Off to Martinborough 29th March 2023

 Gosh, we had to have the electric blankets on last night! but we got off to a good early start to Martinborough via the Desert Road.

Yes there was a good dusting of snow on the hills and the odd snow flurry brushing the car. It surprised us that there were so many road works and detours on this route. Soon the winds came up, making the driving with a caravan very trying.

We had expected it to take about 5 1/2 hours but it was 7 hours before we made it to Martinborough. Fortunately we know the camping ground well, and had booked a very good site, and were set up in no time, and ready to go out for dinner in the Square. We chose Cool Changes as the restaurant to go to, and the meal and service (a german lass) was very good, but the stand-out was the wine. A great Martinborough Pinot Noir from Dusty Road. The vineyard doesn't have a cellar door, so we had to buy it at the Wine Centre the next Day.

After our visit to the Wine Centre - and a VERY chatty shopkeeper we headed off to Luna. The young man at the cellar door thought he knew it all, and we were disappointed with the wines. Later on we came to the realisation that Martinborough had had two very light vintages. I think they were releasing some wines too early, and we were shocked at the prices!!

Then we went to Poppies for lunch.  The Reisling had tartrates, and I asked was this usual. He offered me a new glass, I said, no, there's nothing wrong with tartrates, but we would choose to decant it ."I'll go and ask" he said. He never came to our table again.

Because it is still vintage, not all the cellar doors are open. But we went to Palliser, (liked the Pinot Noir and Riesling) and then to Nga Waka. We talked to the lady there about Mendoza Chardonnay - which we had. Their Chardonnay was a blend of clones, and we told her that when you go to Mendoza (Argentina), there is no chardonnay because of Phylloxera. She said we should try Tiwaiwaka, who still did a Mendoza Chardonnay. We went to Hawthornthwaite, which was an excellent lesson to us about not leaving selling your property too long. The elderly wife came in, and puzzled, says I don't know where my husband has gone. She goes to the toilet, and says "Are you in there???" He still does not appear. We like the gewurtz from there. and very late in the piece, the husband comes in with his sandwich which he has toddled off and made when he was supposed to be minding the shop!

The winds were very cold in the camping ground, and we were pleased we weren't under any of the trees as lots of twigs and leaves came down.

A bit of housework next morning (31st March) before heading off to Colombia for pizza and a tasting.

The pizza oven was just outside, making thick fresh bases, so we just had simple toppings to go with our shared selection of Chardonnay, Rose, Pinot Noir and Syrah. A young french couple where in charge of the cellar door, good jazzy music, and the weather was finer, although still cold. A good start to the day. Schubert was next, where we picked up a very distinctive Rose

 Next stop was Grava, and I got chatting to a group of Australians (who were also in the Motor Camp). They were from Perth "..well up the coast a bit at Mindarie" which is where Andrea, Duncan's cousin lives - in a distinctive round house, which they also knew. (We have stayed there)  So a very enjoyable stop, and the staff gave us a little tasting of local salami on toasted sourdough.

Our last stop was at Tiwaiwaka, where we had a very chatty lady. It was only about 5HA and she and her husband did the lot, vine to bottle. They had worked with Steve Smith who set up our vineyard (now owns Craggy Range).

Next morning Duncan found a wallet in the toilets. He flicked it open and saw it belong to one of the Australia men, but we didn't know which campervan was theirs, and it was too early for the office to be open. I saw them a short time after in the kitchen, and asked if they had found the wallet. "Yes, but it was empty - they'd taken all the cash, but fortunately left the cards" I was aghast to hear this, and was searching around for something sympathetic to say - I'm not sure that it was entirely appropriate "When I went to the toilets this morning, I found a Durex Condom packet.. and it was empty too." Well we all had a bit of a laugh anyway.

March 2023 Highlights of Taupo

 Due to the closure of the road from Wairoa to Napier , we first had to travel North to Taupo, then south to Martinborough.

But first we thought we'd treat ourselves to a few days in Ohiwa - just to unwind after the disarray of the cyclones. The beach had changed quite a bit, and the tide goes out a long way. I was tempted to go in the surf, but then we watched people wading, wading out, and still up to their knees. My tummy would have grounded me as soon as I set off on a wave! We used the camp pool instead.

Duncan did a few runs along the sand, and we read, and played scrabble and just relaxed.

On the 26th of March we set off for Taupo using the Galatea road, stopping for morning tea at Murapara. We are staying in the Top Ten Camping ground in Taupo which Jackie's cousins own. Small world!

Next morning we head off to see the sights of Taupo. There are certainly plenty of photo opportunities - this one looks like it is one of the older ones with Carved po which you can pose between.

Carved panels in stainless steel

See below how these panels were grouped around this imposing statue

A closeup of the workmanship.

Some sort of regatta was going on, and  you can even see a parachute glider being towed by a boat. We watched the Hole in One golf where you try and hit the pool into a hole on a pontoon in the lake. Duncan was not tempted this time. He has met the owner who is doing very well for himself! That night we went to Vine for dinner. We had small plates, and the food was delicious, and the wines by the glass were of very good quality.

Next morning we decided to do some really touristy things, starting with Huka Falls, which is just as breathtaking as always, and then the Craters of the Moon.

We were a bit tempted to take the jet up close, but in the end decided to give it a miss and go to Craters of the Moon. To be fair, they hadn't actually been to the moon when this attraction was set up, so, really, nothing like the moon as  has been subsequently found out. It is a couple of kilometres walk on a well graded track, with various little flumeroles of steam every so often.

This last is what really got me excited. They are club moss, which is a very primitive moss, and the shrubs were kanuka not manuka, just they hadn't grown because the conditions are so hostile.

It seemed compulsory to have a meal in a cafe near the waterfront - so we had a very late lunch before heading back to the camping ground. We want an early start the next morning.

Cyclone Chronicles

 

Feb 4th - Leaderbrand clean out the ditches which have been overgrown since we became organic, and don't want glyphosate sprayed.

I think it is no longer a ditch and is now called a swale.

Feb 13th  Strong winds and persistent rain. The drains start to fill, but are flowing freely.

The power goes out. It comes on briefly overnight, but next morning is gone for a couple of days, along with the internet, phones etc.

February 14th, the water crests the swale, but is still flowing swiftly.

We move into the caravan where we have battery power and gas, and even TV (just freeview)

I'm pretty sure that macadamia don't like wet feet, but they are pretty stoic. There are a few weak trees which we think will eventually die. The pink tag indicates nuts.

The swale empties quickly. but some surface flooding takes longer.

We feel so lucky.

Supergrans, which I am treasurer for is the major hub for food and other essential items. Like Whittakers sending cartons of chocolate pods. Donations had to be sorted before dispatch.

Our chillers and vehicles were in high demand, but we used the army unimogs as well, and called on coolstores around the district. Some supplies were helicoptered out too.

We have had the odd leak.

After Duncan's Birthday we headed off for a short break. The devastation between Te Karaka and Otoko was evident.

You must remember that these are quick snaps out the car window, so it was difficult to snap the worst bits - they had usually gone by. But as you can see it was a beautiful autumn day, - clear blue skies, and a few  autumn colours on the trees. The heartache for the farming community was palpable. 

More pics from the Hawkes Bay in the next post.