It was a dark and stormy night. The GPS guided me in for landing, right outside three gates and Bill waved me in the right one. They have a lovely house, with nice garden and lawn in a leafy area near the river, basin reserves, and short walk to the historic stone store.
It was so good to see them all again, and to see how much Cordelia has grown and to meet young William. What a pair of livewires; running, chatting, dancing, being kids.
Up not too early, breakfast, a guided tour of the "estate" and then Bill and I took both kids to ride the steam train in Kawakawa. We got there half an hour early so there was time for coffee and a guided tour thru the workshops where they are restoring old engines and carridges. It was raining on and off but we were under cover most of the time. The ride goes up the middle of the main street of Kawakawa, which is undergoing road works. There in lay the problem. The new road surface was laid too high up the train tracks so it wasn't long (50m?) before the gravel had been pushed ahead of the wheels, the mud mat under the gravel got pushed up and caught in the bogey, and then the carridge de-railed!
It was a short walk back to the car....
We returned home via Waimate North and some interesting history. Who better as a historical guide then an archaeologist? We even passed the site of NZs first road accident death; a ten year old boy falling from a horse.
Ratings:
Me: 9/10. Great to be back with Cathrine and Bill
Daisy: 10/10 and a hit with young Wiiliam
Pie: 9/10 Steak and Cheese Family sized from Kerekere bakery. Judging by the huge cue, everyone finds their pies as good as I did!
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