While we are away the family have taken some liberties and we have the evidence. We are not complaining as our correspondence and finances are being dealt with by Wallace and Grommit aka Dan & Jen. We couldn’t manage without you, guys – although apparently the blog is giving them itchy feet. The stuff for this is in the bathroom!
Well we left Napier today (2nd Feb) and decided to run the gauntlet of the roads over the mountains. It was raining, but not as much as previously. So, “everywhere you go always take the weather with you”! I’m sure that was the sentiments of the population of Napier, who were really p... off with the rain. “It never rains more than 3 days on the trot, here”. The vineyards were also not very happy with this weather as they really need dry weather at the moment to stress the vines before they swell later in the summer. They estimate yield will be down 30% this year, or maybe this is just farmers pessimism!
With Margery driving the slug made its way through Eskdale. Being wet the slug was quite happy, but we soon found it hard to see where we were going due to very low cloud, and heavier rain. We came across the first “slip” sign after about 20 minutes driving. This was the big one shown on national TV. With 146km of one way in one way out road you can understand why the police were so concerned to get TV coverage.
This slip was one of many more and all credit to everyone who had worked through the day and night to get the route clear. Those of you who listen to Radio 2 will no doubt know of the legendary Mrs McKay of the infamous Cockbridge to Tomintoul road fame who kept the road open using nothing more than a shovel and true Scottish grit.
We eventually got into the rain shadow and saw blue sky for the first time since Saturday. OK, I know I’m rubbing it in, but most of you (M I suspect all!) are not trying to sleep in a tent! Well we are and we like our little Oztrail dry if possible.
Lake Taupo was hot and dry and so we decided to visit some raging wet stuff (you’d have thought we had had enough of it) but this was Huka Falls and well worth a visit; it was free being a DOC site but the sight of all that water made the 20c toilet fee necessary for some! (not us).
For those who enjoyed Lord of the Rings you will understand why M was so pleased to have lunch in The Shire, very close to Hobbiton. We didn’t visit as this is very tacky touristy, but we do have pictures of “Mount Doom”. Watch this space for more locations in the South Island if we can get to them. What do you mean –if? We’ll have the 4 x 4 then, of course we’ll get to them!
Well we left Napier today (2nd Feb) and decided to run the gauntlet of the roads over the mountains. It was raining, but not as much as previously. So, “everywhere you go always take the weather with you”! I’m sure that was the sentiments of the population of Napier, who were really p... off with the rain. “It never rains more than 3 days on the trot, here”. The vineyards were also not very happy with this weather as they really need dry weather at the moment to stress the vines before they swell later in the summer. They estimate yield will be down 30% this year, or maybe this is just farmers pessimism!
With Margery driving the slug made its way through Eskdale. Being wet the slug was quite happy, but we soon found it hard to see where we were going due to very low cloud, and heavier rain. We came across the first “slip” sign after about 20 minutes driving. This was the big one shown on national TV. With 146km of one way in one way out road you can understand why the police were so concerned to get TV coverage.
This slip was one of many more and all credit to everyone who had worked through the day and night to get the route clear. Those of you who listen to Radio 2 will no doubt know of the legendary Mrs McKay of the infamous Cockbridge to Tomintoul road fame who kept the road open using nothing more than a shovel and true Scottish grit.
We eventually got into the rain shadow and saw blue sky for the first time since Saturday. OK, I know I’m rubbing it in, but most of you (M I suspect all!) are not trying to sleep in a tent! Well we are and we like our little Oztrail dry if possible.
Lake Taupo was hot and dry and so we decided to visit some raging wet stuff (you’d have thought we had had enough of it) but this was Huka Falls and well worth a visit; it was free being a DOC site but the sight of all that water made the 20c toilet fee necessary for some! (not us).
For those who enjoyed Lord of the Rings you will understand why M was so pleased to have lunch in The Shire, very close to Hobbiton. We didn’t visit as this is very tacky touristy, but we do have pictures of “Mount Doom”. Watch this space for more locations in the South Island if we can get to them. What do you mean –if? We’ll have the 4 x 4 then, of course we’ll get to them!
We are now in Hamilton, with its main claim to fame being the 4th largest city in NZ. And,
unfortunately, that’s about all you can say for it except we have just eaten and Enormous Mongolian BBQ. Margery didn’t have a Mongolian she had shellfish! The amount of food rivalled that served by that BBQ king Jacques Arnold. Basically, it is all you can eat, buffet style. You chose and they cook in front of you what you have “concocted”. They supply all sorts of prepared meats, seafood, salads rice etc and the sauces and spices to your taste. Yum or wot!
Perhaps it's other claim to fame is a rather strange caravan - definately one with the aerodynamics ofa a brick - probably several thousand!
Tomorrow, trying to track down someone we know in Morrinsville; Marcia Hardy, a minister in the Methodist Church who was stationed in Wimborne until September last year. Then we are of up country to the Northlands, a journey of around 500km in total, but we are splitting it into two days driving. It may seem a bit daft not doing this bit first but we particularly want to be there for 6th Feb which is Waitangi Day. More of that later.
Nurse has come to switch off the light and tuck me in so I will close... no such luck! In your dreams...what you really mean is that it’s getting too dark to see the keyboard by the light of you head torch!!!
Mainly Ron with interruptions and censoring from M- most necessary as you write things that can be completely misinterpreted!! I’ve not taken my medication for a few weeks. I wondered what the problem was!
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