[Ag-eq] New Zealand! a post from my sister

[Jewel]

My sister, Deslie, is, at present, in Nelson dog/housestitting for  a friend who is on marital 
holiday in Boutan [a tiny mountainous kingdomn with India on one elbow and China on the other] thus 
she, Deslie, is missing the subzero temps in her hometown of Alexandra.
Being a  compulsive diarist, she sends  me, and others, a daily entry of what she has been doing.
The following does mention sheep, so, by stretching the rules to breaking point:  does this list
have rules?  I am sending it on and at the end, there is my reply.

 .








From: Deslie Blanch

Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 8:12 PM

Subject: Okiwi bay







 Today dawned sunny and blue though late pm a breeze to wind was about.

Probably up a few minutes earlier than usual but no more than few. By 10 am we were on road to Okiwi 
Bay so started on road to Picton. Pass the Cable Bay road and keep going for another 40 minutes but 
this meant climbing a steepand  very twisty Pass.. must look at map to see its name. Biggest problem 
apart from all the twists was the natural lighting effect. Sun created big shadows  and often on 
swinging round a corner the light was so weird the road in front was near enough invisible , had not 
struck the effect so intense before. The result was my journey up hill was slow  as so many corners 
were crawled round very carefully. Plenty of pull overs on road so was able to do so , so did not 
annoy too many car drivers...some very rugged territory in area much covered by pine forest.. before 
heading to Okiwi we carried on for 3 minutes to Rai Valley township . Town does have a bakery and 
petrol station and 1-2 farmer needs.

Back to Okiwi / French Pass turn off.. road starts thru flat farm land most dairy or beef. Did not 
inspect that closely to see which variety.

But once again we started climbing up rugged hills to reach the Sounds bays and inlets. Thankfully 
the road lighting was a bit brighter though still some dark invisible corners. Drop down into Okiwi 
... 50-60 years ago Dad was loaned a Bach here for a week or so in Okiwi Bay. Then it was a tiny 
village of 5-6 baches not sure there was even power. I know I went and I think Owen but can't 
remember Gayle being there if so she would have been tiny. It was a lovely holiday.

A small camping ground now basic but adequate. Office is also a small shop could also be mail depot. 
Hot drinks some food all a car Traveller could want.



Though it was tempting to stay I decided to carry onto next bay...Elaine.

.this section was really curiosity. A climbing twisty Road  passed 5 sheep ..stopped a couple of 
times to admire the view which was beautiful showing some of the many inlets / bays and the many 
commercial oyster  And mussel farms. Drop down to Elaine ignoring the temptation to go to French 
Pass another 24 km on.

Elaine Bay has 4-5 baches but think only attraction there would be have a boat and fishing. There is 
a working wharf area but this would be for the various mussel farms. So little of interest in this 
bay. Head back to Okiwi Bay.

This time spotted 1 small wild goat and passed 2 groups of sheep who were quite comfortable with 
passing car. Drop back down into Okiwi, tide on the move out.

Decide to go to camp seeing they had food drinks available.

I got a Hot Chocolate and a packet of potato chips. I had brought a club sandwich with us. Also 
brought a little local book on the making of the French Pass road. The making would have been quite 
a feat



Dogs on leads by water OK so sat on waterside seat and enjoyed  food and scenery. Small nippy wind 
present.

Took dogs for walk while Judy away looking around. A resident on beach which is all stone was 
collecting seaweed we assumed for the garden.



Was about  3 .40 so time to hit road for Nelson as it would take about 90 mins to get home and no 
more night driving wanted.



Just before we reached the main highway spotted a side road which said Tennyson Inlet. Let's see 
what's on road I said. Passed a .Historic places registered building so stopped and went in. Was 
first cottage in area built from wood cut to clear area where house was to go. Once house built chap 
brought his wife and children... a Mr and Mrs Turner. I would imagine it could have been a very 
lonely life for Mrs T as there was no one else in area. Quite a decent house though some gaps 
between planking so draughts would have been plentiful. Had 4-5 small bedrooms.



Decided Tennyson was not an option at this time of day. ..too far away.  Onto main road and away to 
Nelson. Lots of large trucks heading toward Picton.

I was not fast enough for most cars so when ever a pull over found I did so. Interestingly up here 
you get a toot of thanks most of time when you pull over.

Into house at 4.30 and 200km later. Another very enjoyable day



Maybe a little earlier to bed tonight. Nothing planned tomorrow. Judy away Thursday.



Bye



Deslie

and Jewel's reply.



  I was going to ask you if you remembered the holiday at Okiwi, and then you indicated that you 
did.
I think that the owners of the bach who loaned it to Dad were Jean and Mavis Murray, daughters of 
Agnes, Dad's sister.
One day, we went out to  French Pass and were sitting on the ground outside the hall and I found a 
cup that had been pushed under the floor and I snagged it.  I had that cup for years.
How or why French Pass had a community hall I can't imagine as there was, or near as makes little 
difference no * community, only a store !  Do I recall a yacht battling its way through the pass 
while we were there?  It is hard and dangerous enough for a powered craft, let alone a blow boat, so 
I wonder how it was managed?  Depending on what way they were going, did they wait for the 
incoming/outgoing tide?
Mitzi must have been there too although I don't remember her being so, but she came with us when we 
holidayed in Picton, travelling the entire way:  300 miles or so:   stuffed  in the boot of the 
Willie's!  Guide dog handlers, these days, would have consigned me to hell's worst and hottest fire 
if I were to admit such an outragious act of cruelty, but did it bother Mitz?  not a jot!
I  remember rowing a boat with dad being towed behind.  When I say *rowing, I think that the row may 
have been a circular trip with the circle having a fairly small diameter!
I also remember hearing Wekas in the bush.  [Weka:  a flightless bird, member of the Rale genus].

Your reference to the narrow, twisting nature of the roads to Okiwa Bay makes me think that you 
found them a little on the tricky side even with your modern Kia with all of today's improvements, 
while Dad was driving a "yank tank" and the roads 50/60 years ago would have been far more 
hair-raising than they are now. G