22 November 2010
16.5°C partly cloudy, 283330kms and we are off for the night, somewhere close to home, to test the new battery set up. We bought a reconditioned battery off Trade Me ($153 delivered) and so now we have 235 Amp hour of power, instead of 115! We were tired of always running out of power, so this seemed like the quickest, cheapest and easiest way to solve that problem. So Mike removed the cradle the original battery sat in, and the 2 batteries fit in the box - just! Had cables made up to parallel them. Also learnt some interesting stuff about batteries from the very helpful Technical Department guys at Innovative Energy when Mike rang to make sure our charger could handle 2 batteries. Seems that, contrary to earlier advice from auto-electricians, you should not leave the power on to the batteries all the time - ie, you should not leave your campervan plugged into mains - you can overload the battery if it's fully charged and then you start the motor, as starting the motor sends a boost charge to the battery - causing it to overload and boil! What they now recommend is that you plug it in for 2 days and nights, and then unplug for 2 days and 2 nights. And before you go anywhere, it should be unplugged! That way the battery has a chance to "settle" before you load it up again. This increases the life span of your battery significantly, apparently. So that's what we'll do from now on.
Anyway, went up the Clyde Hill to have a look at the lake, because we had thought to just go over by the boat ramp - but every man and his dog are there, so off to Omakau - got there at 14:46 (forgot to write down what time we left!), at the same spot as last week (the first night, after Poolburn). Mike read and had a nana-nap while Marielle had a fish - no luck though, the river is pretty fast after the large amount of rain we had over the weekend. Went to the Commercial for a drink at 16:30 and got back just after 18:00. Turned on the gennie so we could watch the news - no rescue in sight tonight for the 29 miners trapped at the Pike River coal mine - we feel deeply for their families! Had tropical chicken (marinated in lemon juice, coriander and ginger, served with salad, mango and a dressing of mayo, coconut milk and ginger - yum!) and now 21:40 and getting ready for bed. 10°C out.
23 November 2010
Up at 07:40 and 5°C. Left at 08:52 to go home - whether we like it or not, we have a fence to paint! The new battery set-up seems to be working as it should - still had 75% battery level getting up this morning, and that was when they hadn't even been fully charged before we left, so all good. Home at 09:22, 283397kms.
Poolburn & Omakau, 8 to 11 November 2010
8 November 2010
12:24, 18°C and we are off to Poolburn. Had enough of painting (house and fences!) and we have decided it's been too long since the last trip. Did some shopping in Alexandra and filled up the diesel tank (283209kms, 42L) before stopping just outside Omakau for lunch (left-over seafood salad from yesterday) beside the Manuherikia River. 14:23 - at Poolburn, in our usual spot beside Whippy's hut. Went down to fill up Roxie's waterbowl and as I was doing so, I heard this panicky squeaking - Roxie had found a rabbit warren and dug out one of the babies. With a bit of help from Mike she got the remainder - another 4 - and happily entertained herself for the rest of the afternoon making sure they were all gone. We threw some worms in for a swim and although Marielle did hook one, it got off before she even saw it. Also tried fly-fishing, but nothing. On and off sun, and when the sun's out it's hot! Had last night's left over pork roast and coleslaw for tea while watching TV. Bed at 22:00 and it's still 10°C, so not too bad temperature wise!
9 November 2010
Not sure whether it's because Mike is feeling threatened that his season is once again starting well behind Marielle's, or whether it's because the weather: although sunny, is not really cooperating as there is a significant amount of cold wind around, but we have decided to move down the hill to warmer climes - only 17°C here.
10 November 2010
12:40, all set up, and this place is gorgeous! Once again relaxed and read - in the shade, where it was marginally cooler at 27.5°C than in the sun - 29.5°C, Absolutely lovely afternoon - some kids came and used the swimming hole after school and thoroughly confused Roxie with their splashes, screams and laughter as they disappeared over the edge into the river! Had honey soy marinated steak on salad for tea, after watching TV and hit the pit at 22:40. Also discovered that when the bugs are bad, you leave the back curtain open and don't turn the outside light on - they stick by the window and don't come in through the door!
11 November 2010
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| The one that got away! |
9 November 2010
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| No. 1 |
Up at 08:00, after a good night's sleep for Marielle - Mike not such a good one, as he slept on the back seat for a while, until it got too cold! 6°C when we got up, and sun, sun, sun. Forecast is for 26°C in Alexandra today, so we are hopeful that it will be good up here too! 13:09 - Marielle has so far caught 2 fish and Mike none.
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| No. 2 |
14:15 - all set up beside the Manuherikia River just outside Omakau - the same place we had lunch yesterday, and often do, only we've moved along to the far right, right beside the river. And a good move it was too - lovely spot and it got warmer and warmer. Sat and read books all afternoon and enjoyed relaxing. This is a great spot - and only 28kms from home! Watched the news and then met Isabel and Rafa, who are cycling round NZ (they're from Spain). Invited them for drinks and ended up cooking them tea as well.
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| Mike, Isabel & Rafa |
Quite funny, trying to have a conversation with people who have limited English, but an enjoyable evening! Had chicken and salad (lots of salad, to make up for making chicken for 2 serve 4 people!). Isabel and Rafa gave us some genuine Spanish olive oil, so we had a dressing of that with some lemon juice - tasted good. Went to bed at 22:37. And Marielle had thought about reading for a while, but the bugs were so thick there was no way - never seen so many, and lots of them were so small they were coming in through the insect screens!
10 November 2010
Marielle was up at 07:00, 7.5°C and partly cloudy but it looks like the sun is going to win. Isabel told us it had rained during the night - we never heard a drop! Walked into Omakau to get a pie from Muddy Creek Cafe (always good!) and walked down to the river on the other side of the bridge from where we were parked. We had seen people down here yesterday afternoon and decided to check out of we could get there with Maggie. Not there, but we walked round following the track for another way in - where we had come down was too narrow with too many trees too close to the ground - and eureka - there is another entrance. So walked back to Maggie, and by this time we realised it was going to be a hot, hot day - we were both seriously overdressed for the walk in full sun! So once back we stripped off and changed into shorts and jandals as opposed to jeans (Marielle) and polarfleece shirts (Mike) - aah, much better. 11:48 and 23°C and we are off to dump at the Recreation Reserve, and fill with water. Also got some ice and a magazine for Mike (he'd finished his Jack Reacher book) and then off to find our new spot.
12:40, all set up, and this place is gorgeous! Once again relaxed and read - in the shade, where it was marginally cooler at 27.5°C than in the sun - 29.5°C, Absolutely lovely afternoon - some kids came and used the swimming hole after school and thoroughly confused Roxie with their splashes, screams and laughter as they disappeared over the edge into the river! Had honey soy marinated steak on salad for tea, after watching TV and hit the pit at 22:40. Also discovered that when the bugs are bad, you leave the back curtain open and don't turn the outside light on - they stick by the window and don't come in through the door!11 November 2010
Up at 08:05 and 14.5°C. And it's a bummer, but we should go home today - the garden's going to need a water, and we have no more supplies! Oh well, the forecast is for rain and a southerly change tomorrow, so I guess it could be worse! 10:40 - 19°C and on our way home. Home at 11:05, 283330kms.
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