September 28 - Last weekend included Monday, a public holiday that mourned the Queen's passing, so a four day weekend for us! We headed out to Golden Bay (2 hours west) and hiked, walked, and biked. First, The Grove, an interesting hike through tree root hugging limestone rock with narrow passages and beautiful vistas. Next, a bike ride from Pohara Beach to Tata Beach through a tunnel and exploring out the rocks along a small marina. Dinner with new friends at the Dangerous Kitchen in Takaka. Next day, an adventurous hike to Cape Farewell (freeing a sheep from a wire fence along the way) and then down to Wharariki Beach. Think shifting soft sand dunes reminiscent of Kill Devil Hills on the NC Outer Banks! We were told low tide is best, and YES!!! Seal pups, fun walks through sculpted limestone rocks and caves, and watching the brave surfers. Dinner at The Mussel Inn in Onekaka (near Collingwood) which boasts brew made with manuka (a plant known and used by the Maori and others for medicinal purposes). Their website describes select breweries around the world that receive dried manuka to brew, including Squatters Brew Pub in Salt Lake City! (click here-Captain Cooker). Monday, we biked the Heaphy Track - getting to the Aorere Shelter and the Perry Saddle Hut - wonderful! Beautiful track, flora, and vistas! Back to the Pohara Beach, slept in a tiny cabin on the beach, loved the waves nearly lapping at our door at midnight! Finally, a walk through the Te Waikoropupu Springs, some of the clearest waters in the world with 65 m visibility, followed by an incredible tramp along the Pupu Hydro Walkway. We marveled at the early water ways for gold digging to be repurposed for hydroelectricity and then brought back into operation! Thanks to the Pupu Hydro Society, it still operates today providing hydroelectric power to the Golden Bay residents!
September 19 - Mark and I did a lot of "local" things this week. We supported Blue September Prostate Cancer month with a fundraiser swim (Mark was first in his age group and third overall! Karen bailed, water too cold for her.) Different for us is to experience wine tasting in the grocery store! Mark sampled wine from Flaxmore Vineyard, a local vineyard here in Richmond. Karen went to the regional competition of the Kapa Haka primary and secondary school performances. Here is a link as pictures were not allowed. Nelson Secondary School Kapa Haka Our local library had an appreciation board for the queen, all letters of gratefulness will be delivered to the royal family. We had dinner with good friends Kay & Ben at an excellent Mexican restaurant in Nelson. Fortunate to be making nice friends and experiencing beautiful New Zealand with them too!
September 12-Regular outings-taking Steph's dog Sky for walks! This week she got to swim in the ocean off Rough Island and run in the pine forest there. Washbourn Gardens near our house is blooming. Wednesday afternoon we rode our friends' mountain bikes up the Silvan Mountain Bike tracks from our house for a spectacular view of the Tasman Bay. The tracks there are opening up since the storm, but more are still being cleared. Went to Abel Tasman on Saturday after swimming and walked to Cocquille Bay where the track is closed due to the storm damage. Went to St. Arnaud with friends Sunday and competed (did not know it was running!) in the Wiley Weka Rogain. It is a competition to get the most points in four hours by locating boxes using a map, clues, and a compass. We covered 10 miles in four hours, 620 points, not last. There needed to be a 60+ age group. Great fun and great fun people we are meeting!
September 5 - Lots of diverse weather and excursions this week! Biked a new section of the Great Taste Trail - from Mapua Wharf to Motueka Wharf by way of Ruby Bay and the rolling pastureland of Moutere with lunch at T.O.A.D. Hall. Karen started a volunteer position with Habitat for Humanity ReStore- she posts on their Instagram (@Nelson_ReStore). We did lots of swimming at Richmond Aquatic Center & Saturday Riverside Pool (now open after the storm). The Nelson Market was again a fun event after swimming and coffee! Sunday we explored the Mt. Arthur Track with Caroline and Richard. We ascended from a sunny day in Richmond to snowy, blowy Mt. Arthur Hut, then descended to the warm weather. NZ Father's Day was Sunday, but today is not Labor Day in NZ. This day Karen spent a part of the morning with Caroline at her neighbor's sheep farm - thrilling!