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

Wed Jul 26 20:29:41 UTC 2017

Hello Jewel,

I truly enjoyed your post with your sisters description of her trip and your response. Thank you for sending it!

JODY

thunderwalker321 at gmail.com 

"What's within you is stronger than what's in your way."  NO BARRIERS  Erik Weihenmayer

> On Jul 25, 2017, at 11:43 PM, Jewel via Ag-eq <ag-eq at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> 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
> 
> 
> 
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