Hawea
Sun 22nd Mar
I woke at 06:00, but the alarm was set for 07:00. I washed and packed and had a coffee. I left at 07:30; the ATM wouldn’t dispense any cash because I suppose when I drew money the previous day, it was within 24 hours.
I got a front seat on the bus and we left at 08:00. There’s nothing to add that I haven’t said before…beautiful scenery and a lovely drive. Through Fox Glacier; I prefer Franz as a place to break the journey for the night.
Hilly terrain initially then we hit the coast…the Tasman Sea. A short break at Bruce Bay where there were the most sand flies I’ve seen in 4 months. I’m glad I was wearing jeans and had my kikoi to drape over me. Then a Haast stop and crossed the mountains through Haast Pass.
We stopped at Makarora, then down alongside L Wanaka ( about 32 kms long) followed by L Hawea ( about 25 kms long)…stunning views. Lovely weather..hot sunshine..so the water was a deep blue colour.
We pulled in at a viewpoint just before Hawea town, then 5 minutes later I was dropped off at the petrol station. It was a 10 minute walk to the Camp. I checked in; paid my balance of 187Nzd; my cabin was no. 7, the blue one.
It was 14:30. I settled in and had a shower. Gabriella phoned and said they’d pick me up around 4pm. They were delayed and it was around 5:30pm when they reached me from Wanaka. In the meantime I got bored hanging around the Camp, and went across the bridge to wait for them.
It was a hot afternoon and I explored the Camp a little. It’s a very short walk to the waterfront; there were people swimming, and the view across/around the lake is stunning.
I got in the car, to be greeted by huge smiles from Hazel. I helped carry the groceries into the house. When I lay on the floor beside Hazel, I commented that her outfit reminded me/looked very similar to one Gabriella wore as a baby. Gabriella replied…”it’s the same one”!! Monica had brought it over with her..!!! The same outfit, 30 years on.
Of course there was a huge catch-up. It was scorching outside. Alex cooked up some venison and beef sausages which we ate with spiced cabbage and roast potatoes. It was accompanied by beers.
When the sun went down, the temperature cooled very quickly. We sat outside after dinner. The lawn was looking good and there were now paving slabs on both sides of the house. There were plants on both sides as well; things were really taking shape.
Around 9pm Gabriella dropped me off at the Camp. I had one beer with me, but despite it being a screw top I couldn’t open it. A guy in the kitchen used that lever technique to prise it open. In my room I drank the beer and used the little bit of WiFi provided by the Camp.
Mon 23rd Mar
I woke at 06:00. The toilet/shower block seems to work okay. I think there are 2 of them, so that’s good for the number of people camping. It was very bright and there was quite a glare off the lake.
I enjoyed the view from the water’s edge for a while. The camp cafe was closed unfortunately. After a while I remembered Mo’s and went there for a chai latte. I returned to the camp and washed a couple of shirts in the laundry room. I put them out to dry on my verandah and sat on one of the 2 chairs provided, and sunbathed.
It was heading towards 2pm so I walked to the store & coffee shop over the bridge and up the hill. I waited and waited. I had a latte and just passed the time on my phone and reading a local newspaper. I got a call after 16:00 from Gabriella asking why I didn’t answer her text message at 15:00. I hadn’t seen it. Never mind…
Alex came to pick me up from Fresh Choice, and I needed a vehicle to transport the 3 cases of beer that I bought. Josi wasn’t feeling well, so she and Tor were both resting. I helped Alex attach the last 3 remaining panels to the back fence. It was a bit more difficult than he expected, so I was very happy to have been able to help.
We sat down outside with a beer. It was very hot. Tor came and joined us…as did Gabriella. Hazel did her best to keep still. Really good to see Tor again. It felt strange to be meeting up with my two children all the way over/out in NZ.
Of course there was a lot of chat, chat, chat… Josi appeared in due course. The long journey the other way around via the US had taken its toll.
Gabriella cooked a very nice mushroom meatballs ( Josi is vegetarian) with roast spuds and corn. I washed the dishes. Alex and I went over to a friend’s house for a couple of drinks. Richard, who I know, was also there and he dropped me off at the Camp after I said goodnight to everyone.
A wonderful late afternoon with the family.
Tues 24th Mar
Quieter in the Camp this morning. When I thought about it, we had the weekend, Monday was Otago day and therefore a bank holiday, and the weather was amazing.
I pottered about. At 11:00 I wandered over to the café for a chai latte. At midday ish the rest of the family joined me. We snacked and had drinks. I had a slice of baklava…tasty but not moist enough.
They all went back to the house for a more substantial lunch while I walked over to Scott’s beach. I lay in the sun until everyone came back in the car. They pitched a sun shade and we just hung around for about an hour and a half.
Tor and Alex went in the lake for a swim; I chickened out, of course. Alex did some fishing; he caught a really tiny fish…probably no bigger than the hook..!! Hazel got some sleep in her pram.
Gabriella pushed the pram to the Hawea hotel where we enjoyed a drink. Then back to the house; the sun was still hot. Gabriella made a lovely dinner…it had to be vegetarian…of tofu, mushrooms, carrots, and an amazingly tasty broth/soup. She is such a good cook.
She dropped me off at the roundabout and I walked across the bridge to the Camp. I was there at 19:30 but the bar was already closed. I had brought a bottle for my room, so I relaxed with that. Then to bed in my comfortable room. It has got very chilly in the morning and evening, but thankfully there is a heater in the cabin.
What an amazing time together. Incredible how we managed to meet up as a family; what an incredibly special 3 days. The memories will live on.