Saturday, March 12, 2011
A day not soon forgotten. It's the day of the massive Japanese disaster. The Christchurch newspaper big headline reads, "Quake, tsunami hit Japan." We're worried about family in Japan. Folks are advised to stay away from NZ beaches in case there's a tsunami here. We alter our plans for the day. Sadly, we won't see much of Abel Tasman National Park.
We head uphill to Upper Moutere on a back road through the countryside, stopping at the Newdorf winery which is not yet open. The Moutere Inn, NZ's oldest pub isn't open either. There is an old German settlement (1843) called Sarau. At first pioneer life here was difficult, subsistence farming then the adoption of cash crops "pip-fruit," hops, and tobacco. We visit the original St. Paul's Lutheran Church and cemetary.
Luckily, on Saturday there is a farmer's and craft open market in Nelson. There are lots of fresh apples and other late summer produce. It's tempting to buy souvenirs but I just don't know enough yet, especially about greenstone. Young families take advantage of the produce deals though. We head uphill to Christ Church Cathedral on the hill. There's an organ recital underway. We peek in for a moment to see the church interior and listen briefly. In a nearby neighborhood there are rental holiday homes that look very inviting.
On the way back to Motueka, we detour to the drive along Ruby Bay stopping to have a late afternoon snack of green-lipped mussels. Mmm, yummy. In the evening news, we hear that the tsunami here was only a few inches. Still thinking about the awful disaster.
A day not soon forgotten. It's the day of the massive Japanese disaster. The Christchurch newspaper big headline reads, "Quake, tsunami hit Japan." We're worried about family in Japan. Folks are advised to stay away from NZ beaches in case there's a tsunami here. We alter our plans for the day. Sadly, we won't see much of Abel Tasman National Park.
We head uphill to Upper Moutere on a back road through the countryside, stopping at the Newdorf winery which is not yet open. The Moutere Inn, NZ's oldest pub isn't open either. There is an old German settlement (1843) called Sarau. At first pioneer life here was difficult, subsistence farming then the adoption of cash crops "pip-fruit," hops, and tobacco. We visit the original St. Paul's Lutheran Church and cemetary.
Luckily, on Saturday there is a farmer's and craft open market in Nelson. There are lots of fresh apples and other late summer produce. It's tempting to buy souvenirs but I just don't know enough yet, especially about greenstone. Young families take advantage of the produce deals though. We head uphill to Christ Church Cathedral on the hill. There's an organ recital underway. We peek in for a moment to see the church interior and listen briefly. In a nearby neighborhood there are rental holiday homes that look very inviting.
On the way back to Motueka, we detour to the drive along Ruby Bay stopping to have a late afternoon snack of green-lipped mussels. Mmm, yummy. In the evening news, we hear that the tsunami here was only a few inches. Still thinking about the awful disaster.
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