Feb 26-27 2005
Another of our lawn mowing trips.
Feb 26 - Saturday.
Left at 6a.m. sharp. Good clear morning, the roads a little damp after a shower or two overnight but drying in the traffic. Around Warkworth and north there were pockets of mist lying in the crevices and bowls of the valleys. As the sun rose you could see the warm air in the sun start stirring these mist patches and lifting them off the eastern shaded hills.
Breakfast in Dargaville again at 8. Then press onward in the increasing heat. Arrived at just on 10.30.
Good Grief!!!! The GRASS!!! Pushing 40cm and thick. Get out the trusty old B&S and start. By mid day it was up in the 30s in the sun, I was drenched, and those lovely cool mist patches from the dawn were a long away off indeed.
Had munch about 1 o'clock, then followed the trusty and extremely wise Continental (and Vanuatu) tradition of the Siesta. A cold shower followed by a three hour kip in the cool of the ceiling fan running a full tit was bliss indeed. Went back outside at about 5 to finish up and get shot of the mowings. Nothing subtle this time... across the street is a section with very very long kikuyu grass. A large bag of cut grass disappeared in there in no time flat.
Fish and kumara chips and a very nice Syrah for dinner...
Sunday -
Woke at 6 to be greeted by one of those Far North mornings that promises the rest of the day will be stinking hot... a good heavy mist rolling its way down the harbour with a gentle land breeze to help it along. Lovely and cool outside, refreshing. By nine the sun was up over the hills behind the house and the day started in earnest. By 10 the temp was up to late twenties and climbing.
An uneventful drive back. Lunch in Paparoa at 1.30. The disappointment was that our favourite little cafe was closed. No indication why. Just very firmly shut. The two alternatives were expensive at one end and not as nice at the other. Still we fed and watered and coffee'd and back on the road. Took SH16 through Helensville again. It gets frustrating whichever way you go. I will bet my boots that next time I drive SH1 we will spend two hours in stationery traffic because some nitwit has taken a dislike to the guy in front or somesuch trivial nonsense...
Dene is mowing the lawns in two weeks time. We go north again two weeks after that.
Feb 26 - Saturday.
Left at 6a.m. sharp. Good clear morning, the roads a little damp after a shower or two overnight but drying in the traffic. Around Warkworth and north there were pockets of mist lying in the crevices and bowls of the valleys. As the sun rose you could see the warm air in the sun start stirring these mist patches and lifting them off the eastern shaded hills.
Breakfast in Dargaville again at 8. Then press onward in the increasing heat. Arrived at just on 10.30.
Good Grief!!!! The GRASS!!! Pushing 40cm and thick. Get out the trusty old B&S and start. By mid day it was up in the 30s in the sun, I was drenched, and those lovely cool mist patches from the dawn were a long away off indeed.
Had munch about 1 o'clock, then followed the trusty and extremely wise Continental (and Vanuatu) tradition of the Siesta. A cold shower followed by a three hour kip in the cool of the ceiling fan running a full tit was bliss indeed. Went back outside at about 5 to finish up and get shot of the mowings. Nothing subtle this time... across the street is a section with very very long kikuyu grass. A large bag of cut grass disappeared in there in no time flat.
Fish and kumara chips and a very nice Syrah for dinner...
Sunday -
Woke at 6 to be greeted by one of those Far North mornings that promises the rest of the day will be stinking hot... a good heavy mist rolling its way down the harbour with a gentle land breeze to help it along. Lovely and cool outside, refreshing. By nine the sun was up over the hills behind the house and the day started in earnest. By 10 the temp was up to late twenties and climbing.
An uneventful drive back. Lunch in Paparoa at 1.30. The disappointment was that our favourite little cafe was closed. No indication why. Just very firmly shut. The two alternatives were expensive at one end and not as nice at the other. Still we fed and watered and coffee'd and back on the road. Took SH16 through Helensville again. It gets frustrating whichever way you go. I will bet my boots that next time I drive SH1 we will spend two hours in stationery traffic because some nitwit has taken a dislike to the guy in front or somesuch trivial nonsense...
Dene is mowing the lawns in two weeks time. We go north again two weeks after that.
