Cold Camping, Cycling, Cafe Lunch & a Camp Fire!

Sunday 17 May

As predicted - it was a frosty, cold night - probably the heaviest frost we have seen this year. We have the luxury of a comfortable queen bed, down duvet and extra blankets, plus a diesel heater we can switch on remotely if it gets too cold; further along the Waihi Gorge DOC Camp there were 5 hardy souls from CHC sleeping in tents!!! The son, Jake was apparently wearing 3 pairs of socks and still couldn’t feel his toes! ❄️🧦🧦🧦❄️

Had a lovely chat with them as they gradually emerged from their tents to heat up around their morning fire - I think dad Dan and son Jake were enjoying this experience more than mum & the sisters! We persuaded them to join us for a selfie... dad Dan, mum Nicki, and kids Phoebe, Zoe & Jake… hopefully they will thaw out eventually!

As soon as the sun rose high enough, the frost began to melt, but the shadows never warmed sufficiently and down at the riverside the white iciness remained all day.

Settled back into Banjo to enjoy a Sunday breakfast whilst marvelling at the sparkly madness of the Eurovision Song Contest - Bangaranga!

Late morning, we consulted the map, got down the bikes and set off exploring inland up the Waihi Gorge Road which soon became just a rough farm track.

Climbed a few steep bits, forded a couple of tributary streams, went through a few gates and finally got to see why it was termed a gorge as the slopes grew higher and steeper on either side of the river below. The path seemed to continue forever up into the hills towards Tripps Peak but we turned back after about 5-6kms and headed out past the campsite in search of lunch at the Woodbury Store Cafe - a gem of a place.

Must come back one day for the scones - sweet date or savoury mozarella & tomato.

It was a busy old Sunday there but we got a table in the sunshine in the garden and had a lovely lunch - big brekkie for him and handmade butternut ravioli for her. The Store was awesome - cabinets full of fabulous fresh salads, sandwiches, quiches and pastries and some delicious looking sweet items too. They had some lovely local craft & produce items for sale too, but sadly my earring collection is now full to bursting!

Cycled back to camp, had a sit in the sun with tea & biscuits and chilled for the afternoon. Early evening Paul & Margaret arrived in their Jayco as I was out collecting a few sticks of firewood and we had a good chat with them.

Lit the fire again, had bangers and veggies for dinner then sat around toasting marshmallows (not many left from the night before) until it got too chilly and we turned in for Taskmaster then bed.