Our good weather luck seems to have deserted us as we woke to rain. I will rephrase that I woke to rain at 06:30, Nicola did not surface till 10:00.
Cliff had loaned me some clothes and gum boots (not wellies in NZ). The clothes were made from recycled milk bottles and made me feel like a teddy bear. Most unusual but surprisingly warm and not at all scratchy.
We set off on a tour of the farm calling first at the milking shed which at this time was already nearly finished milking the 800+ cows in the 50 aside herringbone. While this takes 3 staff to operate rather than the 2 Mark needs with the rotary, the farm has no irrigation to move.
Next we drove round the various paddocks which all looked in good shape but Cliff was concerned that they needed rain so was consequently happy that the wipers were working while on the tour although I felt he was pushing his luck trying to drive up one particularly steep paddock in the wet grass. Overall the farm has a good cover of trees and it's fair share of slopes.
Returning to the farmhouse for breakfast, Raewyn had prepared Beef Bourguignonne (beef stew J & G) and we eventually had to wake Wee Wille Winkie so we could get on with the days activities. The plan had been to go fishing on Cliff's boat "Bung Out" if the weather had been better but instead they took us to Raglan to see their bach (many Kiwis have a bach which is a holiday home often by the sea).
We arrived at lunchtime. Their Bach was much bigger than I'd imagined, with a kitchen, utility, bathroom, large lounge and two large bedrooms with a huge garage underneath the lounge area.
On opening, the full length sliding doors revealed a newly extended deck area from which you could see the river estuary on one side and the Whaingaroa Harbour on the other. We all looked round the garage which Raewyn and Cliff had decided to convert into more sleeping accommodation. Nicola suggested that they put in either sliding doors or a large picture window at the back of the garage which would give views over the estuary, rather than views of the driveway out the front. This idea would mean Cliff moving his fish filleting sink and drainer (set in concrete) to another spot. I think we will wait and see what happens on that score.
Even though it looked like rain again, Nicola insisted we all walk into Raglan for lunch. The fish and chips were great washed down with, you guessed it, Waikato beer. After lunch we had a quick walk around by the harbour, then the rain set in and we all walked back to a welcome hot cup of tea and home made cookies.
Before leaving, Nicola signed the visitor book and put in writing a promise Raewyn made to Cliff (in the pub we think). On Cliff's wish list is the desire to own a 1957 'Chevvy' although they not cheap ranging between $20,000 to $120,000. Raewyn promised him that once the Bach was completed Cliff could have his 'Chevvy'. We both witnessed the now written promise.
Home in the rain to a delicious Beef Bourguignonne, Waikato beer and wine.
Raewyn printed a couple of photo postcards for Nicola to send home and we both enjoyed a hot bath (rarely found in B&Bs over here). Cliff did offer us the hot tub outside, but we graciously declined.
So to bed.