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Rules on the Road
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  • Helen Rule

Rules on the Road

We're retired and about to hit the road and live the dream. Read more
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  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler
    2

    MILFORD SOUND

    Mar 23–28, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 13 °C

    Totara camp site was lovely. Got the washing dry then happily listened to rain on the roof most of the night. Walked into Lake Mistletoe..... pretty but not overly so. The Mirror Lakes were also lovely but oh my word......THE P E O P LE! SO MANY PEOPLE! Back to the lakes.... there was a breeze so they were rippled but still managed to get some good pics. David wondered about the potential for a duck pond and maimai there! We did the Lake Gun Walk....absolutely gorgeous! The trees, lichen, moss, birds etc were so beautiful. Lake Gun was much bigger than I thought it would be and we had the track to ourselves. Cascade Creek camp was calling so we registered and had a good night wandering around the huge site. We think around 50acres. We counted around 160 camper vans/MH/ tents and a single caravan. The very pretty river was full of didymo. Such a shame. The following day we had intended to walk the Key Summit track but when we got to the parking area we decided against it. Honestly I can't believe just how many people were there.... far too many to allow the space and solitude that tracks like this deserve. May be the middle of winter is the right time for us Kiwis! The Marian Falls walk was gorgeous. We loved it. A short walk but so worth doing. Deer Flat Campsite offers great fishing with parking right beside the river. Very picturesque. Found Murray Guns Camp which had closed for a while for repairs etc. It looks like a huge weather event/ flood has devastated the area. The Chasm was disappointing. I was so looking forward to being with David as he saw it for the first time. I had wonderful memories of this but after a short walk found, as did ALL the other visitors, that it was gated off with no access to the viewing platform. Such a bummer. However, overall the road into Milford was spectacular. The majestic views, the incredible rock faces and towering mountains, the tunnel, the waterfalls etc were all amazing. The road is in great repair and all bar one driver drove well and must have had angels on his shoulders....... such a close call! Not sure if it still applies but the Milford Road had the worst accident rate of any NZ road for quite some time. Once at Milford we walked against the sea of tourists to the visitor center and loved the quick catch with David's cousin, Dean Gibb, who skippers the Milford Mariner. David reminisced as he drove around and pointed out the White House which is now brown but was brand new when he and the lads made far too many memories while on a couple of fishing trips a number of years ago. The drive back to Te Anau was uneventful but gosh it really is so easy to understand why so so many tourists flock to this stunning part of NZ. We'll revisit this area again to stay at another couple of campsites that are gorgeous. Enjoy the pics.Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler

    It's been a while!

    March 22, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Gosh it's been a while since I posted an update, but we've been busy, and I lost a week with a health glitch! SO, what have we been up to..........
    We moved on from The Elephant rocks and did a wee recce around Duntroon. There are some really interesting bits to see; the Flying Pig Cafe is very good with a lovely courtyard that has a resident roof dwelling dog. It makes its presence heard with each new customer but in a good way! The Brewery Hole, the old jail and the food swap/pay kiosk along with the wee Lilliput type library makes for a good fossick.
    We made our way to Lake Aviemore where we discovered the ins and outs of the 8-month camping pass. It's a great deal and left us impressed and also answered all queries we'd had over the years about why so many set up camp there and further along the hydro lakes. Moving on we found our way to the salmon farm where NZMCA members can park up and make like they know how to get a salmon on a line!!!!! Most wander over the bridge to the actual salmon farm and come home with a wee brown parcel of fresh salmon to prepare for dinner!
    The following day we found our way to the South Island Secondary School Rowing Champs. We loved watching the excitement and commitment from all the students and their supporters and coaches. Later that day I became unwell and long story short saw four Drs and had a trip to hospital in the space of a few days. I had a killer migraine and an anaphylactic reaction to a drug. Loads of excitement in my life. I really felt for David watching it all unfold but here we are loving life and living it. During this drama we had a night at Ohau C campsite, right beside the lake, and were surprised to see the traffic management plan in action. Big hay bales placed strategically seemed to work perfectly well!!!!
    We enjoyed catching up with Kate and Co in Cromwell where we ate cake to celebrate her birthday, albeit a bit late. Cornhole is a big deal this summer...very hot competition! We also caught up with Daniel and Co and got to wish Sarah a belated Happy Birthday too. We loved our few days with Pip and Ken at Camp Golden, in Wanaka. David was really fortunate to score a day on Lake Wakatipu with Ken and his brother-in-law who has a classic boat. They joined others for a regatta. We had a few domestic appointments to catch up with and were due a service on the Motorhome, so we headed to Richard and Jo's in Riversdale. We love catching up with this family so it's a treat that Rich can do the work for us. What about those PURPLE balage bales!!!!!! The following day we headed to Te Anau via a sad funeral in Gore. David met up with his Tight Five fishing buddies and left me in charge of the MH for a couple of days. I really enjoyed a decent walk; the first since I was ill. I'm loving the spoils of the men's efforts. The fish was a mixture of rainbows and browns.
    Today we have begun to wander into Milford Sound. We intend to do all the walks we can and stay at multiple DOC camps on the way in. Tonight, we're at Totara Campsite where the washing has dried on a makeshift line and an old-fashioned prop to hold it up! Enjoy the photos folks. Not sure how but all the pics are out of order....sorry!    Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler
    1

    6th March 2025 Elephant rocks

    March 6, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 16 °C

    This site needs a post of its own! We stayed at the POP, Avonlea Dairy, just out of Duntroon, last night. It's a paddock on the farm right next to the rocks. The photos speak for themselves. Loved that one was like a throne! The views are fabulous.Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler
    Palmerston

    5th March 2025

    March 5, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌬 21 °C

    We left St Bathans with no particular plan and ended up at Ranfurly NZMCA where we sought shade. It was a HOT day. We wandered around after dinner and were surprised to find a lovely wee town. We've been here quite a few times but never explored. Discovered one of my ex-clients and had a great catch up. A real success story from a brave family. Next morning we were up and heading to Hampden for a dose of our happy place, the sea. The seal colony at Shag Point was loaded with Fur Seals. They were huge. We caught up on domestic chores, at Hampden Campground, and went for a wee paddle and a walk, but the weather changed quickly so didn't get as far as we wanted to but did get soaked! The jackets joined the laundry in our shower which we can use as a very effective drying room. We woke to a glorious morning so donned our beach shoes and walked for a couple of hours, mostly in the water. Such a lovely beach! We had a drink with friends, John and Noelene Lister, from Cromwell, last night. Good to see them
    This morning, we made our way to Oamaru via the coast road. We had a late breakfast, toasted cheese scones that David learnt how to make yesterday, at All Day Bay and of course another walk on the beach. Another picture perfect day. Tonight, we have parked up at the Elephant Rocks POP at Duntroon. Will explore in the morning. We need to watch the news tonight in case Daniel is featured after he was invited to lunch with around 20 small businesses with the Prime Minister.    Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler

    ST Bathans

    March 2, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    Yesterday was such a lovely day.
    Margaret and Paul went off to the rodeo in Ranfurly...their first ever rodeo....and had a great time. After we farewelled Bob and Judith and Trish and Neil we welcomed Kate, Brandon and Olivia for the day. We explored the area. All except me, sore knees, walked the Loop track to St Bathans where I met them for a drink. Funny to look through the old albums of people climbing through the hole in the wall, at the pub, looking for familiar faces, Daniel Rule, but not spotting any! We drove out to Cambrians and found the quaintest little old settlement. The pics tell the story. We all had dinner together before the Munros headed home. A relaxing family day. Perfect!Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler

    01 March 2025

    March 1, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 24 °C

    I've got a bit of catching up to do!
    I made my way back from Dunedin to Cromwell where I met up with David again to continue our life on the road. We spent a night at Lowburn freedom camp again and then moved onto Alexandra where we spent two nights at a Park Over Property (POP) which we really like.
    The NZMCA Clutha Valley branch convened a rally at Hercules Flat between Roxburgh and Pinders Pond. Our long time friends, Ian and Prue, were the rally marshals. The theme was Western and so appropriate when you see the images I sent through the other day. Stu and Karen McKercher built a little western town, from scratch, to enhance their love of all things horse related. It was such a great weekend with a great theme song, Love in Fowl House; the McKerchers own and operate a neighbouring chook farm. Lots of practise was had and along with a dress up western on Saturday night we were assured of loads of laughs. The music was wonderful. Thanks Ian and Prue and your support team. It was a great weekend.
    We made our way to St Bathans via a night in Cromwell and the Alex POP again. We have invited friends and family to join us here to say Hi and spend a wee bit of time with us before we head out of the district. It's been such a lovely few days. Margaret and Paul, Gerad and Sue, Christine and Allan, Pip and Ken, Chris and Ian, Trish and Neil, Tui, Merv and Roger, Kate B and Liv thankyou for making the time to join us. The walking, cycling, swimming are so good here and the weather has been great. We're not sure where to from here but stay tuned and you'll find out when we do!    Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler

    Update 16-02-2025

    February 16, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We've been busy! A new laptop purchase from Noel Leeming followed by a long walk on St Clair beach; a fabulous catch up with Jenny and Steve.....it really has been far too long....a meet up with Gerard and Sue and the smiling queen, Phoebe, at the Dunedin Botanic gardens. They're well worth a look; lovely. We had a lovely paddle at McAndrew Bay, which was just sparkling in the gorgeous sunshine, on our way to Doug and Judy's home, where spent the night. So so good to see them. We were sad to leave them. We came back into town and revisited the Dunedin railway station. It's been an age since I was last there and all the memories flooded back of all the times I was either embarking or disembarking. The thick, china cups, the pies and the grumpy faced ticket office ladies along with the guard calling to 'Stand clear' were vivid in my mind. The Sports Hall of Fame was really interesting as was the Art Gallery, both up gorgeous old, tiled stairs. We made our way back to NZMCA, Woodhaugh, where we'd already stayed for a couple of nights and after a quick cuppa explored the beautiful Woodhaugh gardens and the walking track along the Leith that is right behind the MH Park. Can't believe that I lived in the city for four years and never discovered them, perhaps my 'other' interests distracted me!!! We had a great night and meal with Marie and Ewan followed by morning coffee with Kate and Noel before David headed back to Central Otago to find his fishing mates while I stayed in Dunedin for the NZ House and Garden show. Barb, Lynne and I had a great couple of days wandering the shops, as you do, and then visiting eight of Dunedin's lovely and varied homes and gardens. This is an annual event for us that we always look forward to, just missing Heather this year. The homes were interesting from quite old to modern, up a precipice to view that one! There was something we liked or loved in all of them. This event is an annual fundraiser for Breast Cancer so well worth the entry fee and of course a girl's trip is always good! I've just had my first night MH'ing on my own as David is still fishing with his mates but we're heading to Wanaka today, when he gets back, to put the MH up on CD's hoist to see if David can sort out a wee issue with our freshwater system. Once that's done, we'll head towards Roxburgh for a MH gathering at the weekend, but first I'm hoping to play Bridge on Monday evening with my Monday Bridge friends. The weather has been fantastic throughout! It's been a sizzling summer.
    See you all next time    Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler

    Cromwell to Dunedin

    February 7, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    We moved into our MH on Monday 3rd Feb after our home was thoroughly cleaned. It's been a real mission to get the house ready but we welcomed our lovely tenants on Wednesday evening and hey presto we were 'of no fixed abode'. We had a couple of nights at Lowburn freedom camping site while we attended to last minute appointments and then we were gone. Had a lovely evening with Ian and Prue before moving onto Brighton via Taieri Mouth and a cuppa with Pete Green. WOW Brighton! Everywhere was packed and then some, so moved onto Wingatui raceway but foiled again..... the races were on! It's great that we're spoilt for choice.... We've ended up at the Mosgiel showgrounds which are lovely. Had a catch up with Penny and Neville then a walk around the grounds. We've woken to a cooler overcast day....a pleasant change from the intense heat of Central Otago.Read more

  • Helen RuleRules on the RoadTraveler

    06.02.2025

    February 5, 2025 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    We are officially homeless and of no fixed abode! We welcomed our tenants into our home and we are now at Lowburn freedom camping for the night. We'll have a last cuppa with Liv on the morning, keep an appointment in the afternoon then head towards Dunedin.
    It's a really strange thing to not have a 'to do' list for work or home. Every day will be one of discovery. We've both got mixed emotions..... very excited and a little apprehensive. Looking at David reclined opposite me, I'm thinking it's not going to be long before we get the hang of being retired and on the road.    Read more

    Trip start
    February 6, 2025
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