October 20

We are now open for the season, everyone is excited about our season as we have been shut for so long.  We have had a few new additions to the family.  Jonathan got married to Sina on the 10 October here at our Base.  Joshua and Latisha had another child, we now have 3 Grandbabies.  Along with those additions we have 3 Calves and 1 bossy lamb who runs around with a nappy on letting everyone know she is the Boss.

September 20

I am reminded that I have not been on this Blog for a while.  I am sorry for the neglect.  I hope everyone has come through Covid as unscathed as possible.  We closed down in the middle of March and open again for the season at the beginning of October.  We were able to work on the farm while everything was shut, so we got tracks and maintenance done that would never have been done.  We have built a shed for you to be able to pack in if you arrive late or it is raining.  We also have other things coming which will make your time with us even more amazing.

March 20

As we close our doors because of Covid we are reminded that family is the most important thing of all.  Please be safe and look after your loved ones.  If there is someone out there alone please dont forget that not everyone has family around them at this time, and a kind word or a food package could be just what that person needs and they may never have told anyone their needs.

I am so grateful that we get the Privilege to meet some amazing people in our job that it really makes it a special place to be and live.

Love Karen and The Family

October 18:

As we are getting ready for the Long Weekend and Buses of Tourists, I am reminded that we are here to make your journey as relaxing and amazing as we can, even though there will be so many people around and we may look busy, if there is anything we can do for you please dont hesitate to ask, we are only too happy to help.

If you are going to arrive late, just phone and let us know, we will have a tent set up for you, so you can arrive and sleep and pack early the next morning.

Our Daughter Rosalie had screws taken out of her Ankle on Wednesday and it was a little complicated as they broke one of the screws on the way out and had to dig into her bone to get it out, ouch.  We bought her home from Auckland for a couple of weeks, so you will have the pleasure of seeing her behind the desk as well. (Smiling or Grimacing I am not sure depending on her pain levels).

Everyday if you can do or say something nice to someone, you could be the person who changes their lives.  Giving a smile to a stranger makes them know that someone cares.

DRIVE SAFELY

September 18:

Welcome back to the new season on the Whanganui River.  We have done alterations, we are now painting and finishing off ready to start on October 1st.  As we are preparing to meet our guests we are privileged that you have chosen us to do your Whanganui Journey with.  It is because of you we love doing what we do.  Our aim is to give you the best experience with the best knowledge of the river we can give you so you have the time of your lives.  Your journey starts and ends here, so if there is anything we can do to make that even better for you please dont hesitate to ask.

This season we have a few new additions to our family.  We have a small Chocolate Brown Calf and a Lamb who thinks she is a dog.  I came home yesterday to find her in her nappy asleep on my couch with the Poodle.   If you would like to give the animals a bottle or pat them please dont hesitate to ask.

Everyday if you can do or say something nice to someone, you could be the person who changes their lives.  Giving a smile to a stranger makes them know that someone cares.

WE LOOK FORWARD TO MEETING YOU

Feb 18:

Many of our clients become our friends and like to keep in touch with what goes on Down on The Farm, as well as news from The River. So Keep an eye out here , and stay in touch. I'll update as regularly as our busy lives will allow me!

I was just thinking yesterday how people come and go from our lives and leave a lasting impact on us.  We did a rescue 10 days ago for a solo paddler with another company who got into a lot of trouble on the river, he was amazing he swam 6-7 km to a campsite to get someone to raise the alarm.  We picked him up and the amazing people who raised the alarm gave him clothes to wear and food to eat and they had so little themselves.  WOW.  He lost his glasses and his money, cards everything.  The Local Post Office organised the next day for him to have money sent to them from Germany so he had money.

We went to Hamilton with him to Spec Savers (TeRapa) to order Glasses for him and explained the situation.  They told us that they could not do the Glasses for 3 weeks and he was leaving the Country in 10 days, so the amazing Company provided him free of charge contact lenses until he gets back to Germany.  GOOD ON YOU SPEC- SAVERS in TeRapa Hamilton.

Paul from EPIC TOURS then gave him Transport to the Timber Trail, thank you Paul for taking him and bringing him back.

We said good-bye to our beautiful German man on Sunday and it was really sad to see him go he had fitted into our family so well and he had just been so helpful and willing with anything we were doing.

 Then yesterday afternoon I got the below email from another couple who we will not forget.

 Hello Karen and Ron

We have been reading of our travels on the Te Araroa Trail and remembering what happened day by day a year ago.  Our trip on the Whanganui River was a year ago.  It was a highlight for us, and made more so the generous hospitality you offered us and the warmth of your welcome as you enabled changes to our planned programme.

The whole journey was an adventure and we finished at Bluff in late Mar....on our 45th wedding anniversary.  I mention this because I recall that you had been away to celebrete your (25th?) wedding anniversary.

We want you to know that we remember well the time we spent as your guests (in the King Room, on the river; and being taken to Whakahoro, brought back from Pipiriki, and then delivered again to Pipirki the next day.  Your baking and coffees are legendary, and your advice and experience priceless.

With gratitude

Warwick and Keitha Ross

I am so grateful that we get the Privilege to meet some amazing people in our job that it really makes it a special place to be and live.

Have a Great Day and Take Care

Love Karen and The Family