Catch up time

We've had a lovely time discovering the Motueka, Blenheim, Rarangi, Richmond area with a short lived diversion to St Arnaud.
The weather has been wonderful so we've walked lots. Rabbit Island is a firm favourite so we've loved the chance to walk on this gorgeous beach a few times. We got the bikes out one day and cycled from Richmond and around a lovely costal area before we ended up at the Honest Lawyer for a well earned beer. We had thought a basket of hot chips would go down well but thought better of it when told we'd wait for about 75 mins! The beer was good! As was the music being played by a wonderful band. 30's and 40's music. We loved it and the atmosphere it brought to the garden where loads of people were enjoying a gorgeous day.
I was thrilled to get my hair cut by our clever niece, Jacque.
Part way through this part of our trip we decided to head to the West Coast and really enjoyed the drive to St Arnaud where it rained and rained all night long. So....a look at the long range forecast saw us hightailing it back to the East Coast and sun.
We shopped at Connings fruit and vegetables market and also discovered Good For, a fabulous bulk store for all dry food pantry requirements as well as oils and sauces. Both these places we recommend highly.
David loved wandering around the large area at the Wakefield vintage museum. He enjoyed reminiscing about the machines and tractors etc from his youth.
We walked around a small lake at Taylors Dam. It's really pretty with lots of resident swans, geese and ducks but also a track that saw us minding where we stepped.... there were fowl poops all over it! It was clearly evident that the area had been flooded in recent weeks.
While staying at the Blenheim Racecourse we discovered Pollard Park. It boundaries the golf course that's directly behind the racecourse. What a find! It's the lovliest park. On two boundaries sit homes that look directly into the park or the golfcourse but separated by a water channel. It was interesting to see the bridges the families had erected to gain access to the park. A drawbridge, a swivel bridge, a concertina bridge, planks, regular bridges.... all manner of styles were evident.
Rarangi is a lovely area. The beach is not to our liking, gravel and course sand, but it has great views. Access to Monkey Bay is via some stone steps to a viewing platform where the North Island was in plain view. We decided to use the steps for a bit of fitness training....up down up down...puff...puff...puff!
The walk to Whites Bay is closed from the road above Rarangi but we walked to the road via a steep, zigzagged track.
Hopefully we'll get to Wither Farm for a walk tomorrow.Les mer