Land expeditions

Yesterday the day dawned fine so we decided in a fit of ambitious zeal to walk from the Okiato side of Opua to Russell. There is now a mostly completed track which includes an extensive boardwalk along the Orongo Bay foreshore through the mangroves. We paid our dollar each as passengers on the car ferry which is like standing on a motorway across the water. Jim couldn't help nostalgic thoughts of the old Opua car ferry (which was always referred to as "the barge") and which consisted of a wooden barge capable of taking maybe 2-4 vehicles at a time with an old launch ("Miss Doris") lashed alongside. Access to the barge was by way of 2 wooden planks which had to be always re-adjusted according to the various widths of the vehicles. In those days Jim's family had a succession of Pontiacs which were generally wider than the norm so the planks always had to be shifted apart! Selwyn Deeming was the ferry skipper for years and years and Jim can still picture him standing on the barge directing his mother left or right so as not to drive into the water!! Later a newer barge had a hand operated ramp - a great advance!! The Deeming family have lived at Deemings Point at Okiato for several generations and once operated a respected boat building business there.
So, seeing that we were on foot we decided to call in and see Selwyn and his wife Pam and relive some of the old days. Selwyn is now 88 and he and Pam are very spry. He had an injury to his hand which had been caused by using a chainsaw just recently. He remembered the family very well and recalled how Jim's father every Christmas used to bring up a crate of strawberries and other fruit and vegetables from the family business, Produce Markets Ltd. That became a tradition for many years.
We spent a very pleasurable hour or so with the Deemings during which they showed us a card they had received from the Queen congratulating them on their recent 60th. wedding anniversary. We generally relived the past and then took off on our expedition. Initially it was an easy walk but then the track climbed over 2 headlands with steps cut in the side of the hills and it became a lot more taxing. At one stage Jim fell on a greasy patch of clay which was exactly like walking on wet soap!! Fortunately no great harm was done and we continued but at one stage left the track for a much easier section on the (now) tarsealed road. Then it was past Orongo Lodge which had originally been the home of the first American Consul to NZ when Kororareka (Russell) was the 2nd capital of NZ. In fact the 1st capital had been sited at Okiato and there is a brass plaque commemorating the fact. From there it was a bit swampy and we got wet feet which wasn't great but then there was a very long (possibly a couple of kilometres) stretch of boardwalk through the mangroves. These are not the prettiest of trees but at least it made a change from uphill and down dale!! Then a further stint on the road and over a fairly steep hill and we were in Matauwhi Bay with Russell not far ahead. Then past the houses Aggie Grey had once owned and the eventual arrival in Russell was very welcome. We fell into Sally's Restaurant on the Strand and had a late lunch. Jim had a Stella which hardly touched the sides!! We had been wondering about the best means of getting back to Opua (we sure as hell weren't walking!!) and had thought we might get the ferry to Paihia and then the Tuktuk to Opua but Sally herself (who lives at Okiato) very kindly offered to run us back as she was going home in any case. So, after another visit to Russell Radio and a conversation with Bev who happened to be "on" at the time we left and once back at the car ferry we headed back to Opua on the floating motorway once more.
Once back on board the "Tiare" we both went to sleep and then followed an early night! This morning the aches and pains (Jim's we hasten to say!) have dissipated somewhat but we have a sense of some achievement after yesterday's efforts.
After perusing the GRIBS again this morning it seems that the earlier weather pattern we had identified is expected to continue. So, it seems that our earlier decision to delay our departure to Friday this week is still vindicated. We'll let you know!
Cheers,
Jim and Gina

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