half's birthday also falls on ANZAC Day it means she always gets it as a day off.  We made the most of this and both took Friday off work so we could get away for a couple of nights.

It turned out we picked a fantastic time to head to the beach as the sun shone all weekend.  We drove out to the East Coast and a tiny settlement called Castlepoint.  Apparently it was one of the first places Captain Cook saw when he came to New Zealand and he named it for the enormous rock.  It was an idyllic spot and we stayed two nights in a little cottage 100m from the beach.  As there is no land between the East Coast of NZ and South America (unless in the thousands of miles of empty ocean you're lucky enough to hit Easter Island) the sea can be a touch wild.  The water is also chilled by a southerly current and I only ventured in once (that was enough).  We instead went for some great walks along the beach and up "the rock", relaxed at the cafe and pub, read books and generally chilled out.  Whilst there we were treated to clear skies and a full moon rising over the lighthouse - a truly magical sight.

On the Saturday we drove back to Wellington via a place called Matakona Beach.   We only stopped there to see some strange geological formations along the beach.  Something to do with different sediment layers being eroded I think.  It looks completely surreal.  We also stopped for another short walk at Rewanui Forest Park.  Once again, in beautiful sunshine, we followed a well marked trail through native bush and enjoyed some close encounters with native birds.  One particular Fantail flitted around us for about 5 minutes but must have been camera shy and  it wouldn't stay still for more than about 2 seconds.  I am pleased to say on this occasion the walk took less time than predicted and there is no epic tale of wilderness survival to tell.

What was strange was the sensation of disappointment leaving the coast and the sea to go home, only to realise that we were heading back to a house which overlooked the sea.  Still can't quite get used to that.  Back in Wellington on Sunday I made use of this fact and went sailing again.  With winds gusting 35 knots it was a wet, choppy and exhilarating ride.  I have now made my mind up to sign onto a crew for the winter series racing which starts in June (can't wait).

So, until the next instalment...

We're Still Here!

Firstly I need to apologise for the lack of blog over the last two and a half weeks.  This was due to a number of factors.  For nearly a whole week of this time I only had intermittent internet connection (for still unknown reasons).  When I rang my service provider they essentially ran me through a set of possible issues, all of which I had already discounted before calling them.  The technical helpdesk at the (unnamed for fear of libel action) service provider was also unable to help. Their closing comment was, "Well it's not a fault at our end so we can't help you."  I eventually remedied the problem and restored internet access through a mixture of magic and inspiration from my family I.T. helpdesk - you know who you are.

The second reason for the absence of waffling loquaciousness (it that a tautology?) on my part is work.  I have now completed three weeks at the regional council as an Environmental Protection Officer.  Most of that time has been spent trying to get my body adjusted to a regular eating and sleeping pattern, and getting my brain adjusted to training, learning and application of this to a new job.  I have enjoyed it immensely so far.  It is a friendly place to work and the team I am on has been very patient with me.  This week I had my first three days on call and have been doing site visits by myself.  It's a little scary but I am relishing the challenge.

With so much of the days being taken up with work (and so much of the evenings taken up shouting at the computer and trying to coerce it into behaving) There has not been a great deal of time for much else.  The Wellington winter has started to creep in and it has rained almost every day for the last week with the temperatures steadily falling.  New Zealand, for the most part, has not embraced the space-age concept of central heating.  Therefore, we have had to invest in a number of electric heaters which we are trying to hold off switching on until it really gets cold.  In amongst the rain, and the cold, we did manage a day trip out to a place called Makara Beach on the coast to the north-east of Wellington.  We did a beautiful walk along cliff tops then back along the foreshore (and we only got rained on once for about ten minutes).

I have managed to get out sailing on Wellington Harbour for a couple of hours the last two Sunday afternoons.  I even persuaded the better half to come along on one trip (she didn't get wet so I count it a successful adventure).  I'm now searching for a place on a yacht crew for the winter racing series.  I have also been getting down to the local climbing centre a bit more and am slowly building back up the finger strength and making a few friend to climb with.  The other half (even as I write this) is looking for horses to ride.  She has had offers from quite a few horse owners and hopefully will be able to find something to suit her.

Last Saturday night we were invited along to a "Murder Mystery" dinner at my team leaders house.  There were sixteen guests in all and the whole evening was based around 1940's Casablanca.  Everyone had been given characters and had to dress in appropriate 1940's style clothing (no I don't have any photographs). With food and wine helping us along we got into the spirit of it.  By the end of the evening, with all the clues, alibis and evidence presented, we all had to name our suspects.  We all got it wrong (it wasn't the gardener in the library with frozen haggis) but it was good fun anyway.

I can't think of any other news or items of note (this is the issue with not blogging regularly).  I will do my best not to leave so long between updates next time.  I will leave you with a photograph of one of the many animals which have decided, in the worsening weather, to crawl into our house.  This one (a 70mm long Tree Weta) made its way into the laundry basket and had to be forcibly evicted.

Bush Trials

So the process of settling in to life in New Zealand continues.  I started work for Greater Wellington Regional Council last Monday and had the luxury of only working a four day week.  So far, so good at work.  The team and managers are very friendly and helpful.  I still haven't got my head around exactly what I will be doing day to day and have a steep learning curve ahead of me.  Each day brought new questions and an ever growing list of information that I need to know.  The best experience so far was on Tuesday when I got sent on a induction day to the Wairarapa to meet various workers from different departments of the organisation.  The day showed me very nicely how I fitted into the bigger picture (plus I got a tour of the district and a fish & chip lunch).

This Easter weekend the better half and I decided to do some exploring of the area so we headed off on a mini road trip.  Friday we headed north up the Kapiti Coast then through Manawatu Gorge near Palmerston North.  Having missed out on equine activity for nearly two months we had booked on a short ride with rural horse trekking company.  By lunch time we were mounted on Blacky and Buddy and riding through bush, farmland and rivers on the edge of the Tararua Mountains with Cameron, our guide.  It was a relaxing way to see the countryside and the weather (as it has mostly been since we arrived in NZ) was perfect.  We did have one iffy moment when, having emerged from fording the river, unexpectedly and without warning, Blacky decided to roll in the sand, still with saddle and rider on.  Thankfully, the better half scrambled clear as he went down (not sure I would have been so quick) and horse and rider were okay.  Following our ride we had a late picnic lunch and headed to Palmerston North for the night.

    

Saturday we had a relatively lazy day and after a late, delicious and very large breakfast in a cafe in Palmerston drove back through Manawatu Gorge and into the Wairarapa region.  The Manawatu Gorge is a "water gap" (geological term apparently) and was formed as the two mountain ranges, Ruahine and Tararua, were raised under the existing river, which continued to erode through them.  It is also unusual as a river which completely crosses a dividing range.  We spent quite a while exploring little country roads (and in some cases the word road is used loosely) eventually ending up at Pukaha - The National Wildlife Centre.  Pukaha has a collection of rare New Zealand birds and has a big captive breeding programme, releasing birds in its own reserve and others around the country.   The big attraction is a extremely rare white Kiwi (apparently not an albino but still a genetic anomaly). They also have Hihi (Stitchbirds), Kakahi (parakeet), Takahe (an extremely rare water fowl) and Tuatara.  There was a pleasant walk through the native bush with aviaries housing rare endemic species and other wild birds all around.  For our lunch at their cafe we were joined by a Kaka (a bush parrot) who was completely fearless and sat on the back of the chair next to us looking longingly at our food.

    

In the afternoon we drove on to Martinborough, again via some little gravel tracks (which Scooby, the car, handled with ease), and to our B & B for Saturday night.  Martinborough is the wine centre for the Wairarapa and we will definitely be returning to tour the vineyards.  At the B & B, set on the outskirts of the village amongst dairy farms and vineyards,  we received the usual friendly Kiwi welcome. The evening was spent with the locals in the pub, cheering, and drinking, the Hurricanes (Wellington rugby team) to victory.

Sunday was to be an epic day (not necessarily in a good way).   I had picked out a walk in the Waiohine Gorge area to explore some pristine bush in the Tararua Mountains.   Following a delicious breakfast (including home made feta cheese scones) we drove, again along gravel tracks, into the gorge and to the start of the walk.  I had planned a 4hr walk which was roughly an equilateral triangle on the map (each side being 3-4km).  We crossed the 50m long "swing" bridge high over the gorge and headed up hill into the bush.  After approximately an hour of climbing through native forest the path levelled off and the rain set in.  It was not particularly heavy so we pressed on.  Sure enough after 2hrs we reached the first apex of my triangle and the highest point of the walk.  It was still raining but, having done what I thought was all the ascent, we carried on.

    

 

I won't go into detail over the rest of the walk but suffice to say it took a total of 7hrs to complete our bush trial. The rain was persistent throughout, the second side of the triangle was barely a path with stream crossings (swollen with rain water), the gentle descent was actually many short steep up and downs (contours on maps lie) and the third side of the triangle involved wading across a raging torrent that passed for a stream on the map (good job the temperature was relatively warm). The most amazing thing was that we came across other people on the same route - who also believed it was only a 4hr walk. Suffice to say we were elated to get back to the car (damp and exhausted) and drive back to home, sweet home, Wellington.