Castlepoint Beach

The next day, Wednesday 12th June, after having a slower walk through the town, this including buying a new pair of reading glasses and a couple of much needed merino tops, we drove to the nearby Mahunga golf club. We had checked online and there didn't seem to be anything particular on that day but after driving down the long, single vehicle driveway we found lots of cars occupying the carpark. So it turned out to be an Area Vets Day with the old fellers all about to tee off so with no chance of getting on the course any time soon we drove the hour or so through nice countryside out to Castlepoint. We knew bad weather was coming in with rain and winds predicted for a few days but were hopeful that it might still be ok when we arrived.

We've never been to Castlepoint Beach before but it's very highly rated in the Wairarapa. Instead of freedom camping in the DOC carpark by the beach we opted to go to the Castlepoint Holiday Park where I can do the washing, use their oven which is likely hotter than mine thus better for scones and have a prime spot right on the beach front with hardly any one else here.

Prime spot!

Such a beautiful place with a generous bay which looks good for swimming and with great views across to the lighthouse on the point from the bus.This lighthouse is lit up in the evening until midnight with ever-changing colours and looks spectacular.

On arriving and over a cup of coffee we watched  a couple staying here in their permanent caravan put out their longline with their torpedo which takes the line out up to 4 kms. They pulled it in again fairly quickly and had several different fish species including shark, trevally and kahawai although they were hoping to target gurnard of which there were none.

Second hand fish!

They were quick to come up to the bus and offer us as many fish as we wanted but one kahawai was plenty for us (as Len was intending to fish the next day!) so we took this in exchange for smoking one of their own kahawai for them in our smoker. A good deal we thought! So after preparing the fish for smoking with the brown sugar and salt and putting it in the fridge for the night we set off to do some exploring before the rain set in.

Stunning coastline!

A lovely walk along the beach and around the isthmus took us to the rocky headland with the lighthouse standing proud. There were a handful of fishermen on the rocks in "the Gap" where I believe you have to be very mindful of rogue waves but the sea was fairly calm at that time, unlike now. It is certainly a beautiful place and it was great to get here just before the rain and cold winds arrived.

We had booked in for 2 nights but have ended up staying for 3. The wind and rain came in the first night and hasn't stopped since although, to be fair, it is more of a drizzle. 

Wet view towards campground from the village. 

My plan yesterday was to rest up out of the rain and cold and nurse my productive cough/ sinusitis to obscurity but by the time I had done the clothes washing & drying, roasted pumpkin for soup, baked date scones which ended up burnt on top because the camp oven was SO hot (we just have to scrape the tops off!) most of the day seemed to have disappeared! I seemed to spend a lot of the time running back and forward to the amenities block in the rain. So we decided to stay an extra day with me tucked up warm to help with my health restoration (a very very rare thing for me).

So I'm having a lovely time glancing up every now and then at the rolling sea right next to me and catching up on things such as this blog, reading the Listener, doing puzzles and hopefully eventually reading my book. 

Selfie. Oh and a beautiful bay!

Maybe I'll leave the path at this point!

This is a sealed pathway!

Len has been out walking for a couple of hours and I have been able to admire the photos he took from my cosy nest as I sip my cup of water complete with a couple of teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, after having had a salt water gargle and a couple of pills with garlic, echinacea, vitamin C & zinc in them. As you can see I'm trying everything even though I believe it is all just time!
Never mind, I'm having a really nice, restful day and a bit of blue is now appearing in the sky.