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

Wed Jul 26 11:42:54 UTC 2017

Hi Jewel.
Interesting.  And it does mention mussel farms, and putting seaweed on the
garden.
What's a mussel farm?  Is it just a mussel bed in the ocean, purposely set
up?
Tracy

-----Original Message-----
From: Ag-eq [mailto:ag-eq-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Jewel via Ag-eq
Sent: Tuesday, July 25, 2017 11:43 PM
To: Agricultural and Equestrean Division List
Cc: Jewel
Subject: [Ag-eq] New Zealand! a post from my sister

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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