Whanganui Market Then on to Wellington

Saturday 4 October

The rain had been dialled back a bit overnight and there was even a golden glow across the landscape as we got up & moving. I took a morning stroll around the property to get my Fitbit steps & Louis got the bikes down and we set off to cycle into Whanganui to visit the weekend market. Kelly ran a dog training school, kennels and doggy daycare until recently and her three special pups were immortalised on the big shed in the yard.

Sadly we had gone about 8kms and then as we stopped for a look at the funky Staedtler pencil sculpture down by the river, Louis’ back suddenly twinged so we turned back so he could rest up urgently on the Shakti mat. I was in charge of putting the bikes away for the first time ever - this is a job Louis usually takes on - so was very proud of myself once they were strapped and stacked again!

An hour or so later the back muscles had relieved a bit so we drove back into town so he could swim it out. I went on to check out the market & galleries down at the riverside which was fun. Whānganui is a UNESCO City of Design and has some really cool sculptures and artworks around. On the street where I parked, there were two very shiny musical sculptures which not only looked great, but sounded fab too.

Down by the market was an arts centre offering galleries, crafting classes, art lessons and other creative endeavours. I loved the gallery I visited - some really eclectic pieces including the quirky "I am enough" girl, the peacemaker gun (US take note), weird and creepy doll head pieces (we'd seen this artist's work at Sculpture on Shore in Fort Takapuna a few years back) and fun clocks - I loved the F key clock from old computer keyboards!

Down at the market along the riverside were all the usual suspects, fresh produce, olive oils, herbal treatments, woodwork items, wines, gins, macarons and some funky retro stuff. The Devine Bakery had a very tempting stall full of stunning looking slices and baking... all I could do to resist. Gonna have to return when I am not ketoing! The buskers were a lovely older Māori couple which makes a change from the angsty teens covering Ed Sheeran or faded Country singers at most markets!

Back at Banjo I tried befriending the pony, but he was a tad shy, then we had lunch, finished packing up & hit the road towards Wellington.

The route was not super pretty under the grey clouds, but it was lovely as we hit the Kāpiti coast. Astonished to find that the NZMCA at Plimmerton was over 50% full, but we snagged one of the last few powered sites and set up Banjo before joining Chris & Fi for a lovely dinner & catch up. Louis & Chris have played together in bands on & off since the late 80s, and I helped organise Chris & Fi’s wedding back in 2020!

Fi had just got back from a trip to Melbourne so was brimming with news about their kids - two of her kids and their partners now live there, as well as Chris' daughter Caitlin & her partner. Kiri & Stefan plus Archie & Becca share a place in St Kilda and Fi, Hancey & her wee boy Jasper went over to see them for a few days.