http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz en-nz Riverdale Alpacas, Fibre Mill & Inca Secrets 30 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/386955 Always an enjoyable trip over the hill to Hawkes Bay. The journey only took just over four hours door to door. The Hawkes Bay people had organised a beautiful weekend for us we all needed the sun block 044, 26 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/386955 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/383822 The Riverdale team was not the strongest team but still did well at the Expo with over 467 animals entered in the breed sections and 182 fleeces in the fleece section this was the largest gathering of Alpacas on display in New Zealand to date. Riverdale took 9 animals over and entered 6 fleeces. We also took over the shop product and had a trade site for the weekend. 042, 9 Oct 2011 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/383822 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/269080 We will be at Opotiki again early July, more details to follow 012, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/269080 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/269073 We will be at the Te Kuiti Muster again this year same site just beside the information centre hope to see you there 012, 19 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/269073 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/269081 Last year we were at Mystery Creek in our usual spot. But in 2010 we are having a year off. The Fibremill is taking a good deal of our time at the moment and we have decided to concentrate on that this year. Watch out for us at fieldays next year 2011 012, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/269081 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/262092 With much anticipation we picked up the team from Auckland airport to begin the week of training. they had travelled all night we collected them from Auckland and drove all the way back down to Otorohanga,and straight in to the mill to start the machines. They did not even put their bags in the rooms. 006, 3 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/262092 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/257060 I have uploaded a small video of the mill on Youtube. We are still in a little disarray but things are beginning to get sorted 001, 31 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/257060 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/256988 Finally we have the machinery in the shed and time for a celebration. A few final touches like connecting to the power supplier and learning how to use the equipment but these are only minor details. 001, 29 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/256988 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/256840 ITS HERE!!!! Santa couldn't get the machinery on the sleigh so he organised a truck and forklift and dropped off the mill machinery just before Christmas. Grant and Peter spent these days unscrewing boxes and trying to fit it all in the shed. We should have built a bigger shed. Ask me if they know how to drive the fork lift I had to go in the house I couldn't bear to watch! 001, 28 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/256840 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/250873 A slight hick-up on the container delivery looked like we might have been held up for a further three weeks. Suddenly every ship from the States to New Zealand was full. However space has been found and the container has left for New Zealand. Now we wait for a smooth sailing and a quick process through customs at this end. Looks like Santa will have to struggle down the chimney after all. 046, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/250873 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/249851 This seems to have been a huge hurdle to climb, but finally everything is ready as I write the machinery is beeing loaded in to the container in the USA and will be on the water very shortly. So it looks like our Christmas present this year will be a fibre processing mill. We really appreciate those of you who have been paitent with us in waiting for this to happen, now we can see light at the end of the tunnel 045, 7 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/249851 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/243707 Some of you will know that we have had problems with two of the machines. When these arrived at our US supplier they were not up to specification. The Picker has been remade and is now progressing well 040, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/243707 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/243708 We are still waiting for the news that the ship is on its way. But in the meanwhile we can see that progress is being made and the machinery is being packed ready 040, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/243708 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/243711 Dont you just love this artist picture of Charisma and Lavina. A personalised touch to our new spinner thanks to Marcels daughter Mariel 040, 29 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/243711 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/236790 After disapointing news on the dehairer it is now progressing well and should be completed and ready to travel with the other equipment very soon 036, 31 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/236790 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/236789 Finally after what has seemed like an eternity the carder has arrived in the USA and is being put through vigorous trials. Which means when we receive the machinery it will be functioning well and run in. We are eagerly awaiting the day when we get the email to say everything is crated and ready to leave. 029, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/236789 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/213827 We were hugely encouraged to hear back from Marcel on how well the training had gone on the carder during their recent visit to Italy. just a few tweeks on the machine to take place 018, 29 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/213827 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/212462 The spin frame is beginning to look impressive too. This will be ready to spin the batch of alpaca fibre sent to Italy for carding once the carder arrives in the States. looking forward to seeing our our fleece come of the machine 017, 20 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/212462 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/212461 What great pictures of the carder as its final construction takes place. Another batch of fibre has gone over to Italy for the final settings to be completed before the carder is shipped to the States 015, 6 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/212461 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/212454 A good decision was to get the professionals in to complete the roofs on the sheds. Finally we have buidings that are almost complete 012, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/212454 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/199265 Finally we are beginning to look like progress is being made. The small shed is 3/4's finished and framing has been put together for the larger shed. 003, 15 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/199265 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/198227 A few more construction photo's here of the Spinner and carder in progress Everything is still on target for March training here at Riverdale we are looking forward to learning how to use these machines 002, 4 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/198227 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/198219 Now for those who thought we'd been on hoilday this festive season, well no. Grant and Ted have been dodging the rain and putting up the framing. Now I'm not supposed to tell you that some of it went up twice! 001, 3 Jan 2009 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/198219 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/198218 Despite Grants best made plans the boys arrived a day earlier and did the job while we were away shearing. An intensive inspection by Grant gave them a pass rate on the craftmanship 050, 12 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/198218 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195831 Inspection day to day as part of the resource consent process. All the hard work Grant has done needs to be signed off before we can pour the concrete 049, 5 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195831 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195731 To the untrained eye these may not look like the final product some imagination may be necessary 049, 4 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195731 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195692 The carder is coming initially from Italy and as we want the process mainly alpaca it made sense to get the machine set up in the first instance for the type of fibre we will be working with 049, 3 Dec 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195692 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195673 Finally the sheds arrived delivered on site by a big big truck. Good job we had already widened the driveway. Now I know this is not overly exciting but at least we can now start wearing the hat. 049, 30 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195673 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195672 Now Grant has his hole and nice boxing round the edge he then goes and organises the bob cat and truck to visit again this time with tones and tones of crusher dust. 048, 25 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195672 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195671 It seems to have taken an age to get to where the shed is at now yet we don't really see very much. But like many things in life if you get the foundations right what you build on top is strong. 046, 11 Nov 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/195671 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/190110 Despite the Targa rally shutting down our road, we managed to get the digger and trucks into our drive and the digging began. Eight truck loads of dirt later the foundations were dug out together with the drive widening. Julie has to remember not to drive off the edge of the drive until the metal arrives 044, 28 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/190110 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/190468 What else do you do on a bank holiday except pull out a fence!! With a keen fencer who turns up on Sunday morning at 8.00am Grant had his Sunday rudely interupted when he realised that he needed to get the fence out. With the help of the tractor rather than a crow bar the posts finally came out. 044, 27 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/190468 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/188474 After paying out a large cheque for the sheds we are rewarded with a lovely sign for the gate and a hat. Hopefully in a few weeks they will actually give us the sheds! 040, 3 Oct 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/188474 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/188473 After what seamed like forever, the local council finally granted Resource consent for the mill. With some requirments to widen our gate way and upgrade to light commercial standard. 040, 30 Sep 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/188473 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/181055 This was another fantastic three days for the Riverdale team and Inca Secrets, we had a great site just inside the main door of the Trade Hall and a busy weekend talking with many of you. What a wonderful exhibition and fashion show, very inspiring, we must get on and make something ourselves for 2011. 030, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/181055 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/181050 For the second year, Inca Secrets was at Mystery Creek. It was good to have some of you catch up with us during the week. What fantastic weather we had and the animals coped well with all the visitors. We had a new shipment of garments from Peru. These were received well and many went out of the door on the first day. See you all in the same place in 2009 030, 21 Jul 2008 00:00:00 +1200 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/181050 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/190111 It was March this year when we decided to go ahead with the mill purchase. This concluded some four plus years of research and costings in to the prospect of operating a fibre processing mill 013, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/105192/190111 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/160253 Saturday 1st March 2008 , we will be at Morrinsville again after a few years absence. Do call and see us if you are in the area. We will have a few friendly alpacas there too for you to say hello to, look forward to seeing you. 003, 15 Jan 2008 00:00:00 +1300 http://www.riverdalealpaca.co.nz/webapps/i/87683/90127/160253