and then the rains came...

Below is where we've been living on and off for the past 2 weeks and the car which our hosts have lent us (Glenn's kind of number plate).  They have about 30 acres here and it's the kind of place where their nearest neighbour entertains us by coming and going in his helicopter!

Despite the photos, we've had more wet days than dry since we've been here.  Pity our hosts who are kayaking and walking the Queen Charlotte track in s. island! although the last blog was only on line a few days ago it was actually written 2 weeks ago and published to the wrong site - my mistake!  Should pay more attention but the brain is atrophying with all this rain...

The papers here are full of the fact that there has been 3 times the annual norm of rain for January causing havoc on the roads, and disrupting all the summer and sporting events.  The rugby friendly at Mangatainoka, sponsored by Tui a local brewery, descended into riot with no less than 7 streakers on the pitch some dancing and doing handstands before being removed - the rain didn't deter them! Other local news includes a row over an advert for a bar person 'beer wench wanted - a midget or large-chested woman to serve beer to  rugby fans" - what response would that receive in PC UK I wonder?

We went down to our hosts bach (beach house) to join them for a couple of days before they left for their own holidays.  What a magic place.  It took an hour to drive over the neverending hills (you can see why they chose this place for the Lord of the Rings - the locations are everywhere) and then 5km of gravel track ending at a remote and rugged bay on the pacific.  Jeanette and Phil's 'Blue Bach' is as close to the sea as you can get.  At high tide, there are only about 3m separating you from the surf as you sit on the deck.  One or two other bachs hidden amongst trees are around the bay which stretches for over 5km.  Behind us the folded hills littered with sheep and cattle.  Phil took Glenn with him on a fishing trip - they launched the boat by tractor from a sandy beach a little way along, running it into the surf off the trailer.  They couldn't find his lobster pots, but put out a net and after only 1/2 hour caught several large 'mokey' - big white fish - and a couple of sand sharks.  Phil dealt with them expertly and we had the freshest and most delicious fish supper that evening.

Back at Masterton the weather got worse and we've had rain almost every day, sometimes torrential.  We took a trip down to the furthest point of n. island to the little fishing village of whaigu and the Pinnacles - there is a tortuous track of 5-6km out to the lighthouse and a seal colony which we braved.  It was worth it to find a small colony of fur seals with just the cutest pups amongst the jagged rocks.  Got as close as I dared to film them, but the males looked quite threatening and you are told never to get between a seal and the sea - wonder why....

Drove back in the rain but took a different route along the edge of a large lake.  Everywhere seems so deserted and unspoilt.  If this was UK there would be wall to wall development along the lakeshore with golf courses and pleasure boats.  It is a heritage area, so perhaps this explains it!

Another day, we went into Wellington, but as it was raining, just for a change, we didn't do much exploring.  We did the famous Te Papa centre which is part museum/part galleries and exhibitions.  A wonderful place with so much to see and learn about the culture and history of NZ.  Drove around some of the 'millionaires row' houses along the bay and out to the point - again lots of opportunities for Lord of the Rings sites and trips.  Ended by visiting the Otari-Wilson Bush natural gardens late in the day and had it all to ourselves - in the rain.  It was very beautiful with just natural bush down in a gorge, arranged with treetop walks, waterfall tracks, ponds and clearings.  the fabulous tree fern were huge and created natural umbrellas to keep off most of THE RAIN...

We took ourselves off to the bach again on our own for a couple of days and walked for miles along the sandy beach at the edge of the surf one day when the sun was out for a change.  Just chilled and watched the sea change from morning to night.  Tried another walk over land to honeycomb rock, but got bogged down, literally, due to all the RAIN so aborted.  Did I mention the RAIN?