Adventures Three and Four - Dates with the family

We’ve decided that some of our “dates” can include people we love (apart from each other) – so a day in the Karangahake area was a great date with Ray, Nic, Emily and Ben.

We started with the drive to Waihi – about an hour East of Tauranga – to catch the train to Waikino.  It is a delightful train – an old train that rides along the original train lines.  The original leather seats that can face either way, the wooden windows which slide up into the roof of the train, the cattle truck and restored engines.   That would have been great on its own.  But it was made even more special by the original conductor’s caps which are there for children (and adults) to wear on the trip, the conductor with her train stamps for the arms of all the children riding, the bike stands on the cattle truck and the stuffed animals sitting on some of the seats.  Delightful!

We rode the 6 km/45min trip to Waikino with the family – pointing out all the cows (moos) and sheep to Benji.  Emily enjoyed looking for the road, the cars and especially the animals.  I loved the dad who was following the train on which his kids were travelling – wherever the train came near to the road, there he was, cellphone in hand, filming them – even to driving alongside the train with phone out of the window.

At Waikino, Ray and Nic got their bikes off the train and the 4 of them set off to ride the rail trail to Karangahake.  Em rode in front of Ray and Benji in the seat behind Nic – what a gallant little troop they looked as they set off. Pete and I took the train back to Waihi and drove the cars down to the picnic spot where we met.  The gorge is narrow and winding and at times seems almost to head into the river, and at other times, it seems as though it is about to hit the cliffs – so a bit nerve-wracking for me, especially as I drive very little when we’re away from home!

A lovely picnic at the Karangahake picnic site where we heard everyone’s adventures and shared our picnic with the sparrows who crowd the grass.  We saw and heard a tui in the trees – a lovely black bird with two white puffballs on its throat.

Pete even got a chance to fish the river on the way home – no fish, but a lovely evening on the water.

A day worthy of rubies.

Adventure Four

In our last week in New Zealand we decided to have a "venture" (as Emily used to call them) in Tauranga. 

Here's what Pete said about it:

Took the Number 59 bus down to the Strand this morning to visit Hairy Maclary and friends. Such a fun morning. I don't usually support the erection of statues which are often divisive and a huge waste of money - in my opinion. But here is a set of which I heartily endorse! Just from the looks on the faces of all the children, parents and grandparents and even those just passing by Hairy and his mates are a great success. Largely funded by private and corporate sponsors rather than public money I think this is a really positive enhancement of the area. The large increase in the number of people visiting the area must have local business smiling. Well done Tauranga!

What I love are the shiny parts of the statues where children have hugged, patted and sat on the statues. The only dull one is Scarface Claw who is up on top of the pole - no one can reach him. And as Nicky said - that's just how he would have wanted it!