The end of an era

Peter, my husband for over 50 years, breathed his last at 6.50pm on 23 May. As I had laughingly told him he had to be here when I got back from my trip. Not sure if it is appropriate to say he waited - but he was definitely more fragile when I got back. He was still bright and chirpy when he saw Tui and I, and the staff said he still started every day with "Happy Good morning"...

He had been eating less and less, and had had a couple of falls, such that he was now needing someone to watch him when he walked or showered etc. Despite me calling in almost every day and trying to ensure that food was offered that he would eat, it was obvious from about the 20th May that he was on a real downhill slide. When I found out his creatinine levels and his eGFR from his blood tests and discussed what these levels meant in terms of kidney function with Jonathan and googled what those terms meant I realised we didnt have long. His body was  finally failing his indomitable spirit.

Catherine was due over on Friday 24th and Jonathan was standing by to come up but Peter had another fall - about 3pm on the Thursday 23 May - it is unclear but he probably had a stroke which caused the fall. I was up there within ten minutes of the phone call and the paramedics arrived soon after - his heart was stopping and  his body struggled to breathe for another two and a half hours - It seemed so sudden and i was absolutely shattered. Gloria was with me at first and then Karen came in and was there with me at the last.

It has been a rough week  - I have never had such emotional numbness... lots of messages of support and love. Catherine and Jonathan's families both with me .. over 100 at the funeral - the family and extended family nearly all turned up ( except for the overseas ones who couldnt be expected to make it) - I think we gave him  an appropriate and well justified send off.

I cant write more here, but despite wondering for over 20 years when this day would come, it doesnt really feel that he has gone - I think I do understand what they mean when they say the body and physical presence has gone, but he is still with me.

"If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together ... There is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart... I'll always be with you."

As Shakespeare says " all of life is a stage ' and I guess now I start on my "Third Act" - so a new blog will start soon. 

This is the link to the new blog

https://lizziesjourney2019.blogspot.com/

Back from Sicily, Malta and Rome

Wow, there is no way I can write up this trip in my blog - I would need to write a book. The trip organised by the NSW Art Gallery in conjunction with Renaissance tours was a 2 week in -depth look at the Art, history ( including archaeology), architecture, culture of Sicily and Malta. It was called From Homer to Caravaggio.  We had a Sydney Art critic and classical scholar Dr Christopher Allen with us - and he was like a walking encyclopedia of all things art, architecture, Greek and Latin, Greek mythology,  - you name it he could talk knowledgeably with passionate enthusiasm and we also had a wonderful Italian Guide Franco who was also incredibly knowledgeable and helpful company. 

Sicily is an island most people think of as the home of the Mafia but it is so much more - its history seems to have been composed of successive invasions and cultural influences for over 3000 years - the Phoenicians, Greeks, Carthaginians, Romans, Turks, Normans, Spanish, French, all inhabited parts of the island for long periods and left their influences - being spring it was green, full of wildflowers and had grapes, and citrus and olives growing in considerable areas of cultivation amidst the huge steep rocky hills. And dont let me talk about the food - I didnt gain weight ( somehow) but the tour included top quality restaurants for lunch and/or dinner every day - and that didnt mean a sandwich or a pizza!

Monreale Cathedral near Palermo

Castle and old temple on top of Erice - a mountain top town

One of the temples at Selinunte

One of the carvings removed to the Palermo museum from a Greek temple at Selinunte - cutting off the Gorgon's head.

Greco/Roman theatre at Taormina  - the Romans built over older Greek structures and evidence of both can be seen.

Malta is also an island with an incredible history and a long history of invasion - gaining its independence from Britain only in 1964. knew little of Malta except that it played an important role in WWII ( they got more bombs dropped in one day in 1942 than the whole of London during the war!!!) and that its position in the Mediterranean put it in the position of being strategic for every power that wanted to dominate the region. They also have re-discovered extensive evidence of neolithic habitation, burial chambers and temples that go back older than the pyramids - Wow!
if you get the chance read Nicholas Monsarrat's "Kapillan of Malta" - incredible read.

The Port of Malta

Beheading of John the Baptist by Caravaggio in the St John Co-cathedral in Valletta, Malta

The first of the neolithic ruins - Hagar Qim and Mnajdra  on Malta - dated at 2500BC

One of hundreds of artfacts removed from burial chamber found on island of Gozo, Malta - dated at 2500 - 3000BC

The Knights of St John played a strong role on Malta for several hundred years - never seen so much original armour and weaponry

Joan and I went on to Rome for three more nights and we visited all the major sights although didnt do guided tours of some like the Colisseum as time did not permit, but I did get to do the Vatican, St Peters and Sistine Chapel tour - awesome - wish I could have seen it 50 years ago when possibly the crowds might have been thinner! Shoulder to shoulder in the Sistine Chapel and basically only 20 minutes in there.

Yes, that is the Trevi Fountain

"The Academy" - one of my favourite paintings in Vatican Museum - can you find Plato, Socrates, Pythagoras, Euclid, and Archimedes?

Michaelangelo's Pieta in St Peter's

One of the churches in Rome - all that glitters is silver and gold!

The obligatory photo - Liz in front of the Colisseum

St Peter's Basilica - the bronze to make that big structure was taken from the Pantheon and melted down to be reused by one of the Popes.

Considering I had major problems with my Achilles tendon before I left and did all the walking with 2 walking poles - I was totally rapt that I coped with all the walking, cobbled streets and stairs ( without any disasters or falling over) - and by the last few days  we did 18000 steps each day. It was mind over matter sometimes - collapsed into bed most nights...

But the $$$ were worth every minute... so I have included a half dozen of the over 1000 photos I took..  and would suggest watching some youtube videos of Sicily and Malta if you get the chance.

Now, the body is saying it needs a rest but i am going to try and keep up the fitness. I doubt if I will get back to do such a major tour again, well not for a couple of years, so I need to keep fit and healthy in  case another opportunity comes up in the future.

A nice "ordinary" month -plus visitor from Canada

It seemed somewhat naughty to only post when I have had family visit or go somewhere in my camper van. My "ordinary" months are not always as ordinary as they seem, once I sort out what actually has filled my time. I may need to check my diary to remember...

After returning from my East Cape holiday, one of my first priorities was to get the air conditioning on the campervan looked at - as well as its annual service. The Mercedes Benz Truck and Trailer company said I didnt need a full service but a safety check was the appropriate term, but Oh dear.. it wasnt just the air conditioning that they found needed major fix, apparently the steering column was a bit out of whack and that had meant even more wear on the tyres and I was going to need four new tyres - so a few deep breaths and a check on the bank balance and I was all fixed up - they were extremely helpful and got me a discount on the tyres for which I was grateful.

I decided to advertise my lovely sea kayak which had been hanging up in Karens garage for 9 years - and since she has bought a gorgeous new fibreglass kayak she will not need mine - I was tickled pink when I got a buyer within four days, and he knew what he was buying - happy to do the bit of touching up it needed - but I was a bit sad to say a final farewell to that last remnant of a part of my life I loved.

Then it was back into all my regular "retirement" life activities...
I took the opportunity to work on finishing some of my quilting projects and continuing on the Re-assemble challenges - enjoyed the quiet days sewing either on my own but particularly when my friend and I had a quiet "play" day 

I went in to an Awards committee meeting - I love serving on the Kate Edger Education Trust - ti is fun giving money away to deserving women seeking to further their education.

It was suggested by one of the Guild members that the Quilting Guild might like to put in a proposal for an exhibition in one of the Auckland Council exhibition spaces - and I "volunteered" to put the proposal together - ti was a bit of a challenge, particularly meeting their very low word limit, and trying to ensure it was going to be more than just an ordinary show of members work but truly an exhibition of what could be achieved with fabric - textile art...  ( I have been tickled pink to hear yesterday that we were approved for a six week exhibition next March!!!)  This is one example of the work some people are doing!

"Flight" by one of our members Gloria Scanlen

I had a lovely day at a friend's gorgeous home in the Hunua Ranges - celebrating his attaining the age to receive his Seniors Gold Card...

Peter had another "chest pains" episode - on a Saturday night when I had bedded down in my campervan at a philosophy residential weekend -  but I drove back and found it was another minor angina that was resolved with the under the tongue spray. He is apparently complaining of "chest pains" "having a heart attack" fairly regularly - but they check thoroughly every time and he has no other symptoms, so it seems most times it is possibly not really a heart attack... But my heart thumps every time this happens!

I always get a bit of a "what now" feeling when the phone rings and it says "Wattle Downs Care Home"  - yesterday he apparently went for a walk before dinner and they couldnt find him - only 100m down the road but gave them all a scare. Someone brought him home - he hasnt down that for a long time, but I dont think I can go away today - might need to take him out for a drive and ensure he is settled and head tomorrow in the campervan - probably go to Mangawhai via who knows where?

Trying to get more walking in so that I am as fit as possible for my trip away..
My tomatoes are producing a veritable red feast - they have done supremely well this year! My beans didnt - apparently I may have given them too much fertiliser and the growth all went into the leaves not flowers! The birds round here are voracious eaters  of anything moist- it has been so hot they are grabbling everything they can find - my young lettuce plants rarely survive - I have got 2 out of 6 growing that I planted last week...

Philosophy classes have started up again and setting up to assist on the admin side has kept me busy - I am going to be handling the attendance and reporting from the database - once everything works on my computer - when volunteers set things up there is often qutie a unique individual way they do things and you have to work out what their way is! I am enjoying our material this term - it is looking closely at  devotion and worship - what they might mean - devotion to what -  and how they can be applied in the life - 

Brian from Canada arrived early on 3 March and we had a very full few days. Took Peter up to Elvis in the Gardens - very hot day as a large number of Elvis impersonators, several from around the world, did their thing in a free all day concert up at the Botanic Gardens.

We found a shady tree to sit under - long way from stage but big loudspeakers!

Huge numbers watching and listening to "Elvis" most back in the shade of surrounding trees or under gazebos

Then on the Monday we used our Gold Cards to take the Train and then ferry to the Auckland Maritime Museum - Brian as an ex NZ merchant navy captain was interested to see many of the exhibits and then on to Waiheke Island where there was an outdoor sculpture exhibition around one of the headlands. The weather was almost too hot and we were grateful for a sea breeze in the afternoon. The scenery and views were spectacular - the sculptures were innovative, but sometimes I didnt quite get what the artists were aiming at despite explanations using words like "disintegrating" and "decomplexifying" ..... Had a quick meal of fish and chips after walking round the Art Gallery and then home on ferry and train  to pick up Tui from her doggy play date.  A long day - but a pleasing one! The legs were tired!

Brian at the Maritime Museum

Some lovely old pohutukawas

Thought this yukka should have been one of the sculptures

I think this was called Caged

Looking back to Matiatia

Yep - this was one of the sculptures

Gorgeous little bay down there - perfect for a kayaker to pull in out of sight to have a cuppa

After a visit to Dress Smart - the outlet mall in Onehunga ( where I spent more than I should have - again!!!) we came home and picked up Peter - unfortunately Brian developed a tummy upset that afternoon and spent an uncomfortable evening and night. So we stayed close to home on wednesday before he went out to dinner with his cousin.  Having a visitor and accomplice always inspires me to do more int he garden and we gave the blueberry bushes a good haircut after taking down the netting. More pruning later in the winter!  Lovely to have him here on his annual visit.

Had a  very busy weekend last weekend with an invitation to accompany my friend Emeritus Professor Dame Charmian O'Connor to an Alumni Awards Dinner ( black tie event) - fun to get dressed up - lots of my ex-colleagues were there - must say all the men seemed to have got much older!. Then Guild meeting on Saturday and Sunday I drove my friend Margaret in the campervan to Rotorua to a rather special national Quilting exhibition... we are a bit inspired to step a bit further out of our usual comfort zone and have a go at some more "arty" techniques!

This was one of my favourites - yes it is the Desert Road in the centre of the North island.

I am getting fairly excited about my trip in April - paid the final payment, booked a morning tour of the Vatican in Rome and have starting thinking about weather, clothes etc... 


Right, need to go up and check on Peter - take him for a drive or something and then come home and maybe take off tomorrow morning for a few days.

My final January road trip - East Coast here I come.

Warning - this is a very long post - but it a good record of the places I went - and the beautiful countryside we have.

After Callum went home, I had  a week at home doing jobs around the garden, took Peter out a couple of times, and had a lovely day and one evening  “playing” with my Re-assemble art quilt challenge round at Margaret’s – 

I suddenly decided that instead of going round East Cape clockwise and touching base with Jonathan and family I needed to do it the other way round, The kids would be back at school so if I wanted to see them again I needed to go there first – so I decided to leave on Friday .I was very laid back about this trip – just took bare essentials and didn’t go overboard getting food ready etc.

Friday was a beautiful day for driving although very very hot and I got as far as 5 mile Bay after a morning tea stop at Huntly and a lunch stop at Moana Roa  Reserve on Lake Karapiro. I expected 5 mile Bay to be crowded as there were apparently lots of events on in Taupo that weekend including a major rock concert. 

When I got there at 3.30pm I thought it was almost full and I got a nice little spot which was flat and then sat there doing some hand sewing and watched ever more coming in and trying to find a space. Had a quick swim to try to cool off – sitting in wet togs was a blessing and then I hung a double sheet up to get some extra shade for Me and Tui.. that worked well as there was almost no wind. Had nice chat with a couple from Wales in a hire van and then a small caravan late in the day parked very close to me but it was OK they didn’t intrude on my space and they went into Taupo for dinner so hardly saw them.

I slept well and had a chance for a nice walk with Tui and breakfast before most people were even up! So I took off and got as far as Motuopa and parked by the marina for another cuppa and a break. Lovely spot  lots of swans, ducks and a dad and his little son "fishing" off the wharf.( not suitable for camping though).

 I carried on down the island and reached Palmerston North about 1 pm. Lovely easy driving -beautiful day and in the afternoon I took Jonathan and the kids to a "Small holders auction  up the Pohangina valley - we got there when it was nearly finished and most of the  "bargains" were gone - but we did come home with 10 pittosporum trees for the block of land Jonathan and Amy are planning to buy. 

Spent the next couple of days with the family, It basically rained on and off all day on Sunday so kids stayed inside and Jonathan went for the morning to the show with Amy. Monday was another quiet day, but Callum appeared to have white spots inside his mouth and was quite unlike his usual self - more quiet and compliant than usual! so after a bit of a shopping trip to Bunnings and then Farmlands Jonathan and Callum ended up at the doctor.

After the kids were returned to their Mum on  Tuesday I filled the camper with water, emptied the toilet cassette and headed off on my adventure. Weather was predicted to be very hot so bought a smallish tarpaulin that I could hang up for extra shade.

Shade at Haumoana Domain

After consulting the Travel directory and with recommendations from the Facebook group "Female Travel buddies" I aimed to Haumoana Domain - just out of Havelock near Hastings. The domain is at a river mouth with an extensive wetlands behind it, with cycle tracks leading back to the SH2. Not sandy but steep and stony with driftwood abounding the river mouth was a mecca for fishing.  Lots of coming and going but the best bit was that the Domain had been recently upgraded and there were lots of shady grassy spots to camp and hardly anyone else there - which was a surprise. Took Tui for several walks and we sat in the shade just relaxing, reading and did a bit of hand sewing. 

 

River mouth Tukituki River

The wetlands and cycle path

Looking back towards Cape Kidnappers

Wednesday – Haumoana Domain - Clive

Clifton Beach

Slept well – wasn’t too hot at night thank goodness. After breakfast I drove down  Esplanade road – heading south - right alongside the beach and passed several likely spots – found myself at the Clifton Beach reserve – and that was the spot Peter and I had seen several years ago – right on the beachfront, gorgeous views right round to Cape Kidnappers. Lots more campervans there –obviously thought it was a better spot than Haumoana – which I was told this morning had had a major make over, so it is much nicer than it used to be. 

Freedom camping at Clifton beach Reserve

Drove back up the Napier road – through the town and port and on out to Highway 2. Getting pretty hot in the car! The road was very hilly and windy, with lots of trucks – logging trucks in particular and road works ( apparently the trucks play havoc with the road surface).

Stopped for a cuppa at Lake Tutira – it was an absolute millpond and looked gorgeous. Not suitable for swimming at the moment due to algae and something they call “Duck Itch” – remedial actions being taken to try and get the water quality back to what it should be. Nice camping area beside the lake with shade but NO dogs allowed so not OK for me.

Lake Tutira - morning tea spot

Lake Tutira - view from campsite

Road works and windy so it took ages to get to Wairoa.  I drove out on the Marine parade past the Pilot Hill Reserve and lunched beside the water very close to what was (I think) the outlet of the Wairoa River.

Tui and I getting very very hot in the camper as we are driving – the air con is NOT working properly and It is not fun sweating while driving. The Mercedes Hawkes Bay people are unfortunately at Napier – should have phoned this morning! They gave me an address for someone in Gisborne so I will check it out.

Went round and had a look at Opoutama and Mahia Beach. 

The Opoutama site was nice, but no shade and I think I need to check out the Gisborne repair service possibility so will keep going. Gorgeous views of the Mahia peninsula – big white cliffs and lovely sandy beach with huge amounts of driftwood. Big blue sky and the sea a copy cat glorious shade of blues - from turquoise through to dark cobalt..

No go with the repair – apparently not a 5 minute job – needs the air con system to be overhauled. Have to wait until Auckland. So came out of Gisborne, got a Gisborne Council summer camping permit at the Otiku store and came up to the first of their designated freedom camping sites at Turihaua #3552. 

Turihaua Bay - my early morning look back at the night's campsite - only one other caravan there.

Close to the beach, lovely sand, driftwood, only one other caravan here and that looks like it has been here all summer but I think it is fine. I need to stop – enough heat for one day. Will not do big mileages when it is so hot – so I will aim to spend another 2 nights before hitting the Bay of Plenty and hopefully home on Sunday.

No one else arrived during the night, and it wasn’t particularly quiet with traffic “thundering” past – lots of trucks.  But I slept fine – very clear skies – seemed to see the entire Milky Way and out the window by my  pillow I could see the Southern Cross and the Pointers amongst the rest of the galaxy.

Thursday

Awake before dawn and watched the sky change colour before I meditated. Sea flat calm – looks like a beautiful day coming up. I decided that with the number of logging trucks going south and the empty logging trucks going north I would try and find a quiet spot for breakfast.

Headed North before 7 am and called in at Pouawa Beach #3549. Lots of little caravans and tents amongst quite bumpy grassed areas in sandhills. 

I stopped for a little while but didn’t want to spend longer there so carried on and saw turnoff to Waihau Bay #3546. 

Had been driving through the steep hill country of the East Coast and the road in was the same – had 30km signs on the gravel – roadworks overdue, not hard to go slow! Passed two road crews just arriving for work and then the road narrowed to one lane – sealed nicely but the sign indicated the road was on the side of a very steep drop! I beeped my horn on the blind corners! Didn’t meet anyone thank goodness, there was only a few passing spots for over a km – but the beach was lovely – wide open, nice sand, driftwood and lots of little caravans with awnings, apparently all will be reoccupied at the weekend, most of them were locals who had returned home to put kids in school. Two chaps were building a beach seat from big tree, one chap even had his own chain saw as part of his camping equipment, obviously a regular.. he had a caravan with a tent awning and then a big tarpaulin awning made of at least 4 tarpaulins but kept him dry and shady no doubt! No other campervans from NZMCA at any of the above spots.  

At Waihau Beach

Kiwi campers building a beach seat out of a felled tree

View from the road in - I stopped in the middle of the one lane road to take the picture.

What a coastline!

Looking back at the camping area at  Waihau Bay - on our walk

After a nice walk on the beach I was very aware of trying to keep Tui cool so I carried on – didn’t meet any cars on the 6km way back to the main road – and only about 10km up Highway 35 was Tolaga Bay famous for the longest wharf in NZ. Might be the last chance to get diesel so I topped up. The famous wharf has been well and truly restored the state of the piles was downright dangerous but now is quite a tourist attraction. I didn’t walk it – used Tui and the heat as my excuse – it is nearly a km long I think. Huge cliffs on this part of the coast – very picturesque – and big wide sandy beaches – surf not up today although someone was successfully surfing at the end of Waihau Beach – I think they call it a surf break.

There is another camping area at Tolaga Bay North  #3530– flat grassed area just behind small sand hills from the beach next to the local permanent rest area ( cemetery).  I am having lunch there as there is a shady tree or two to park under.  I did a bit of drawing there – perched on a stool in the sandhills, surrounded by a huge heap of driftwood but windy today and still very hot so about 2 pm carried on.

North end Tolaga Bay - there was nice sand on the othr side of the driftwood

I thought the DOC area at Anaura Bay was worth a look at so drove in there – flat grass area sheltered from the beach, but nothing to really appeal. Half a dozen at most there and the same long flat sandy beach in a big bay. Would have cost another $8 so thought I would carry on to a Gisborne Council area.

Went in to Tokomaru Bay – a real little township, pleasant stopping place on the beach front with houses on the other side of the street. Everything was very quiet, school is definitely in – no children on the streets today. Drove around to the wharf up the northern end of the bay  - not a reclaimed wharf, half of it is unusable and barricaded off and some very old buildings “ruins” point to the use of the wharf in former times as a port.

I quote Wikipedia

"The seven-kilometre wide bay is small but sheltered, and was a calling place for passenger ships until the early 20th century. Captain Cook spent time here on his 1769 journey of discovery, and later European settlement included a whaling station. A visit by Missionaries Williams, Colenso, Matthews and Stack heralded the coming of Christianity to the district in 1838 and their crusade proved very successful with the local people.

The area around the bay has long been a Maori stronghold. The nearby pa at Te Mawhai was refortified during the battles between colonials and Maori in the 1860s.

The town's modern prosperity derives mainly from agriculture and forestry, with some tourism. Its population is predominantly Maori, with the area being a stronghold of the Ngati Porou iwi."

Carried on. Bought an icecream at Te Puia and remembered the hospital that we helicoptered pelham to when he disclocated his shoulder landing his kayak in the surf at Te Araroa. Hospital still there!.  I would take a gamble and drive in to Waipiro Bay, about 13km off the main road. As with all these  side roads it was needing road works, some started and much of it uneven and gravel and very narrow. Thre was a solid brick church adjacent to a very well kept quite large marae with a War services cemetery. A gorgeous bay but amusingly the road down to the beach McIlroys Rd, was not signposted and it was only because I got a glimpse of a motorhome roof that I realized where the  approved stopping place was. Right on the beachfront with big pine trees behind – but it was a flat grassed area and only three other vehicles there, so plenty of space.  Idyllic spot/ 

There were again old buildings - Trading of some sort. Good gracious - I quote Wikipedia "At its peak in the 1900s to 1920s, Waipiro Bay was the largest town on the East Coast, with a population of up to 10,000 people.^[1][2] The town's size greatly diminished after a road was built bypassing the bay in the late 1920s, and as of 2011, there were only about 96 people (20 families) still living there"

From what this implies all the facilities which were once at Waipiro including police station, hospital , library etc are now available up at either Te Puia or Ruatoria.

The Waipiro Bay church overlooking the Bay ( campsite just below beside the beach)

By parking appropriately I got shade to sit in and to put Tui’s pen. My goodness the pen has come in handy! Didnt put the awning up as the sea breeze had got up and it started to actually get quite cool.  Lovely soft sand and big sweeping surf beach.  Although I know school is in, it was very quiet - didnt see any kids and only one friendly dog came down to check us out.

Waipiro Bay - a real gem of the best the East Coast offers

Going to sleep again with the sound of waves and nothing else!

Friday

Awake at 4.45am and then rolled over and woke at 7am. Another fine day so after a walk and breakfast I took off taking the other road out – not too bad, was tar sealed for part of it.

Went in to have a look at Ruatoria, but the art gallery not open as it was barely 9 am and the town was very quiet – kids in school. Definitely a Maori town with Te Reo used in signs etc Some buildings showing care and attention but other buildings not well maintained and the town was certainly not affluent – I thought the Hotel was too old and decrepit to be used but the open window showed it was furnished inside and probably in use. Its gang reputation was certainly not in evidence on this beautiful morning.

Up through Tikitiki and then over the hill to Te Araroa for a quick cuppa. Much more tidied up and looked after than I remember, the Marae, church and school all looked in good condition. I parked up at the southern end of the beach where we finished our trip all those years ago and decided not go out on the East Cape Road ( 20km to the Cape and mostly gravel). No freedom camping spots in te Araroa. From another couple of campervans I was told that Lottin Point was definitely a nice place to stop even if it wasn’t in the book. That pleased me.

Arrived Lottin Point about 12pm -  the road in was tar sealed ( one lane) except the last bit through the farm – and the very last last bit  down to the beach was steep and bumpy and a bit exciting! The motel is on the road in, just before the private farm gate you go through.

Nice chap in a big van has been here since July – he cooks on an open fire, and is using stream water. There are toilets here and the bay is even more beautiful than I remember.When I arrived there were only him,  one bus and one motorhome but by sunset, being a Friday night there were half a dozen small vans, several tents and a couple of motorhomes. I was able to park right up in the far corner and it was plenty shady with some lovely gnarly old pohutukawa trees there.

My corner of Lottin Point

Lovely old pohutukawa trees - gnarly picturesque trunks..

Looking across to the private bay

There are lots of rocks - jagged ones poking out into the bay and the "beach" is all stones. But the public area is now well used as a "secret" gem of an old fashioned camping area. There is not one patrolling rules etc and there are little fireplaces made out of rocks, plenty of space for tents and apparently it was packed over New year - people were coming down and could hardly find room to turn around and go back out. 

No oysters or other clinging shellfish  on the rocks, there werent slimy to walk on and apparently very very popular for snorkelling, diving and fishing. Kina abound judging by the shells in the little fireplaces, and some young chaps who arrived in the evening got a good haul snorkellya nd spear fishing. 

I had a lovely walk around over the rocks, almost to the next bay which is privately owned and a Fishing club has a couple of cabins and several caravans in view. That is the area we landed in all those years ago. nice little waterfall on the way. I had a swim but even in the supposedly calm sea the strength of the swell and the undertow were enough to make it hard to keep my footing. 

I love it here!

 Saturday 

Well I must leave today - sadly - but I was given a plate of fresh fish for breakfast - came from the young spearfishing lads. Had an enjoyable chat with a couple from Edgecumbe/Te Teko - they were in the small van closest to me - seemed so old school to hear low voices in the night chatting around little campfires - gorgeous weather for sitting and admiring the stars and hearing the waves.

I wanted an early start so that I would get up the one-way horrible bit of road before any day trippers came down and I got away at 8 am. Before I barely started up a car and trailer came down but it was easy to back down and then "drove very positively without stalling" as I had been instructed and got up the hill fine and didnt meet anyone else on the road in - yippee!

I then started on the road back to home and went in to Waiau Bay where I had landed my kayak in the biggest swells/surf I had ever encountered all those years ago - very busy fishing spot now, trendy cafe/hotel and only one small space to park motorhomes. The Cape Runaway which had been such a feature of our kayaking trip was only a distant blue hill.. and the sea so calm it was just hard to imagine what it had been like for us. 

HAd a cuppa stop at Te Kaha - the reserve we used as a stop when we did the tent/van trip with the kids over 40 years ago is now an authorised stop - but the best bit - close to the trees is private and the motorhome bit is near the toilets on an open patch of grass. Only 3 stars by my reckoning.

 

Te Kaha - my morning tea stop

Te Kaha reserve - the authorised area to stop.

Well basically it felt like my adventure was over - I was back in internet and phone range - the roads started to get busier and more touristy - and after a few stops including a refreshing nana nap in a rest area north of Whakatane I decided to see if I could make it home. It was easy driving and I didnt feel tired so continued happily on, eating up my Hawkes bay fruit supplies of plums and nectarines, and arrived home at 8 pm.

Home felt good - I had slept well while I was away but slept even better in my own bed - and my neighbours had looked after watering  the garden and all was well in my world - now I do really have to face 2019.