Napier - 24 to 30 October 2019
Les and Clare have invited us to join them in Napier for a
few days. We want to do Spring Chickens
first so don’t get away until after lunch.
We try a stop at Eketahuna Camping Ground, down a long narrow unsealed
drive, as recommended by J&H but there has been so much rain here the grass
area is flooded so we go for plan B. The
Pahiatua Carnival Park, Glasgow Street, 06-376 6340 works, they also have had
flooding and warn not to camp on the grass but they have a sealed space for us
next to another full time rig but they are not there. The park is lovely, ringed with trees with a
large well groomed grassy area. Free
WIFI.
We drive into town to the Black Stump for dinner and then have
an early night. We only thought
afterwards that we should have called Clive and Penny to come out with us.
Cost: I think it was
$27 cash?
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| Dry Park on the seal |
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| Sign says Grounds Closed - Too Wet! |
Get on the road and head to Napier and fine L&C in our spot
at the BMX Pump Track but they have saved us a spot next door so all is
good! Doesn’t take long to set up and
it’s a nice warm sunny day although just a tad windy. Doesn’t stop us sitting outside enjoying the
view over the water.
L&C go off on a bike ride and we drive into town to pick
up a few things. Later on I wander the
boardwalk to get my exercise in.
Cost: Free
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| Soaking up the sun |
26 October, Saturday
– Napier Foreshore
A bit windy here today.
J&H join us in the afternoon and we all set off to the RSA for some
dinner and to watch the test. I can’t
remember who we played now or who won. I
am writing this blog 3 months later.
27 October, Sunday –
Clive River
We can stay here one more day but L&S have to leave
today so they plan to head to Evers-Swindell Reserve on the Clive River this
afternoon. Meantime J&H and us take
a tiki tour to Cape Kidnappers, and Clifton
Road Reserve where there is freedom camping, and Te Awanga Point
Campground, near Cape Kidnappers. The
launching and retrieving of boats here is a sight to behold. The camp is interesting too, a lot of full
time cabins and caravans.
We join L&C Sunday afternoon at Clive, they managed to
spread out and save us both a spot next to them but it was getting a bit iffy
as it was filling up fast.
Cost: Donation
28 October, Monday – Clive River
A quiet night, can hear traffic crossing the bridge in the
distance. Walk into town for an ice
cream and later The walk to the beach is lovely but it’s hot, def need to take
water. Im away for an hour.
We go into town to the hot pools for a soak tonight, its
lovely and the night is clear and starry.
Overnight some time our car is broken into and Kim’s card
wallet and our little binoculars are stolen.
At first we think he just didn’t lock it but Helen is sure he did so we
assume someone has copied the code from his key fob which was in the caravan
well within 30 feet of the car. I did
see a car come in around 10.30 and stop outside briefly but I didn’t see any
door lights. I think they walked back
and did the deed after that, but I didn’t hear anything.
29 October, Tuesday – Masterton
We need diesel and have no Mobil Card : ( We stop the credit card and find the Hastings
Police Station to make a report. The BP
Service Station kindly let us park on site while we did this. Police were good but weren’t able to do
anything. I found out there is a camera
on top of the Glass business at the entrance to the reserve but nothing came of
that either.
We head down to Masterton and join H&J at Mawley Holiday
Park, we are in the low rates so get a 20% discount for the night. It’s a lovely camp and there are lots of
pretty walks along the river.
We walk over to Farriers for dinner and John and I have the
pork belly and squid salad, it is as good as I had the last time! A wine or two later and we wander back over the road to home.
Cost: Site P13 $20
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| Mawley Holiday Park |
30 October, Wednesday – Masterton to Home
I’m up early for some reason so get dressed and my walking
shoes on and go for a wander east along the river this time and back through
town. By the time I get back others have
surfaced and we get started on leaving camp.
There is a dump here so we get emptied out before we start for home.
Enroute we stop at the Cliffs Reserve, by Cottier’s Vineyard, to see
what it’s like, the weather is better over this side of the hill than the Hutt
side so we might as well make the most of it.
It’s not busy luckily so we park in the drive through by the toilet,
there is not flat space for us to camp here, so should discount for the future.
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| The Cliffs Reserve (Dakins Road) |
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