Wellington to Auckland via Napier & Waihi Beach- searching for our elusive Motorhome

Auckland, picturesque on a good day

We crossed back over to the North Island on the weekend of the 11th/12th March. Had a lovely (although wet) weekend catching up with Shannon & AC and Nick & Jacky while staying with friends Sarah & John.

Bill checking out Shannon & Ac's new bath

We have given up finding our elusive motor home in the South Island and have decided to head north.
There were 9 buses to look at on our way through to Auckland via Napier, Taupo, and Waihi Beach.
We had a lovely time catching up with our kids. AC had just sold his home, so Shannon and he were about to move into a lovely three level, one bedroom townhouse in Karori. They had the keys so we were able to get a sneak preview before they moved in. They are still able to walk into work in Wellington Central as it's all downhill, but may need a bus back home at night. But they will get that sorted I'm sure. And now the excitement begins as they look for their ideal home for the near future at least.
Nick and Jacky have sadly decided on differing futures with Jacky staying in Wellington and Nick moving over to Perth in a couple of weeks, where he will join Rocky & Daniel initially till he finds a job and his own place. Two in Perth! Lovely spot for future holidays. Nick don't wear the Tyler welcome out or Daniel might not be too keen to have more of Rocky's family come and stay!
It was a good catch up as always with S&J, and hopefully we enlightened John on not allowing the price of a wine to influence your choice. We did a spot of blind tasting, with John and Bill choosing the cheaper (under $10!!!) and Sarah the more expensive ($15).

Cousin "It" does a wonderful
Rack of Pork

Onward to Napier to annoy Cuzzie "It" (Kevin & Deb) after our Wellington selection of buses didn't turn up anything suitable. Prices are amazingly high for old buses. Some of the conversions are ok, but no Wow ones. Big Yella set a high standard!
Good catch up Guys, just a pity no fresh fish Kevin. We see plenty of your photo's but never in the flesh - we all know about cutting and pasting! And sorry Deb it clashed with you doing night shift, but that might have been a good thing for our health (or should I say heads). It was nice catching up with your nephew Jason too, we last saw him when he was 4, 33 years ago.
Carrying on northward to Waihi Beach via Taupo ( my top of the list choice bus) and Tauranga. Photo's can be sooooo misleading and my choice bus wasn't a choice one at all, with such a dated old bus.Very disappointing. Tauranga provided a "possibility" but an old bus once again. Not really sure this is where we want to go!

View from our bedroom at Waihi Beach

So it was time for some time out with brother Graeme & Claire at wonderful Waihi Beach, where Claire advised Bill to get some "grounding" with Mother Nature and walk barefoot along the beach. Two blistered feet later, Bill wasn't impressed with Mother Nature. He'll stick to his sandals in future.

The Grey Beard Gang about to hit the town

Mini Mouse (aka Claire) off to a Hen's Party

Beaches are very therapeutic though, and it was lovely to be right by the sea and get out for a few local walks. Mum had many lovely stays with G&C, and although she didn't like the sea much, she did love the social buzz that was always happening at their place. I feel she isn't far away from here as she doesn't want to miss anything.
We did find another 3 buses on the Internet in Hamilton, so headed off  there for a day but once again disappointment!  They were all "Older Owners" - two selling for health reasons, and all three buses older and tired inside. So no future home here. I'm ready to write the book on "not what to buy".

View out over Waihi Beach from our walk lookout.

Bill describing a big fish!!!!!

Ma & Pa Sticky
Returning home to Graeme

As the weekend approached, it was time to head to Auckland and the big smoke. Perhaps more opportunities here, particularly just after the huge Covie Motor Home Show was  held that weekend. We had no plans to attend as they only sell new vehicles, but we are hoping for a flow on effect of second hand motor Homes with the trade ins. But the market is so hot, everyone seems to be looking at the same ones we see and selling like hot cakes. Prices on second hand Motor Homes don't appear to drop like new cars do. Bloody Baby Boomers!
We have settled in with our new flatmates/landlords brother Wayne & Kate, where we will help with some jobs around the place in return for our keep. Bit like HelpX again. Lovely spot in West Harbour to be based and keep searching for our elusive motor home while catching up with family and old friends.

Lets hope our next Blog has some exciting news on our "Unicorn".

Wayne & Bill hatching a plan.........

Christchurch and The St James Cycle Trail

Our lovely outdoor dining area at H&R's.
The days are too hot to eat in the sun.  

Time is flying by as we continue our search for our elusive Motorhome and attending dental appointments.
The weather has been pretty good but the lovely huge trees around Christchurch are just starting to turn with autumn just around the corner.

Bill not happy Murray has made
himself at home.

       

Plenty of big equipment operating around
Christchurch with earthquake repairs and fiber optic.

I have been trying to loose a little
weight, but find chairs too big now!

We are still getting out cycling and walking plenty, as well as the important things in life such as socialising.
Don had casually mentioned riding the Saint James Cycle Trail behind Hanmer in the Kaikoura Ranges. Bill was quick to take up the suggestion and formulated a plan. They decided to do the 64km Trail over two days the following week. Although Bill didn't have the appropriate gear, Don had plenty to share. Food was sorted, and they were on their way. The plan was for two cars to go into the Molesworth up behind Hanmer, and leave one at a point where Bill & Don were to return and drive back to Christchurch the next day.

Bill surveying the vast landscape

 Marg & I travelled with them into the area, leaving them (Lycra clad and all!!!), their bikes, gear plus a car. And off they went, full of enthusiasm, energy, eagerness, exuberant, vivaciousness (Remember these words later).
Bill can now finish the tale....

We didn't get started till after 12ish what with bloody lattes and all at Hanmer so with the expectation we would make the second hut late afternoon for a relatively "easy out" the followinig day off we sped off on our adventure.
Ten minutes in and the first push up hill we met the Melling Pass. Oh Shite! Thats a big push and no lunch to boot, so halfway up we decided time for lunch and by the time we made the top we were having a serious talk about pulling the plug.

Don pushing across one of the two bridges transversed.

Once we were over the top there was no going back except by helicopter. Don had bought his "EPIRB" for an emergency extraction( probably almost as painful as my dentist). The downside of getting to the top of the Melling Pass was now one must go down and the significance of grade 4 & 5 bike tracks became apparent. In many places it was simply too steep to ride down for these two old guys, me having a slight advantage from my motorcycle days. And so on it went..... big walks up and big walks down, making for a long day with many breaks for breathers and sustenance.
 It was 8:30 and darkish when we finally made the first hut, a humble hut even by DOC's standards but we were pretty glad to see it with both of us well spent for our 8 odd hours of trekking.

Bills alluring comfortable thermals
Enough to make your blood boil me thinks.

The only real incidence being me going over my handle bars in "super slow motion" on a section so steep I had stopped. I was straddled and about to walk my bike down when the arse end flicked over my head and over the bank we went, with a stunning blow to my head to boot(thank goodness I was wearing my helmet on this occasion). I heard Don calling me but like a stunned mullet I was all but flapping on the ground, taking a few seconds to realise I wasn't floating above the world ready for departure.
The night was woefully short before once again we were up to do battle with the cycle trail, us with a new found respect for its challenges and the realisation this was not going to be the "easy out " we had glibly talked about only a few days earlier over a jovial beer.
The area was the same as we had experienced prior to our trip away overseas, having rafted it with our Canoe club, down the Waiau River.  Don in tow then as well. Stunning vistas of Big Country, isolated, yet accessible for everyone but no "madding crowd". But rafting is the way to go, this was turning out to be a grind of grand magnificence. On wards we went, covering vast tracts of land alternately walking and cycling as conditions allowed taking in the vistas but secretly wishing it would not go on for ever and ever.

It was a further 3 hours to the next hut which was a wake up call as to our slow but steady progress, it being our anticipated stop for last night. We carried on as best we could with one more final grunt up a hill and a most exhilarating fast 5km ride down to the St James Homestead to finish our epic journey.
Not a journey I will repeat soon and when I do we will take  3 days to savor the experience.Thankfully that was our only incident, and managed to make it back to Christchurch early evening for a well deserved beer!
Our time was coming to an end in Christchurch as Bill's last dental appointment was nearly here. We had a great catch up with "Flatmates" Helen & Ralph and their wonderful hospitality. Plenty of laughs and a few reds. See you next summer.

The day came, Bill had his Crown fitted to his front tooth, making him look handsome once again. (Not the scruffy toothless homeless guy he had been looking like for the past couple of months). Note no photo's on the Blog - too disturbing for viewers.

Travelling the back roads to avoid all the
 road works from
Christchurch to Nelson - Maruia Saddle

One of our last nights in Nelson
Fish & Chips with Joan & Vicki at Queens Park