We’ve been everywhere man, travelled the country yeah man, well not quite.
Since leaving Whareama here’s where we’ve been.
CLAREVILLE - stayed there 28 April to 2 May. We set up at the Wairarapa A & P Grounds overlooking the hockey stadium and were treated to many live games during the day and evenings. A real treat.
Clareville Bakery - as a must do if travelling through the Wairarapa. Pretty surroundings and garden area which Sophie loved. Our eyes really bulged when we saw the variety and size of their donuts. I love ❤ donuts. King size ones which make your mouth water.
A trip to the Mt Bruce Wildlife Centre was also a highlight. A pleasant drive and amazing time walking through the native bush and viewing the native birds. Very interesting to hear about the breeding programmes they have there. Missed out seeing a Kiwi in the nocturnal house. Only one in the enclosures and it was making full use of the undergrowth.
Sad to see that a Kokako called Kahurangi who we met on our visit last year, had died, also last year. She was hand raised and could not be released and she was quite the character, imitating other birds and people. She was also a flirt and liked the men who came to visit. The eels there are also huge! Coffee is pretty good as well.
Denise and I share everything and she was generous as always in sharing her cold with me😩

PARAPARAUMU 3-5 MAY
We had the new caravanners rally held at the Memorial Hall. Was a snug fit. We had a small area to fit 42 caravans and campervans.
Steve’s cold by that time was full nose stream ahead so he was in isolation. Me however went to all the workshops and my goodness learned so much. We had a LPG gas expert speaking and advising us re heating, water, cooking the works and then the Fire Brigade came along and James spoke at some length about fire safety he also installed the latest smoke detector into our caravan, after that we had a very entertaining but heavy accented cop from Scotland talk about weights. Pity the poor offenders who just smile and nod when he is interviewing them, they might get more than they bargained for. I couldn’t really pick up a lot as axles and those things are not on my I need to learn list and Steve was too ill to attend. But I listened

OTAKI 5-8 MAY
Our next port-of-call was Sophie heaven, we stayed at the Otaki Golf course. Really beautiful setting and fairly close to the beach for a swim (for Sophie).
There was power but unfortunately the water tap was an ornament and we relied instead on our on-board supply. Lucky we filled up before arriving.
We also had full access to the 18 hole golf course to walk her (Sophie) but prudence and safety dictated early morning or early evening once the traffic and missiles ceased on the course. Much to the amusement of a number of golfers Sophie and I would offer them the proceeds of our foraging, about 20 golf balls found during our stay. More than a few were astonished that we were staying on a golf course and neither of us played the ‘hallowed game’. Even a grounds keeper stopped by one morning, after seeing us out and about, to see how successful Sophie’s ball hunting had been. She has become a legend😃
While Steve and Sophie were enjoying Sophie heaven I was checking out the cafes and found a hidden gem, so much so went there 3 times. My first with my brother and then with our dear friend Jenny and the third time with Steve and Sophie and Ryan’s grandparents. It was really delightful. The food was yummy and the staff hard case. There was an area that was kinda hidden out the back where you could sit outside in a really comfy setting and it was quiet and intimate. The cafe is called Cafe 66 on Main Street Otaki.