The long awaited new adventures of the kiwi Thelma and Louise begins…
11.00am Friday 18th September 2020….five minutes up the road, first stop Wild Bean coffee and sausage roll for two. $24.00! Ok so it had been a busy morning but we didn’t need (or order) two coffees each, and after a complicated recount the teller eventually worked out he had overcharged by $10.00. So the journey resumed, coffee in hand, sausage roll in tummy’s, music blaring and torrential rain pelting down. Not ideal for two girls following the sun.
We soon realised the midday traffic, which was abnormally stationery, spelt something other than usual Friday congestion. Maybe the police with lights and sirens also raised alarm bells. Sure enough, ahead on the harbour bridge, a major incident was unfolding. None other than a rolled truck, closing off four of the eight lanes.
We finally crawled over the harbour bridge and got out of first gear. The rain was easing, so it was metal to the floor to put some miles behind us.
Four hours on the road found us at Otorohanga for a bathroom stop, a leg stretch and a sandwich.
A stroll through Edmund Hillary arcade, and kiwiana history, found us hanging out with “The Chicks”
The buzzy bee and the Kiwi!
The usually bustling town, which serves as a halfway stop for many travellers was almost deserted, shops closed and very few people. No one in the cafes or tourist trap shops, and most closing their doors before 3pm. The stark reality of covid economy collapse certainly evident in the small towns.
Back on the road, there were still mountains to climb and as the day was nearing its end, the sun did peak through in patches, but gave up as rain descended upon a grey late afternoon. We circled the Tongariro mountain range, sight unseen, and headed into the Paraparas, the final challenge of the day.
Stop-go one way stretches halted the journey a couple of times where slips had halved the road.
Natural car washes poured down onto the road sides and were evident along several sheer rock faces through the gorge, endorsing the large amount of recent rainfall in this area.
My minimal knowledge of this area, did flag the danger of slips! And then we rounded a corner…. only to be confronted by a large pile of rocks on our side of the road, actually across most of the narrow road. Luckily speed was not an issue, as corners were tight and I navigated my way through, bouncing over a few lumps and bumps.
The final stretch saw us driving into a ball of fire as the sun dropped down behind the Wanganui river banks and destination in view after 7 hours on the road. Even the warm Speights (and wine) tasted great! And a wonderful evening catching up with Russ’s brother Graeme and Brenda.
All who wander are not Lost girls 