Riwaka (Beer) Blenheim (Wine) and onto Christchurch (Heat & Fire)

Peaceful Port Riwaka

We had a very busy but lovely three days over in Riwaka minding two of our beautiful Nieces (great nieces actually but I prefer just nieces - sounds better).
We spent the first evening relaxing with the parents (Simon & Nicki) as they were still in charge and just watched the routine from the background.

Nice pose Lily - at Riwaka harbour entrance

Daisy not too sure whether to jump or not

Had a good unbroken sleep in our room at the end of the house, and slowly started our day. Of course by this time the rest of the household were up and enjoying breakfast, shortly after which Mum & Dad headed off for their business trip to Christchurch (hopefully a little relaxing and fun too).
The day moved along at a pretty steady rate as I had a dental appointment (amazing how teeth fall to bits as soon as you return to your home town and drive past your Dentist. It's almost like they have some sort of device that shatters your fillings as you go past. This particularly large molar now requiring a crown! Ouch!)  in Mapua at mid-day so Bill took on the babysitting duties full time. With Daisy only 2, it didn't take her long to fall asleep in her car seat while Lily amused herself in the playground with Bill supervising both. Well done Bill! I met up with all of them down at the Grossi Point Reserve, which is a beautiful part of Tasman for those of you that haven't been there.

Bill managing the food - Lily not looking that impressed.

We then headed back home after a not so quick trip into the supermarket with a 5 year old while the 2 year old fell asleep again. Bill remained in the car, just to clarify, in case anyone from CYPS reads our blog! A late lunch for Bill & I back in Riwaka as by this time the two girls had eaten all the food we had taken out with us to keep them and their tummies happy. The rest of the afternoon just disappeared and two worn out children into bed nearly on time. Bill and I managed to stay up a little later!
Luckily we weren't too late as 4 disruptions through the night would have been harder to handle. The girls were very good taking it in turns to wake and an hour apart each time, just long enough to start falling into a nice sleeeeeeeeeep.
Bill & I have gotten into the habit lately (ok well the past two years I guess) of having our first hot drinks of the morning in bed. Well that little habit went out the window the first morning we were on our own. 8.30am by the time I got my first cup of coffee! That was after waking at 6.15am to little miss 5 year old's feet pattering down the hall to wake up her younger sister, who is always smiling and ready to play too.

Fearless Daisy

We called in reinforcements with friend Vicki to come and help for the day. All of us headed off to walk some of Nelson-Tasman's fantastic cycleway that runs past the end of Riwaka, perfect for Lily to ride her bike while we walked.
Then we picked up some delicious food from across the way at Ginger Dynamites Cafe and home for another late lunch. The weather was thankfully on our side and had plenty of time to walk around Riwaka and see this beautiful quiet little spot on the doorstep of the Able Tasman. Plenty of activity on the main road cutting through Riwaka. The Brewery was very busy with tourists & locals all handled well by S&N's great Staff. Bill only got a quick peak and that was from the front door! But once you get onto any of the side roads,its quite peaceful.

Rowdy (our cat that N&S kindly took into their care when
we left Nelson) trying to ignore new family member Pickle,
who of course only wants to play.

Another disturbed night, but only 3 times, and another early start. Didn't even think about a cuppa before everyone was up and fed. Vicki had the luxury of a cuppa in bed being in the back room which appears to be acoustically sound proofed. Hadn't noticed this before when we have stayed!!!
Another morning walking, down to the Riwaka Port this time before returning for a bbq lunch which Simon & Nicki managed to make it back in time for. Then we all headed off to the Sarau Festival in Upper Moutere whose origins celebrate the Harvest of the Blackcurrents which the area was known for. It is a lovely relaxing way to enjoy a Sunday afternoon ( well relaxing now the parents of the two girls had returned to duty) listening to music and catching up with Pippa, John & Annabelle.
We returned to Vicki's that night for a wonderful undisturbed nights sleep (sorry N & S that it was only 2 nights, but they will get better as they grow older of course) and prepared to house sit for Vicki & Trevor for the next week and a half. Not really a lot of preparation, just learning about Jeremy (the cat) habits really.

After a wet & windy start to the day -
the Kite Surfers School was out in full force.

Monday, wet and windy and Nelson/Marlborough's anniversary day, had us spend the morning researching motor homes once again. We found one over in Blenheim, an hour & half drive away. So what better to do on such a wet miserable day than head off over there after some delicious hot scones Vicki made for lunch.
But sadly the photo's looked better than real life. Amazing how deceiving photo's can be - who would have guessed Bill wouldn't be able to stand up in the shower! So will keep searching.

A few of the steps we walked above Tahuna

Next night we attended the quiz night at the local Suburban Club with Robyn & Paul & Team to try and help keep the Club a float with it's financial woes. But we didn't contribute much by the time we used up the credit we still had on our card from before we headed away overseas. We didn't clean up any prizes either. Will try harder next time.

Bill trying to tell Jeremy the rules!

Vicki flew out the next day to catch up with Trevor up north, leaving us in charge of Jeremy and look after their lovely home that is just around the road from our home, but quite a different outlook over Tahuna Beach and out to Tasman Bay. So we enjoyed the next week and a half based there while we got a few more jobs followed up (well Bill did really) and continued catching up with friends.
We have tried to get back into a fitter life style since our return, which hasn't always been successful with socialising too.  Bike riding when we have been able, and walking other times. Plenty of hills and steps around this area.

Bill sampling the brews from Founders Brewery

Jazz on the Village Green at Founders

With it being summer there are plenty of festivals on at the weekends, so enjoyed a day's bike ride into Nelson and found the street buzzing with a market and buskers. Great atmosphere, and the weather playing it's part to make a perfect day. Of course being so hot we required refreshments and where better than our lovely Founders Museum complete with it's own Brewery and Cafe. Refuelling before our ride UP OVER the hill (my suggestion as I thought it would be quicker but forgot about the walking/pushing part!)
Jazz on the Green at the same venue the next day was perfect for another social catch up with Peter & Leigh, Pippa & John with Annabelle. The music was "slightly ponderous" as Bill would say, even poor wee Annabelle had trouble trying to get a rhythm going with the music. She had more fun at the beach after where we had our first NZ swim in over two years. Tahuna is still a lovely beach and even though it was busy by Nelson standards, looked quite sparsely populated by European standards. How wonderful! Lets keep it our secret.
After another visit to the Dentist for me, we headed over to Blenheim the next morning for the Marlborough Wine & Food Festival where we were meeting up with Shannon & AC. The weather was perfect and our Motel (Alpine Motel) allowed us in early to park our car so we could ride our bikes to the venue only half an hour away (more importantly a flat ride - very important for the return journey). Plenty of delicious food and wines and music.

Shannon & Andrew, Bill & I enjoying the Marlborough
Wine & Food Festival with a little Rose'

Our first time to this Festival and would be happy to return again. Great relaxed atmosphere. It was lovely to catch up with S&A again, makes Wellington not feel very far away for them to be able to just pop over on the Ferry. Plus a night in Picton for them, sorry Shannon hopefully your accommodation will be more to your standard next time :)
Being in Blenheim for the excellent Wine & Food Festival and a delightful day with Shannon and her beau AC it seemed to me (change in author) entirely appropriate to head on to Christchurch via Taylors Pass, the Awatere Valley, the very scenic high country Molesworth Station and Hanmer to reach our destination at the end of a relaxed drive on surprisingly quiet back country gravel roads, testing out our 2006 Suzuki Vitara 4WD. Delightful to drive and presently still fighting over who gets to steer.

Kaikoura Ranges backdrop the Molesworth Station

Sadly both cob houses in the Molesworth are fenced off for earthquake repairs and seem destined to be inaccessible for some time to come. However the splendour of the back country is not much diminished by this, a drive we have done before and will do again as we can.
We were unlucky with timing as friends Helen & Ralph (last seen in London) are on a months sojourn in the NI but lucky enough for us to score a sweet house and cat sitting job at their lovely house on the Cashmere hills. We had to relieve the incumbent caretaker and cat feeder Graham “Ralph’s brother”, he took some unseating but was able to dislodge him after some days and ensconce ourselves in the spacious charming house.
Murray the Cat was completely bipartisan about the power struggle accepting alms from the factions and continues to laze the days away much as ourselves do, the only issue being who gets to the sunny chair first in the mornings.

Murray

Bill & Graham discussing how to over throw Murray 

Cycling around to Sumner from Ferrymead.

Had some quiet cycles through town, Hagley Park and Bottle Lake Forest with a return ride along the beach  interspersed with viewing a couple of unsuitable motor homes.
We have been witness to the terrible fires laying waste to the port hills. Dyers Pass Road being closed a short distance further up the hill from us.

Out the back door looking up to the fire
 - bit close!

I got the impression we were not in immediate peril however this did not stop S from being prepared and leaving our valuables in the car for our imminent evacuation. The smoke plume was a vivid marker to the immense fire, being very frightening to those evacuated and heart breaking to those that did lose everything, we feel for Christchurch’s people, they must be a resilient lot.

The Lantern Festival held in Hagley Park
But sadly not seen at night due to poor weather.

The lovely Dean House restored
 after the earthquakes

We caught up with friends Marg & Don, amazing how we all pick up on conversations as if we had not been away. Always nice to catch up and swap yarns. May even get to do a back country bike ride with Don through the ST. James CycleWay. A plan is being hatched.
The Asburton Motor Show Extravaganza!! didn’t turn up our “Unicorn” as Rocky put it, which is a little frustrating. We now have 13 odd motor homes to view in the North Island and are booked, to cross the Strait mid March to travel all corners as far as Whangarei to view the likely contenders. This somewhat curtails our plans to ride out Summer and Autumn in the South Island and leaves us a little cheated. However with a couple of job options with S family we will be getting on with getting on.

Christchurch certainly has some lovely parks
Mona Vale House looking out onto the river.

My torrid tooth times are ongoing with us both spending valuable bus money on ongoing repairs to our gnashers. We have committed to us being here in 3 weeks to complete another crown for myself after the German one having failed (hmffff). The Spanish one is holding well at this time. So here for two more weeks then to Nelson to complete Sheryl’s tooth then back to Christchurch to finish my crown and deliver a barrow of money to the dentist, bless him, before heading north, in search of our elusive unicorn.