Saturday Sep 17, Lake Tarawera NZ

 

It was a wet welcome back into New Zealand and quite a shock to the system after almost 2 ½ months without rain. Our flights back went without a hitch, we had concerns about travelling on 9/11, but apart from a little bit of extra security there were no issues,  and best of all our request for an upgrade with airpoints was granted. We swanned home in Premium Pacific class, just the best with plenty of legroom and space to put all the paraphernalia you seem to take on board.  It was just the icing on the cake.

Dean was there to meet us and we were back at his home by 7am to a great welcome from Janine and Aidan and Ella. It is only 3 months that we have been away but they seem to have grown up so much. Aidan had the day off school so that we could spend more time with him.  Steve arrived with Molly Dog, who was very excited to see us then it was over to Craig and Nicky’s in time to meet Cody, Tara and Keely when they got home for school. Somehow we kept our eyes open and even went with Keely to see her Jazz Dancing and cheerleading classes, but by 8.30 we were in bed, it had been a very very long day.

Had a great trip back to the lake the next day….and then the job of unpacking.

Great top catch up with friends and neighbours and hear all the local news, but missing the nice warm weather, it has been long trou and jumpers since we have been back!

So will sign off the blog now……until the next trip.
Meg and Ian

Last days in USA

Have had a busy time over the past few days, but it has all gone smoothly and we have been spoilt by the most superb weather, really warm with a gentle breeze, no humidity and not a cloud in the sky.

Yesterday cleaned out Ruakiwi and packed the bags, seemed to be a lot of stuff. Terry has a set of special digital travel scales which meant that we were able to arrange the heavy stuff and keep all the bags under the 50lb allowance.

She was all set for the winter after having an oil change, then Ian and Terry took Ruakiwi to the storage yard and covered her over…..good bye for another year.

Sherry and I picked wild blackberries which are so abundant throughout Washington, have never seen so many huge berries just hanging off the vines, in no time at all we had filled a very large bowl which Sherry used to make a blackberry cobbler…so spoilt.

Dinner tonight at a Mexican restaurant was really good and we came home to a late desert of blackberry cobbler, amazing flavour.

Ian and Terry had a boys day today at Terry’s motorcycle club meeting and a visit to a vintage steam machine open day while Sherry and I had a great girls day with the Farmers Market and some retail therapy in some local stores. What a relaxing day. As always we have been so well looked after here in Anacortes, Sherry and Terry have just been so helpful and make the job of ending our trip so easy.

It has been three wonderful months of summer just cruising, a lifestyle we both enjoy but looking forward now to getting back to NZ and catching up with the family and our friends. We fly tomorrow from Seattle to San Francisco and then it is on the flight back to Auckland at 9.30 pm. With the 10th anniversary of 9/11 expecting heightened security through the airports, but guess it will be a very safe day to travel.

So no more blogs for awhile until we get back to Lake Tarawera,

Thursday September 8, Anacortes WA

It was time this morning to strip the bed and put things away for the last time this trip. Another stunning day, this really is the best time of the year, can’t believe that we have not had a drop of rain for over 8 weeks and by the look of the weather it will continue like this until we leave on Sunday. Such a comparison to last years trip to Alaska where we had so many grey days and quite a bit of rain.

The half hour ferry trip across the Strait of Juan de Fuca to Whidbey Island is surprisingly inexpensive, it was only $35 for Ruakiwi and Ian and I. It was just a short hop then to the picturesque little seaside village of Coupeville, have been before with Sherry and just love the atmosphere. We had a light lunch in café overlooking the water and wandered down to the end of the wharf before heading north for the final drive to Sherry and Terry’s.

Ruakiwi seems to know her way here, it felt like coming home. Lots of chatting this afternoon and catching up with the summer holidays. Sherry cooked Ian’s salmon with onions, lemon and dill on the barbecue it was superb, amazing flavours.

Tomorrow it will be time to pack our bags and put Ruakiwi with bed.

Wednesday September 7, Port Townsend

What a wonderful day and a great place for our last full day on the road. I woke before 6, looked out the window half expecting to see a foggy view but the colour was amazing, a bright orange sky. Very quickly dressed and grabbed my camera and tripod and spent an hour soaking up the beautiful light as the sun rose. The marina was quiet and the water calm, just so peaceful and picturesque, what a way to start the day.

The marina soon came to life especially with preparations for the wooden boat festival, a marquee was getting erected and portable loos kept appearing.

After breakfast Ian set off to check out the boats and the harbour and “his shops”, and I meandered around the gallery’s and shops. This is not your normal tacky souvenirs but quality items and really good art and craftwork. I enjoyed photographer Stephen Cunliffe’s work (www.admiraltyimages.com) in a co-op and had a long chat with him as he was working in the gallery for the day.

The day just disappeared in a very leisurely fashion, couldn’t be more perfect. The evenings are so unbelievably balmy and we sat out on the waterfront table with our dinner tonight, watching boats coming and going, then wandered into town as the sun finally set….just perfect.

Tuesday September 6, Port Townsend

After 5 days in Chinook it was quite hard to say goodbye this morning to everyone, we have been made so welcome in the camp and made lots of friends. But time to move on.

It was a 200 mile trip north to Port Townsend where we decided to spend a couple of nights before finishing up with Terry and Sherry in Anacortes, and homeward bound on Sunday. Where has the time gone to.

The roads seemed much quieter today with children all back in school after the holiday weekend. A very easy drive mainly following 101, bypassing Olympia the capital of Washington.

The drive following the Hood Canal was particularly beautiful, the sun was shining and the water was so clear. Seems to be a popular holiday place with the water lined with little cottages.

Last year we had spent several hours in Port Townsend before catching the ferry to Anacortes and fell in love with the place. The downtown is lined with a real mix of arty stores and quality crafts and souvenirs in old brick historic buildings. We found a great campsite in the marina right in downtown with amazing views over the Strait of Juan de Fuca and Mount Baker and all the boating activity. Also there is a wooden boat festival starting here this weekend, which we will miss, but there are a number of boats already here and lots of pre festival activity….plenty of things to keep Ian occupied with!

Dick and Witta came across from Sequim to catch up with us again, such fun as we had spent a few days with them in Victoria at the start of the trip. While the guys sat in the sun watching the boats and having a beer, Witta took me out to Fort Worden, a few miles along the coast where there are some amazing bunkers. Had a play with our cameras, certainly a very interesting place and could imagine spending some time there.

Then off into town for a meal before they headed back home….a great finish to the day.

Looking forward to exploring around the town tomorrow…and some retail therapy!