20 April 2015 - Marchwood Park, Motueka

We were away early this morning, seeking sunlight in the solar panels; camping in narrow gullies does little for such matters. Our actual progress toward Nelson yesterday was a mere thirty kilometres or so, although we had put more than that on the clock what with our detours to the Nelson Lakes. And then we decided not to travel directly through to nelson after all, but instead to detour around through Motueka.

The road up through the Motueka Valley turns north west at Kohatu, after one crosses the Hope Saddle and follows the Clark River down through a wide valley. We stopped at the saddle where there is an excellent lookout at an elevation of 472 metres ASL. Years ago when we stopped by there was an infestation of hamsters, all living in the low scrub, delighting the travellers who kept them in food scraps. Cute and all as they were, they were totally out of place here, and it may have been my communication with the Department of Conservation in Golden Bay that was the cause of their demise. A subsequent visit a year or two later showed no sign of their earlier residence, nor was there any today. I would like to think they were rehoused somewhere, rather than having met a grizzly end by 1080 or the like.

We had forgotten just how lovely Tapawera and the surrounding countryside was, as one descends soon after turning from the more major road. Perhaps it was the autumnal tones of the poplars, the sunshine and the wisps of low cloud strung across the low hills that enhanced the scene? Whatever it was, we were enchanted, and continued to be so all the way down the Valley as we passed horticultural blocks, producers of hops, tobacco, apples, kiwifruit and many other crops growing in the fertile soils of the Motueka.

We had decided for a rather complicated lot of reasons that we would stay at Marchwood Park, on power, although the need for power does elude me; we have solar panels, batteries and a generator, however if that is what the chauffeur wanted, then that is what he should have. For this privilege we have paid $20 which is not too bad, and a bonus is that I have been able to do a load of washing here in the camp for a mere $2. Now that is good value! All has dried in the sunshine while we trolled around the township, shopping for bits and pieces and some Vitamin C tablets. I am feeling fantastic, with the Vitamin C tablets my better half should soon be as well.