Two old wrinklies with two west highland terriers Traveling New Zealand

All Males are Beautiful!!

We left Havelock North on Thursday 12th of November with heavy hearts as we knew we would not possibly pass this way again on this two year odyssey. We have made some awesome friends and will miss them.

We headed for Danevirke Golf Course to stay for a few days. This was a longer stretch than we would have liked but we lost 4 days with the rain. I would like to put in a request at this time for Tinkerbell in Wellington to please sprinkle some of her fairy dust over state highway 2 around Norsewood. The roads will be damaging the beneficiaries cars as they leave the bay avoiding picking season.

We arrived at the Golf Course early afternoon and set up camp behind a shelter belt. The amenities are great and are a compliment to the course members. A $10 dollor fee per night for power, rubbish, water, toilets and showers. Hard to beat!!! We were told a story by one of the members about one traveler who only paid $5 as they did not use the toilets and showers. Hmmmm and I thought it was a Y generation trait but obviously the population had started to be dumbed down earlier than I originally assumed.

The dogs loved it as we had been given free range of the course late in the evening and early morning to chase “wabbits”.

Friday was the local farmers golf afternoon. We were invited to join them at the bar on completion. We were made very welcome. Donna had been watching them tee off on the 10th hole next to the car park all afternoon and could not resist opening the conversation as to why they wiggled their tooches just before hitting off. Great start to great evening. The club was founded in 1901 and owns the dairy farm next door that helps keep the fees down. Thank You Dannevirke Golf Club.

We left Saturday and headed to Tauherenikau Race Course. The journey was uneventful other than the constant wind from the north west which was gusting well above 40K/hr.

The camp ground was exposed to the prevailing |North west winds but was well laid out with Laundry facilities. The race course was built in the 1870’s with the dirt for the track being transported in by horse and cart.

We went to Featherston to replenish our cupboards – mainly the booze cupboard. On the way back we stopped at the memorial to commentate the the WW1 training camp as well as the WW2 Japanese POW camp built on the same site. Very emotional for Donna as her Grandfather went to the Great War and passed through the camp prior to departing overseas.

We met a great couple at the race course – Alan and Donna (yes another one) and went to the Tin Shed for tea. This was a great experience with the service and food worthy of all the recommendations we had had.

On show was another example that Darwinism got it right with the male of the species being the brightest and most exotic sex.

Monday morning we left for a 23 Kilometre drive over the Remutaka’s to Kaitoki Regional Park. One of the slowest 23 Kilometres with all the trimmings of puckering and nervous twitches. That is over stating the reaction but I must admit that the oncoming traffic was a little disconcerting especially on apex of the tight hair pins.

We are gobbed smacked with the beauty and serenity of Kaitoki park. A jewel in Wellingtons crown – there had to be a least one to counter the effects of the septic tank called the Beehive and the bureaucracy that surrounds it.

The first night here Murray and Bernie (my cousin and his wife) came visiting – It was great to see them and Donna baked a cake in celebration of the event. Great cake, great people, great place what else could one want.

Second night Bo (Palmer) visited and we sat down to a roasted chicken with the trimmings and bread and butter pudding.

It was great to catch up with friends and family and made the start of our stay at Kaitoke even more special.

On the third day we decided to explore a trail into the bush. Donna was in her element and played the part of a Hobbit perfectly on our way to Rivendell. Donna was born with big feet her story re the acromegaly is actually to hide the fact that she is a hobbit.

The trek to the site of where they filmed the Lord of The Rings home of the elves Rivendell was worth the effort.

The ancient Rata and other native fauna make the site even more special.

We are at the park until next Friday and if the Wellington weather allows we will explore the park in more depth.

By the way this post is a male perspective. LOL

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