To Nugget Campsite

Beez Neez now Chy Whella
Big Bear and Pepe Millard
Wed 30 Jul 2014 22:27
To Nugget Campsite – Well Parking for about Four Vehicles
 
 
 
 
 
 
Very dull this morning as we left our little car park in Portobello. We had a fantastic visit at the Royal Albatross Centre where we saw some chicks, learned about the history of Taiaroa Head and stroked the world’s only disappearing gun. Back on the road again, heading back toward Dunedin to get off the peninsula. The road followed the hills and we could just see Larnach Castle peeking out above the trees. Wonderful alluvial topography.
 
 
 
Up over the other side and a last look at Broad Bay.
 
 
 
Swinging through South Dunedin on Andersons Bay Road, we just loved the name of the butcher.
 
 
 
 
Back out into the country on the long, straight main road.
 
 
    IMG_9505
 

Our next town was Milton, a town of 2,000 people, located on State Highway 1, forty miles to the south of Dunedin in Otago. It lies on the floodplain of the Tokomairiro River, one branch of which loops past the north and south ends of the town. This river gives its name to many local features, notably the town's main school, Tokomairiro High School.

Founded as a milling town in the 1850’s, there has long been dispute as to the naming of the settlement. The town's streets are named for prominent British poets, and it is possible that the town's original intended name of Milltown became shortened by association with the poet of the same name. It is equally possible, however, that the name Milton inspired the choice of poets' names for the streets.

 

 

   

 

The bridge crossing the Tokomairiro River.

 

 

 

The name of the river is Māori, and translates roughly as 'place where canoe must be poled' (a possible reference to the method needed to travel through the extensive wetlands, instead of the usual paddling). The Tokomairiro River is prone to seasonal flooding during the heavy rainfall months, August to October. Local industrial buildings have been forced to build high concrete walls around their property to reduce flood damage each year. We wouldn’t want to paddle anything in this incredibly fast flowing river.

 

 

 

We carried on and were soon beside the sea.

 

 

 

 

To our right were just a few houses dotted along the edge of farmland that stretched for miles. This darling little one carefully owned cottage had a shell-edged path down to the sea opposite.

 

 

 

A once loved work horse.

 

 

 

A small village near Waka Point. The sun had gone in and the wind blew up bitter.

 

 

 

In the far distance we could just make out Taiaroa Head.

 

 

 

In this bitter cold there was a nut surfing. He fell just as I took the picture.

 

 

IMG_9533  IMG_9534

 

Just shy of our destination we came to a complete halt behind a flock. The sheepdog worked very impressively but one was left behind. Now I have never herded a sheep that I can remember so out I got. I clucked at this stubborn lady, but as she struggled to get up I could see she had a very poorly hip. I got her to hobble a little way, then she lay down and that was that. We gave her a wide berth as not to alarm her and caught up with the rest.

 

 

 

Settled with our view to our right, opposite the flock in their sleeping field.

 

 

 

Our poshest site yet. You can never say I don’t treat you to the high life........... Wiggly in the wind though, rather like being on Beez in her cradle. Sitting in the front playing backgammon, as is our wont before supper, none other than our lame friend came hobbling by.

 

 

 

ALL IN ALL ANOTHER GREAT DAY

                     A BRILLIANT AND BUSY DAY