It rained in Ruakaka

 At Ruakaka, which is a fairly long drive from Takapuna, it rained a lot and hard, with very exciting thunder and lightning.

We knew the weather was going to be pants so had opted for sites below the wind line. The disadvantage was that Julia's trek to the toilet block necessitated a hill climb in the dark without a formed path. She wasn't concerned but I was, on her behalf!

At one point I was sitting out under the awning while it was raining very hard - it was still very hot and being inside was stifling. But at a crack of lightning followed closely by very loud clap of thunder right overhead, David said  in a very quiet and imploring voice 'Please come inside, love.' So I did.

But before the heavy rain, Julia and I went out for a walk around the camp. 

We explored the whole camp which is very large; we wandered around the different sections and then headed up to look over the beach, congratulating ourselves on having saved some money...

 

Julia leaving one of the kitchen/laundry/bathroom areas - I think there are 3 in the camp - it's big!

Out across part of the wildlife area to the sea, the headlands and beyond. 

A back view of Julia which is the only one we get as she hates having her photo taken...

While we were standing admiring the islands or headlands across the bay (not sure which), there was a rapping on the window of a nearby bus. We had been careful not to stare into anyone's vehicle. But apparently, the same rule does not apply in reverse! We looked up, and who should it be but the Vanninis: Bernice and Roy, fellow bloggers and friends through that! Such a lovely surprise. We first met them in 2019 when they came to stay with us at Alvechurch Marina (near Birmingham) when David was hors de combat waiting for his eye operation. While we went in to stay at the hotel in Edgbaston, Bernice and Roy stayed on the boat for a couple of days. 

So in went Julia and I, and chatted and then phoned David to come and find us all. 

The next day, after we had moved up to a higher camp site to avoid any chance of getting stuck in the rain-soaked ground of the lower one and to make Julia's walk to the toilet block in the middle of the night less fraught, we met up with the Vanninis for 5 Crowns - in the kitchen/dining area of one of the camp's facilities blocks. I know I didn't win and I cannot remember who did - probably Bernice, as it is her habit to do so!

Julia and I did have a walk across the wildlife (birds) reserve between the camp and the shore. We didn't see much in the way of birds but it was a good walk in a stiff but warm breeze. We did however see a local who was collecting rubbish - keeping his whenua tidy he said and another holiday park temporary resident out taking the air.

Not sure which bird made these. Maybe a gull given the prints are webbed.

Interp - I love interp, ever since I worked at DOC in Hokitika, interp has been one of my favourite things to read when I am out and about!

I think these might be dotterel prints or oystercatcher prints.

These lovely creatures nest at Tongaporutu too - I love listening to them chatter as they range over the mudflats almost always in pairs.

And instead of sightseeing in Ruakaka and heading for the Waipu Museum and other places, we blobbed a fair bit - not a bad pastime given Julia's possible jet lag and my committee work and newsletter tasks that seemed to continue unabated. And I did lots of washing in their excellent laundry - always good to get the washing done, dried, folded and put away, isn't it?

We headed north after 2 nights at Ruakaka. But more later...