Touring About With Me

Well had a great time at bluesbrews&bbq’s. The day could not have been nicer. I think at one point we got up to 35d, very hot. So the plan of taking sun block, hat and dear I say it a umbrella (the sensible folk took one too ). It was good to see people not being dumb and sitting in the sun all day. They had put up a couple of big shade tents, which as my friend and I were lucky to be able to lay our trendy brown chequered blanket under, only because we were there nice and early. (Told you I’d be at the gates when they opened.) Good idea to get to these things early if you want a good spot. But really with an event like this all spots are great as you can walk around as much as you like. We were even brave and left our bags on our trendy blanket, thats how safe you felt.

It was great to see all the different age groups. From families with teeny tots to (sorry dad) the older generation. We watched this dear alder chap I’d say in his 70’s having a whale of a time. He had this amazing smile on his face all day and night. Really got into the groove of it all. There would have been a few love connections that day too. The oh I can drink now age groups and what that drink can do to ya. Yes lots of  sights to see. I’ll leave that to your own imagination.

Can you imagine what it’s like being in a big field with around 4000 people with the sun beating down on you, oh the thirst that builds up. Yeah right just a good reason to do a little tasting of all the different beers, ciders,wines,food and coffee can’t forget that.

The day was filled with smells, music, dancing, voices of laughter and fun, and the odd scream. That coming from the few that do over indulge (not me true).

For the food I do have to say I did expect more. Well not so much more food as there was heaps of that. But it’s called blues brews and bbq’s. We walked around the whole area before we decided what to have first and you won’t believe this but all I had was some hot chips. OK thought good to line tummy before ale tastings. But really apart from having an ice cream or a big meal, there wasn’t much else. The meat and buns were really big and pies not.  There wasn’t really that many things actually cooking on a BBQ. I wanted to watch how they cooked fancy stuff on the barbie, but a lot of it was done behind the counters of the stalls, so couldn’t really see it. I suppose if I asked they would have let me round the back of the stall to watch,you think. They did have a great Texas bbq, which cooked pork and beef and the smell from that was mouth watering. Yes we got food from there for tea. Beef with pasta salad and bun. yummy very sweet tasting beef. There was oysters, paua, whitebait fritters other seafood stuff (not me sorry) which I’m sure lots enjoyed. Over all there would have been something to tempt everyone into eating heaps, which we did. The coffee did go down well to, it was a long day.

The Ales, well every colour of gold to dark brown and more you could think of. Yes I had blonde beer from Bop Brewery (OK I know the blonde jokes) but it was nice and lite, can I say that about beer. Also tasted cider which I didn’t think I would like, but there was one from Bulmer/Harvest Cider which I did enjoy too. You had so much choose from the good old tried and true Tui to yes Blonde beer. I didn’t taste the wine as don’t like to mix but there was a good selection of that too.

The music was fab all day and all night. Hamish Pinkham missed his flight from Auckland, but they just changed acts around until he arrived a bit later. He seems very popular here in the Bay. The line up was.. Hamish Pinkham, Devils Elbow, Pulse, Tropical Downbeat Orchestra, Ian Morris & The Undefeated, The Checks and lastly Naked Gun who really had the crowd going and wanting more. Think they ended up doing 3or more songs to please everyone. Not really a blues band but enjoyed all the same. A good mix of music, lots of people up dancing. I think we all had a great time just being there amongst a neat lot of folk. I nearly forgot they had a competition for fancy dress and boy there was some sights. Even a group dressed as a boat, yes a boat (do have some pic’s to put up yet). 2 amazing looking fire girls which court a lot of attention and why not. Lots of great hats,wigs, and a police women who actually won the first prize, not your normal looking police women though..  A really fabulous days outing, something any tourist to our hometown should have on their to do list while here enjoying the Bay.

So what did I think of the day.  Fabulous

Would I go again. For sure

If you went, let us know how you enjoyed the day too.