These could only be from the well known establishment of Morris & James.
Their pots are amazing with nice colours and they have established a real style. One of the other things I like about this place is the easy parking for big Motorhomes.
Click on the images for Hi res or slideshow Established by Ant Morris with his wife Sue James in 1977 as a pottery, it now features both, nice indoor and outdoor dining areas. A cup of tea and a cake or something more, it’s all there.
We stopped and had a browse through the pottery. They do tours through the factory too if you’re there at the right time.
As I said, I was struck by the amazing colours and the size of the large pots.
While cruising around Matakana on Mother’s Day, we thought we’d pop in to Ascension Vineyard for a little wine tasting and see about buying some nice wine.
Ascension Cellar entrance and carparkRafe tucked away on the left.
This has to be one of the better Motorhome friendly parking places you can stop at. The carpark is huge. We parked in the corner out of everyone’s way and wandered over to the cellar door tasting area. We were greeted by a lovely French woman who really knew her wines.
Some of the wines tasted
Fiona enjoying the comfy chairs
My favourite was a Viognier which apparently is an almost extinct grape as it was allowed to die off in Europe. The story goes that it is quite a picky grape as to where and how it grows. It was imported to Australia and is also now here in NZ. A beautiful wine. I bought a few bottles of their assorted special wines and we left to find a place to stay for the night.
If you’re out Matakana way in your Motorhome, a very easy friendly place stop and have a meal or do some wine tasting.
After having the carpet laid in the van by the carpet layer, we ended up with quite a lot of bits left over.
I cut these up in the high wear areas, like in the Galley, by the Dining table and between the Shower and Toilet area and we had those overlocked too.
The first few trips away, we were nearly driven nuts by the rugs creeping across the floor, and trying to climb or bunch up against the bottom of the walls.
My first attempt at stopping this was after a trip to Mitre 10 where I bought a packet of plastic stuff for $9 that allegedly would stop this but after a trip away(the Shakespeare Park trip ), we decided we were wasting our time.
So I ended up back at Carpet Extreme in Tawa Drive in Albany where I bought the carpet originally, and they put me onto some stuff called Rug Hold. You buy it by the metre (about $32 odd a metre ). I bought 2 metres and it was just enough.. Brilliant stuff and it actually sticks to the carpet like tape.
It sticks to your shoes too while you’re cutting it. 🙂 I’m sure you can buy it from most carpet retailers.
It’s like underfelt with glue on both sides and the feel when you stand on it, is quite different like a really flash underfelt, and you can feel too that it isn’t going to slip around.
If you have this problem, now you know how to solve it !
The Motorhome Broadband articles were hugely popular over the last few days. The Blog stats went up to over 55,000 views from all around the world :-).. And its really nice to get some good feedback from several people who have cottoned on to this and are really enjoying the value and speed.
Our Location
Now that the aerials are installed and its all working to perfection, with Fiona’s (and mine to a lesser degree) fondness of things Netflix, I found it sensible to take on my son Alex’s advice and install Google chromecasts on the Tv’s. This enables the TV’s to essentially take on the role of being smart TV’s to a degree and have access to the internet so you can “cast” Netflix movies (and others) to your TV. Its a very cost effective way of making it easy to enjoy your movies without wires and being able to watch them without being restricted to watching them on your ipad. Your iPhone or Ipad take on the role of remote controls for your movies or On Demand apps which then cast the data from the router to your TV.
Casting American Pie onto it with 10 minutes from opening the box!
They’re dead easy to install, follow the basic instructions and you’re away. You’ll be asked simple things like your Router name, its password and that’s about it.
The Chromecast with its power lead
The Chromecast itself needs two plugs on your TV. An HDMI port and a USB port for power. Rather than have mine have off the TV as shown in the piccie, I put some Velcro on it and velcroed it to the back to the TV. And where can you buy them? From Noel Leeming and PB Technoogies for around $70.
The moment I’ve been waiting for, for a few weeks now, came today.
I have been testing the system over the last week or so and been getting some good throughput but my son ( a tech person) suggested last weekend that if the router supported two aerials, get another one and install it. I think he’s right as the throughput is amazing.
The aerials and bits all over the table before starting.The Truma panel with the TV wiring behind
I took the van up to Vantage RV at Silverdale this morning and Phil got right onto it. Using the TV for a power source as the wiring was easily accessible and installing a Dethleff switch to match the others in the van.
The switch all done
Then on went the aerials. The aerials need to spread apart if you have more than one so they don’t interfere with each other. Something to do with the wave they have and the rule of thumb is 1.5 times the height of the aerials apart minimum. Ours are much more than that anyway.
Click on the images to see Hi Res or a slideshow
The wiring cupboard before we started
Setting the aerial bases up
Phil screwing down the port side aerial base
Phil on the roof with the goop gun
The router in place ready to go
Shameless plug for Vantage with an aerial.
After a couple of hours of running conduit, screwing it onto the roof and setting it up, we fired it up and in the industrial part of Silverdale, this was the result:
Both tests showed only 3 bars out of 5 for 4G reception so it can only get better but given that ADSL mostly averages around 5 – 6mbs download and we’re getting 34 mb plus, its pretty impressive all the same.
Phil on the roof setting up the aerials
Now the data package. After searching high and low for weeks looking for someone who could do mobile cellular without any geographic constraints (like Skinny) or being in a fixed position, (like RBI), I got onto Netspeed in Dunedin. They were happy to provide me mobile data as long as I used one of their routers which they provided by courier. They assured me it worked at 12v and there would be no problem with the fluctuating voltage from either the solar panels or the alternator and this has all worked faultlessly.The whole thing was setup in a blink (by me) and there were no issues at all.
The day after I received the router, we were meeting friends up at Mahurangi West (Sullivans Bay) and even there where you can’t get a cell phone signal, Fiona was able to watch Netflix movies on her Ipad with no issues and that was without an aerial. See the Blog I did on Sullivans Bay.
The end result
So we’re all setup for fast broadband on the road.
I’m impressed and very happy with the setup.
We were heading to Rotovegas for Anzac weekend and the carpet was ready. It needed to be collected. You can see the carpet layer at work here.
Looking forward
Although it was held up a week by the school holidays, it was well worth the wait. The result was stunning.
The carpet oiled up outside Rafe
Such luxury!
The Galley
In the Galley area
In the Galley
After picking them up in the car from Albany and after a quick vacuum clean of the floor, I set out the carpet into their relevant places. There is nothing better than new carpet, especially when it fits well.
By the shower
As we headed down to Rotovegas, we both agreed that the whole van sounded a bit quieter but the feel underfoot was sensational.
Over the last few years, I’ve been grabbing the odd piccie during my travels around and just tucking them away.
I did at one stage sell prints from them through a few local Devonport Galleries and although it went reasonably well, it wasn’t ever really something you could live off.
Muriwai Beach
These images are literally lurking in far off directories on back up removable drives and have generally been getting in the way. This is just a small selection of them. More can be seen here
Click on the gallery below to see them in a Slideshow.
All images are protected by copyright.
I am putting these online so those who want them can buy sensibly priced prints off them. The shopping cart isn’t configured yet but will be soon. 🙂
All the South Island images were taken when we took our wee caravan “Wee Rafe” around Otago and beyond in early 2014. The Europe images were taken when we went on a Canal boat trip and bus tour through Italy and France in 2010.
Huntly is another town that has a few hidden surprises up its sleeve. I was keen to see what the holiday park looked like on the edge of Lake Hakanoa.
Lake Hakanoa
Yep, Huntly has its very own lake with a Holiday park on the edge. It all looks very nice. We didn’t go in but stopped for lunch in the park next to the lake. The council have set it up well with nice planting and paths. I’m not a big bird watcher but there were some pretty unusual looking ones there apart from the swans.
Lake Hakanoa
After lunch and a cup of tea, we headed off to another parking spot, I was keen to try on the edge of the Waikato river, the Huntly golf club.
Click on the images to see hi res or the Gallery below for a slide show
Swans at Lake Hakanoa
Huntly power station fro Lake Hakanoa
A Nice big flat parking area.
From over by the river
The instructions
The last person to play for the day
One of the last holes
Our motorhoming friends Rob and Helen are the golf club experts and have stayed at lots but this was our first ever golf course and it looked like a purler! As we arrived, I got talking to a local who was keen for me to spread the word about motorhoming here as they’re keen to promote it.
$10 including power and the use of their toilets and showers which I thought was very good value. After plugging in and settling things down, we went for a walk through the golf course and went right across to the Waikato river. It was a bit grey and gloomy but still nice to be near the water.
Waikato River
After an hour or so, the last player finished and we were on our own. Another great spot, not too far from home!
The old post office building and the Paeroa racecourse ticket office.
On the way back from Waihi, we stopped in at the Paeroa Maritime Museum.
With my past involvement with Classic Launches, I was keen to see what was there. The main building is the ex Paeroa Post Office and is chocker with relics from the area. Apparently Captain Cook sailed up the Waihou and checked it out for Spars.
The old Paeroa jail house
Old outboards
The camping area, normally there are no cars here.
Paeroa didn’t see roads until the mid 1940’s and the main transportation method was ships up the streams to where the Maritime Museum is today.
Visitors going up the river
They also provide overnight Motorhome parking with power for $15 and there are toilets and plenty to see and do.
You can also go for a ride in one of their two vessels up the Waihou river.
The Goldfields Railway station at Waihi was the perfect place to base ourselves for the bike ride to Karangahake and back. See my earlier blog on Goldfields Railway.
Rafe, Helen and Robs AutoTrail, and Dianne and Gary’s XLI safely tucked in at the Goldfields Railway Motorhome parking
We arrived at Waihi about 11am and plugged ourselves in and had just levelled Rafe up with the ramps when our friends from Snells beach, Rob, Helen and Chloe arrived in their AutoTrail Tracker and parked beside us.
A few more Motorhomers arrived straight after that and we were a wee bit concerned that there wouldn’t be enough powered parks left for Gary and Dianne in their XLI who were still to arrive from Taupo. I went and paid for our sites and we were given some cones for their site. They arrived not long after anyway.
It was hot and humid so we thought we’d have to do sundowners while giving Gary and Diannes new XLI’s Air conditioning a good workout and it stood up to the test well along with lots of laughs!
The next day we were up ready for the 10am train to Waikino with our bikes.
The bikes on boardDianne, Helen, Rob, Chloe and Fiona on the train
Rob, Helen and Chloe set off for the 15k’s round trip walk and we were to meet up further down the trail.
Please do not read this sign!
We got our bikes off the train at Waikino as planned, and set of over a walkbridge to the Victoria Battery where there was pretty much a whole town setup, complete with power house and other buildings. It’s just a big empty space now. The power house is the site of the museum which is really interesting and well worth a look through.
As Fiona slowed down to stop in front of the first sign, she over balanced and ended up on the ground. Fortunately, it was just few scratches and bruises and she was back on her bike and away again.
On the train
Fiona on the first bridge at Waikino
Victoria Battery
In the Victoria Battery museum
Heading to karangahake
Others heading into the tunnel
Gary about to go into the tunnel
The view before the tunnel. You could be anywhere in the world.
Dianne, Gary and Fiona heading into the tunnel
The narrow bit. Gary on his bike on the right. The girls were further around.
The swing bridges at Karangahake looking behind!
After leaving Victoria Battery, there was a 3-4k flat run until we got through to the tunnel. This was quite a sensation. Gary and I rode through the tunnel but Fiona and Dianne pushed their bikes through on foot. It was amazing to ride through as although it is lit, it really is still quite dark. There is also quite a bit of water from the rain seeping though and quite muddy. Gary and I and the bikes were in a bit of a state when we came out the other end🤓. Rob, Helen and Chloe had done well on foot to get here in good time and were looking good. Gary and I were covered in mud.
After the girls caught up, we were keen to get some lunch so we biked back across the swing bridge to a great cafe called the Talisman where, as Gary read from the sign, they have “world famous BLT’s” which were amazing. They also have a big Motorhome compatible carpark if you want to go directly.
Fiona and Dianne coming out of the tunnel
We set off after lunch back across the swing bridge to head back to Waikino. The first part of the track is really not rideable and in some parts is only a few feet wide and right next to the river. A stunning walking track so close to the raging water that you could be anywhere in the world…
Where it joins up back to the tunnel entrance it becomes rideable again all the way back to Waikino.
We got back to Waikino and caught up with Rob, Helen and Chloe with 10 minutes to spare before the last train of the day was departing at 2:30.
Gary and Dianne decided to ride back to Waihi, another 8k’s or so so off they went. We briefly saw them from the train across the river on the trail as we caught up to them when we’re nearly back at Waihi. Unfortunately Dianne took a tight turn in the track and came off, an accident black spot that probably should be marked. Like Fiona, luckily, the damage was restricted to some grazes and bruises and she was able to continue riding back.
After the ride/walk and before the rain! Gary, Fiona(back on) Rob, Helen and Chloe
We sat under Gary and Diannes awning with some heavy showers, with a few cold ones after that comparing notes and the girls compared their battle scars. Neither looked too good but there were no broken bones and I think after a couple of ciders, all was ok.
Gary cut the back of his leg on his pedal and I got a scratch on my leg but can’t remember how, so it was bandages at dawn for us all.😀
The view before the tunnel. You could be anywhere in the world.
We all agreed it was a fantastic day enjoying some fantastic NZ scenery which you can only get to by getting out on foot or bike. If you’re in the area, a must do!
Fiona & Chris, two empty nesters put their dreams of doing something different into reality… Now back in a house, they were living in their Motorhome, come along for the ride.
Established by Ant Morris with his wife Sue James in 1977 as a pottery, it now features both, nice indoor and outdoor dining areas. A cup of tea and a cake or something more, it’s all there.
One last one of Burano to finish off with.
Bugger It, we are off - www.buggeritweareoff.com 
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