October 13, 2012

  • Wednesday 10th October - part 3

     

     

     

    We cruised off to Takaka.

    Arrived there around lunchtime so went to The Wholemeal Cafe to have lunch and wait for Leon & Leanne to arrive.

    I had heard great reports from many others about this cafe so was keen to go there.

    But I was very disappointed.

    The building and atmosphere was pretty cool.

    But the service was not.

    The food was okay but nothing startling.

    I was very unimpressed by the staff attitude.

    And when talking to another guest at the Lodge that evening found they had had the same experience.

    Seems that it has had a great reputation for a long time and is now just resting on it's laurels and therefore the standards have slipped badly.

    We sat in the sun out on the back verandah overlooking the garden centre next door.

    It was a lovely spot.

    Leon & Leanne arrived with their Japanese student Yuna.

    We chatted for a while and then gave them the biscuits Mahalia had baked for Graham, but Tim had forgotten to give to him.

    They were heading home from Puponga so had met up with us to get them to him while they were fresh.

    After we parted company Tim & I headed back to Clifton and went for a drive down Clifton Road.

    We finally found the Grove Scenic Reserve.

    We spent a delightful hour wandering amongst all these fantastic rocks and bush.

    The pictures tell the story - but to do it total justice you really need to go there yourself.

    Tim has been raving about it ever since we went there pleased

    For me, it was an artists paradise, with interesting shapes and textures at every turn.

    Tim was fascinated with the rocks and the trees and where they were growing etc, etc.

    Look! I even found a hobbit sitting in a sunny grove winky

    A tall narrow crevice to squeeze through

    which leads out onto a viewing platform

     

    This was the most curious of all.

    A huge tree with roots straddling the rock

    As we left I stopped to take this photo.

    The viewing platform is on the right of the photo

     

    We got back to the Lodge in time to shower and change for dinner.

    It was so lovely to sit and be waited on.

    Steve made me this delicious Buttafinger Cocktail.

    We met a lovely retired couple from Nelson there and chatted a while before dinner.

    We were enjoying their company so shared a table with them and continued socialisng over the best steak I think I have ever eaten, served with mushroom sauce and fresh seasonal veges .

    It was preceded by a plate of Italian Onion Soup and followed by Chocolate cake and ice cream.

    A delightful end to a lovely day.