Picton to Momorangi Bay

November 12th 2018

The strong wind gusts continued through the night on Thursday  but no trees blew down and the bus felt pretty stable as we were facing mostly into it.
It was another bleak day on Friday with rain and more wind so we were in no hurry to leave the farm. We wanted to do some washing so after lunch we headed back to the laundry in Picton where there were cleaner machines than we often find. We enjoyed nice fish and chips from the takeaways next door and stayed another night at the RSA waiting for the weather to settle before we ventured around the bays.

Saturday the skies were clearing and after dumping our waste again we drove the picturesque short distance to Momorangi Bay where there is an excellent DOC campsite with some parks right on the water's edge. When we had seen it 6 years ago we agreed that we must stay there if we ever came back so we booked in for 2 peaceful nights at $42 a night for 2 of us.

Fishing wharf in the background 

Loved our site and it was just a short walk to a little pier, popular for fishing, so it was out with the rods and down to the wharf to join a couple of other guys from Blenheim with their chillibin full of beer. Len had the first catch with his spinning rod - a petite kahawai that he threw back, then I brought in a carpet shark which was also returned to the sea. But better was to come with my catch of a very pretty gurnard - just right for dinner that night.

I showed those boys!

The boys from Blenheim unfortunately had no luck at all but they enjoyed the refreshments!

Sunday it was down to the pier again for Len while I had a relaxing time sitting in the Director's Chair reading my book. He made a match for my gurnard by bringing home one himself - another dinner for us. After lunch we walked up and down the Link Pathway back to Ngakuta Bay - a lovely spot closer to Picton - about 50 minutes each way. Then it was back to our fishing spot before dinner where I caught another gurnard - we're getting good at this! Lots of tiny fish could be seen in the clear water as well as starfish and stingrays.

Monday morning I washed our fishing clothes then we walked as far as we could around the bay westward. There had been a few slips so we ended up on the road for a short time before getting back on the track and walking, before we came to more slips, to just past Aussie Bay, another DOC campsite which is only $8 each but small with no facilities apart from a long drop. A nice spot right on the water's edge  though.

Once back to our bus it was time to get the washing off the line - brilliant sunny day with good drying - and wend our way round to Havelock for lunch and a wander. We are now parked in Canvastown behind the Trout Hotel, free if we have a beer or two which is no problem!