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Post by beagle on Dec 31, 2006 20:20:32 GMT 12
Well here we are, It is New Years Eve and I am the only one logged on. A lonely life exists, no one to too look after me, care for me, love me, feed me, drink with me. No I am happily just about married and working through xmas/new years doing 6 x 10 hour days. Calm night here in CHCH so thought I could finish putting the roof on my new garden shed. Before the next nor'wester blows up and the next shower of rain. Summer, yeah right..... So I hope you are all out enjoying yourselves, downing a few beverages and talking up a storm about aviation around NZ and the world. I hope you have a safe trip home afterwards and look forward to seeing you all here again next year, 2 hours and 40 minutes too go. Have one for me, work again at 0530......
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Post by stu on Dec 31, 2006 20:42:00 GMT 12
Likewise, to all a happy new year with plenty of great aviating ! I'm glad I'm not the only one who had to work over the Xmas - New Year period (although I'm on 2 RDO's as of tomorrow - sorry Beagle) so a very quiet night here as the family are at the other end of the North Island for a few days minus me. Can all those having a drink for Beagle have one for me as well Cheers, Stu.
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Post by beagle on Dec 31, 2006 20:47:16 GMT 12
RDO's ?
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Post by beagle on Dec 31, 2006 21:12:02 GMT 12
Rostered Days off
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Post by Bruce on Dec 31, 2006 23:12:36 GMT 12
Happy new year to all my mates on the forum, hope you have a great 2007 - post heaps!
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Post by stu on Dec 31, 2006 23:15:27 GMT 12
heaps ;D
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Post by stu on Dec 31, 2006 23:28:44 GMT 12
I may have been a bit vague there Beagle ... your start time of 05:30 on New Years day when I've got the day off makes my grumbles about working on stat holidays pale in comparison. As usual, I understood exactly what I meant even if nobody else did Cheers, Stu.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Jan 1, 2007 11:04:39 GMT 12
Happy New Year to you all, 2007 should be a good one!
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Post by corsair67 on Jan 2, 2007 9:56:40 GMT 12
Beagle, if it makes you feel any better, I was asleep by 11pm on New Year's Eve - I just couldn't be stuffed doing anything to mark the occasion! Some of that rain must have blown across the Tasman, as we've just had three days of heavy rain: the first proper rain we've had in over 8 months! Anyway, may 2007 bring you all much happiness and good luck.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 2, 2007 20:55:06 GMT 12
Happy New Year everyone. I got back this afternoon following an excellent four day road trip with three mates. We went down the west coast, to an area I hadn't been to before, and stayed two nights in a tiny rural community that is situated between Whitecliffs and Urenui. Wow, what an amazing place. A fantastic black sand beach with great views of the Tasman Sea, the pohutukawas in full bloom, and really out in the sticks. It is one of those step-back-in-time places, and we stayed in the 100+ year old community hall for two nights thanks to one of my mates having in-laws living there nextdoor. The hall is a ramshackle tin shack that looks as if it's about to collapse, yet inside is well kept and well loved , and is the heart of the community. On New Years Eve we, the guests in the area, played hosts to all the locals as my mate Steve had his full DJ rig with us, and so the valley were treated to one hell of a New Year's hooley. Many said they never get to have such an event there, with a proper DJ, etc. The great thing about this place is there is no cell phone coverage, we had no TV, no radio, no outside interference. There are no hoardes of idiots that flock to the east coast in their millions to cause havoc. No cues to get into pubs only to be tossed out at midnight. No cops arresting people for carrying a bottle of beer. My best mate Mike and I visited Wai Iti camping ground just down the road a few kms from our hall to get coffees from their cafe for breakfast and found it to have a top class cafe, really well kept grounds and direct access to an awesome beach. The lady in charge was very helpful and accommodating, making our coffees an hour and a quarter before the cafe officially opened, and we weren't even staying in her camp! And yet the tent plot had just two tents in it on New Years Eve morning! Unbelievable. It was just as good as anywhere on the Coromandel Peninsular, or at Raglan or at the Mount, etc, yet no-one was there - we agreed that this place would make a hundred times better holiday than any of the east coast 'resorts'. This is the camp's website www.wai-itibeach.co.nz/There were several other similar little communities around the coast there, all sleepy, beautiful and friendly. If you're looking for a true, real Kiwi holiday where you'll have fun, meet interesting people and really chill out, get down the that north Taranaki area. I was mind blown by it. Yesterday more followed, we packed up and trekked inland in the trusty ute to Stratford, where we turned onto an amazing, stunning piece of road I'd heard much about and always wanted to visit - the Forgotten World Highway. Wow, I mean, you just HAVE to do this trip if you've never done it. It's just amazing. You travel through so many different landscapes, all of which seem to take you further and further back in time. You'll see high country stations, pure virgin rain forest, forgotten communities, and the world famous Republic of Whangamomona. We stopped for a pint and a pie at the Whangamomona pub, which was really good. It's a really old pub, and the whole village is ancient and rustic, a place that time and progress have forgotten to call upon. It could easily be the 1950's, the 1850's. Check out the Forgotten World Highway here. www.forest-lodge.co.nz/Forgotten_Highway.htm Once we got to Taumaranui and got some dinner, we headed east and then trekked along the edge of the Central Plateau and then north up the west side of Lake Taupo. Sadly the weather was low cloud and the mountains and lake were obscured, but we finally got to the Pureroa Forest Park. Just after arrival in the DoC camp there a huge rainbow appeared, the rain stopped and the cloud disappeared. We overnighted there and sat up around the campfire till late under a brilliant starry sky, bright moon and at least one very bright satellite we watched crossing the night sky, getting brighter and then dimming as it went. The temperature in that mountain region was brisk, dropping to around zero degrees in the early hours apparently but we were toasty warm in the tent. This morning we had a good look through the forest as we went through it on the road that goes south to north. Oh my god, the forest there is even better than the Lost World we'd seen the day before. You're on a well kept single and a bit lane dirt track, and just beside the car on either side is thick, primal jungle-like rain forest. The trees simply tower over you, I mean six or seven storeys high... simply mind blowing, and the forest is huge. All this untouched native bush is just magical, all four of us felt overwhelmed by the experience to be able to par up and get out and walk into the bush, and experience it. Nothing but bird sound, cold air like a refrigerator, hundreds of species of plant, tree and moss, and Steve, our driver who's a park manager, just raving with enthusiasm with every new plant and rear moss we saw. It was really spiritual to be in there, thinking about what NZ must have been like in times past, about the settlers, the Maori, the pioneer loggers and road builders and surveyors. Daunting. Eventually we came out of the forest and carried on north to Mangakino, then along the river to Atiamuri, then up to Tokoroa for lunch. Then just when we thought the adventure was over, as we passed through Putaruru Mike remembered a place he'd visited in the past called Blue Springs. We diverted off down a few minutes drive and found ourselves at an awesome, amazing stream with water so clear it could almost rival Pupu springs in Nelson District, and you could see dozens of brown trout lazily swimming up and down. Awesome. I will add a few photos here soon as none of the words above can possibly describe the awesome places I have seen in the past few days. Even the photos can't really. Anyway, sorry about the travelog. I got a little carried away. Happy New Year.
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Post by steve on Jan 3, 2007 13:27:42 GMT 12
Whow... Dave...you should seriously consider writing as a career. Your insight and description of North Taranaki and your trek through the middle country and old highway 43 was fasinating and gives me itchie feet. Sounds like a great break with good mates. I think the key to a happpy holiday is your company you are with and the enviroment. I have stayed at New Plymouth many times but never on the northern coast...gives me ideas for my holiday in Feb. Another place I am sure you would love is Dawson Falls retreat on Mt Taranaki...and exploring Egmount national park...thanks for your insight for a great vacation cheers..
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 3, 2007 14:42:32 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 3, 2007 15:07:59 GMT 12
The beach (note how uncrowded it is!) Is there anything more symbolic of a Kiwi summer than a red pohutukawa against a beautiful blue sky? A yellow pohutukawa!! The Whangamomona pub Other rustic parts of the Republic of Whangamomona One of the many views on the Lost World Highway The Moki Tunnel (also known as the Hobbit Hole)
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Post by steve on Jan 3, 2007 15:22:27 GMT 12
Whangamamona or whanga is they say locally is really a ghost town re born...fasinating pub and relics of the past. NZs equal of Tombstone USA.. Not sure of though what the overnight accomodation would be like.I was tempted some years back when i was travelling through the town with a girlfriend. She was a bit of a city slicker so i thought the ghost town admosphere might ruin the day....or the evening so to speak. Taranaki is a great province and i suppose much of that comes from the isolation...a different world
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Post by Kereru on Jan 3, 2007 15:24:36 GMT 12
Happy New Year to all on the WOC forum and hope you all had a great time. Great write up and pics Dave of the lower North Island. Crikey there is something beyond the Bombay Hills? ;D I am looking forward to WOW at Masterton in a couple of weeks. We got invited to a friends beach house at Tokerau Bay and I took the opportunity to call on the airports on the way for a few photos. Got a bit of rain at Kerikeri and just missed a Convair taking off. www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5889588Managed a visit to Kaitaia and caught a Beech 1900 arriving and departing and a few other GA aircraft on the ramp with a bit of sun out. www.jetphotos.net/viewphoto.php?id=5889605The weather was nice on the way back so visited Kerikeri and Paihia for some more pics and alas the CF card decided to go on holiday too so looks like I lost those ones. Not to worry we will just have to go back before winter for another visit. Keep the stories and pics coming, gives the rest of us ideas for next Christmas / New Year break. Cheers, Colin
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 3, 2007 15:54:51 GMT 12
Great pictures Colin! That's another lovely beach with no crowds on it. We're so blessed and spoiled for choice in NZ. It makes you wonder why people head generally all to the same old crap holes each New Year when there are places as idylic as where we went to respetively.
Steve, I've just added a few more photos of Whanga above, and indeed it does look like a ghost town. There are a few like that around eh, one other I can think of is at Mangaweka.
Whangamomona may be old and run down but the pub was really nice inside, really charming in fact, and clean and modern whist holding onto it's historic atmospehere. We only went into the bar but we noticed it's a really massive hotel (no doubt a very popular staging point in the olden days of horse and cart or Model A's) and so I assume there's a fair bit of accomodation available.
Their annual Republic Day celebrations come up in a few weeks time, and apparently they get thousands of people along to it.
I'll add a few more photos soon.
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Post by steve on Jan 3, 2007 16:19:59 GMT 12
Yes ideed great pics Colin...we will all have to open a online travel agency...Back to Whanga...apparently if my memory serves me correctly Republic day was created because the NZ geographical board changed its territorial governence from Taranaki District Council to Whanganui DC...Hard to understand their logic... but has as you say become a extremley popular day in the region....The Hotel looks like it has had a make over...great stuff...I agree with your sentiment Dave re the same old crap holes...I suspect its just youth wanting to score with other young ones rather than flavouring the beauty of other small towns and villages etc interesting reflections..
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Post by Dave Homewood on Jan 3, 2007 16:43:26 GMT 12
One sad thing I discovered when we stayed beside Urenui, was that it was there at sleepy little Urenui that the famous Max Corkill, his partner Gaynor Martin, and his cat Rastus were killed, when some idiot drove on the wrong side of the road and wiped them out. That was on January 20th 1998. There's a nice tribute to Max and Rastus here www.xs4all.nl/~rottnest/rastus.htm
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Post by Bruce on Jan 3, 2007 17:05:38 GMT 12
Sounds like you guys have been having a great time in the "Heartland". good on you guys, I'm a great believer in getting out into "real NZ" as opposed to plastic, touristy places like Mt Maunganui or Whangamata. Northland is my Ancestrial homeland and I find myself drawn back there to explore further. I've often stopped in north Taranaki on my way to New Plymouth etc, sounds like I'll have to stay a bit longer next time. May favourite bit of "low key" NZ is Great Barrier Island, although I hear on the news recently that the Auckland developers are moving in and pushing up land prices - they even want to build a residential development (Pauanui style) at Medlands Beach - one of the most scenic, isolated beaches you can imagine - typical!. Make sure you DON'T tell others about the awesome places you've stayed - they will be under threat before long!
I've been having an "at home" holiday, but getting lots done on my homebuilt aeroplane - been playing with the cabin doors today. I'm Heading up north in a week or so time to go to my Aunties 60th Birthday party - its always good catching up with the rellies!
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Post by Kereru on Jan 3, 2007 20:36:15 GMT 12
Great pictures Colin! That's another lovely beach with no crowds on it. We're so blessed and spoiled for choice in NZ. Indeed we are blessed. The beach shot was early 6:56 am and there were a few out walking even at that time. Such a long beach and it used to be the main road in at one time our hosts informed us. The fishing boat photo was taken just after and they were coming in from fishing with their breakfast. I must say the snapper we had that morning cooked on the BBQ was very nice for breakfast too! The other shot of the renovated holiday home was taken nearer 8:00 am. They wanted to keep the bach feeling and just made it bigger but retains the feel and they have two sections so one is used for campers. I remember visiting Matai Bay camping ground many years ago when our children were young and it was a great place for families and friends. Everybody mucked in and we all had a ball. We had 7 glorious sunny days there and the day we left it absolutely poured with rain and did not stop so it was pack up the tent onto a trailer in the rain (incidentally we borrowed the trailer all those years ago from the people we visited and stayed with this year) load up the family and two hitch hikers and make our way to Whangarei. There was a muddy patch we had to go through on the road out and many were being towed out and I remember my dad's words from many years earlier "don't stop even when it is skidding and as long as your moving you will make it through" sure enough I put my Morris Marina in first gear and she pulled us, the two hitch hikers and a very heavy trailer through the muddy patch and up the other side no problem! I had a great deal of respect for that car after that as there were many that called upon the Landcruiser to pull them out that day. One thing I noticed after so many years absence was the amount of development with so many houses being built and a nice tar sealed road now. Dave you have me thinking I might just take an extra day to get home from Masterton and try that trip you did so we will see how we are placed for time and thanks for mentioning it. Colin
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