Port Waikato, Ram Sale and Pavlova!

Yesterday we headed to Port Waikato (after we had done the stock moves).  Not the nicest of days to spend at the beach with a cool westerly blowing.  We drove north up the coast road via Waikaretu, pass Limestone Downs and through to Port Waikato. 

We decided to take a stroll down the beach, pose for photos, search the rock pools and draw in the sand.  The rock pools were fairly barren of life, but Simon did find a fish head and a live crab!




Alice, Urezza and Simon at Port Waikato




Alice busy drawing things in the sand while mum and Urezza
look on at Port Waikato



Me and Simon on the rocks at Port Waikato



Urezza, Alice, Simon and Malcolm scouring the rock pools



Alice, Urezza and Simon enjoying a picnic lunch at Port Waikato



On the jetty at Port Waikato -
Urezza, Simon, Alice, Malcolm and Sally












After our adventure down the beach everyone had worked up a bit of an appetite so we enjoyed a simple picnic lunch before heading down to the estuary and a stroll on the jetty overlooking the Waikato River.






















Today dawned with misty drizzle.  We all walked down the drive to see Alice onto the bus.  Today she got to sit up front because of her broken arm.  Then Urezza and Malcolm set off to do all the cattle shifts.  When all the jobs were done, we headed to Tuakau to the Nikau Coopworth Ram Sale.

There was a reasonable turnout of buyers and good money paid for rams in the first 5 - 8 pens (we didn't stay longer for the other pens).  Urezza and Simon were given instructions not to wave or nod or to buy a ram!  We managed to buy our number 1 marked ram, and this will be added to our Kaahu Rams. 

Nikau Coopworth Ram Sale at Tuakau Saleyards

After the sale we went to collect the rental car on the outskirts of Pukekohe before heading back in to catch up with my brother for a coffee.  Warren first met Simon's parents in about 1990 after trying to hitchhike out of Brienz.  Then Karin and Martin visited NZ.  I then visited Karin and Martin in Switzerland in 1991-92, and now Simon is here.  The deal now, is that Alice will visit them in Switzerland.

Warren, Urezza, Simon and Malcolm enjoying a coffee

 We decided for their last dinner, that we better have a Pavlova for dessert but unfortunately we have to confess that we didn't make this one! but it did taste nice.

 

What was left of the Pavlova!

Tomorrow, Urezza and Simon start there tour around NZ.  They head to the Nikau Caves first for a tour through the caves before heading to Hamilton/Cambridge.  We have packed up a box of things they might need, a list of possible places to visit and some people to see over the next three months.  Hope they enjoy themselves and create a lot of memories.