Thelma and Louise decided the last treat before leaving Napier was a new hairdo! Carefully trolling the internet for the dream style, and producing the image for the head stylist, who could fit us in today (not yesterday) we delayed our roadie.

This morning we got up quite excited, packed up, loaded up, breakfast early so we were ready for a quick getaway when Louise was done(afternoon appointment). Thelma was in the morning at 10am.

Firstly the highlight of the day…

Fiat Bambina station wagon!

You may have guessed the salon experience was disastrous. Thelma was all geared up for the Stevie Nicks shaggy look of the 70’s. The technician obviously decided she was doing her 60 year old lady cut come hell or high water. Maybe she needed to clean her glasses and couldn’t see the picture, or maybe she just thought….here come some Aucklanders! She was stopped several times in her track… discussions(at this point) about not doing fringe, and then when she cut the locks just below the ears there was no chance of the long shaggy style, shown to her several times during the process. From then on she was told what to cut, but too late, Thelma has a short boring haircut! And then she charged $240 for adding a few grey (supposed to be golden) highlights!

Fluffing around with product and fingers at the end she exclaimed “don’t you just love it?” For every Gal there is a breaking point……the response was “If my husband wasn’t dead he would shoot you as he loved my long hair!” She walked away and took my $240 and $240 for Louises promised makeover!

Louise took one look at a miserable Thelma, realised she would probably end up with short back and sides (and be told to love it) and stormed in and demanded her yet unspent $240, which of course she got!

A quick stop at the two dollar shop and the supermarket, Thelma is armed with scissors, combs, and highlighting pack, for the grand sum of $12.50 and will certainly do a better job…at least listen to her customer.

On the road by 1.30pm heading north around the cape, T&L decided they were certainly ready to leave Napier behind.

Now finding themselves at Mahia bay ( just south of Gisborne) in a holiday park, laden with supplies for three days if so desired! Very few humans or vehicles or life of any kind actually! Just the way we like it. And sitting on our little deck (with beautiful orange chairs) we can hear the waves. Cities, kids begging for money, and useless hairdressers a world away, don’t be surprised if the next picture you see of Thelma she will be wearing a hat!

Morning started early in Napier for Thelma, waking at 6am for the sunrise, which was 6.08am. No time for dressing, or hairbrush …. ran across the road in jammies to catch the colours of the morning.

Promising to be a glorious day ahead!

Morning maintenance consisted of Charcoal teeth whitener, and coffee face scrub. Thelmas teeth looked like she had none and then ended up looking like she had eaten a whole packet of black licorice, still waiting for the pearly whites, and apart from smelling good, the face scrub settled into all the wrinkles and set like mud! Louise then passed on these activities.

It was then out the door exploring, in search of hair and nail maintenance.

Having looked up accommodation options for tomorrow night, with no success, we decided first stop was the Isite tourist centre to try and wheedle our way into a nice room. A very helpful young lady tried her very best, but everything was full. Kiwis are certainly travelling around their own country at this time. We finally secured a spot, not the planned spot, but this is what makes a roadie interesting.

Mini golf on the waterfront, deserted due to lack of cruise ships!

We then booked the hair maintenance for tomorrow and headed to the nail salon.

Toes and fingers done and dusted…not without a performance. Thelma got the learner on feet and Louise got her on fingers. This was not the pleasant social experience one expects while having beauty treatments, as English being the second language for the technician made for a very boring time and rather longer than expected!

Hungry and just a little frazzled it was time for a beer garden!

Finally relaxing to music, bevy’s and a grazing plate, the smiles returned!

The final activity was a stroll along the waterfront, now too cool to don our new retro bathing suits (yes that was the plan) and lie on the beach for some R&R.

The stroll was quite a brisk one, as after two rum and cokes (each) we both needed a bathroom stop! All day in town, a bathroom on every corner, on the waterfront NO! Just lots of kids on bikes, skateboards and scooters on their way home from school.

While the hotels are so full, the town is devoid of people. We learned that the government has filled all the hotels with people made homeless through Covid job loss, and they’ve never left, why would they? But beware travellers, book well in advance if you are planning a roadie!

The weekend culminated in a birthday celebration, albeit a week early for Brenda.

With chocolate cake, cream and strawberries made by Thelma! Big effort and full tummies.

Monday morning started not so well, Louise locked us outside while having the morning coffee… cold toes and empty coffee cup meant we had to raise someone to let us in! Then she couldn’t find her glasses, in a celebratory moment she buried them in the washing bag at lights out the night before! Finally, the morning settled and continued with champagne and peach cocktails for breakfast, Thelma exempt as she had driving duties ahead!

Dressed for the roadie, after a quick repair on the new (op shop) shoes we packed the car….

Said our goodbyes and hit the road, with a little sadness at leaving our loved ones.

Today is Russ’s birthday and the anniversary of his funeral one year ago and being with his family was very special.

T & L said goodbye to Wanganui, we’ll be back, and headed south, bypassing Palmerston North and stopping along the way at charity shops in Woodville and waipukarau, collecting new treasures on the way!

A rest stop at the top of “the saddle” not sure what saddle, but after Fielding, to capture an image of the wind farm. Now we know why the wind things are on the top of the hills. Thelma nearly lost her new (charity shop, too large low riding) orange pants and got blown off her cork wedges! Louise sat in the car laughing!

A three and half hour journey to Napier (destination of choice today) took us five and a half hours.

Then it was time to negotiate a room with a view. The fundamental criteria was: two beds, fridge, wine glass, jug and social area for evening refreshments. So we found it – opposite the beach, separate bedroom and bargained them down for the two nights!

It was then a quick walk to Pak n Save for dinner and essentials…

The only girls in the place masked up and taking care of business…

Tomorrow promises to be a summers day with a high of 21 degrees celcius, but tonight is promising to be a chilly 7! Time to rug up, eat up and watch some chick flicks!

Sunday morning and out and about in sunny Wanganui, the weather gods threw a glorious day at us.

While Wanganui is famous for its river, riverboats and railway history, it is actually on the Wild West coast! A short drive took Thelma and Louise to the beach; black sand, surf, driftwood and mountains!

The clear day provided a perfect view of Mt Taranaki, a couple of hundred kilometres north, reaching for the sky.

Castlecliff beach stretching south, dogs and humans enjoying the perfect morning.

Then it was off to visit the heads, where the sea meets the river. Cruising along the coast road we found….

The driftwood house and the owner out front planting daisys in his driftwood fence

We very politely asked if we could take a photo. “Are you from the council?” No T & L are from north of Auckland and Louise is a driftwood fan. New best friend, the entire property is decorated with driftwood, a physical therapy project after a broken back left the owner almost paralysed.

The fence on council berm, hence the council question. This is a snapshot of two houses, two sections, driveway and fences. We even got offered to take whatever piece we wanted, but we couldn’t destroy the artwork!

Back on the road, for a few minutes, and we parked up at the heads.

One way in and one way out through the break water as the rest of the shoreline had a 6-8 foot surf rolling in. So we had found the most popular spot for fishermen, surfers, wood collectors, dads and kids all out enjoying the still morning sunshine.

Even ditched the jeans and bared the winter whites.

A beach full of natural treasures…

Wetsuited surfers waiting for the big one…

And the breakwater; a perfect fishing spot for Kawhai, John Dory and Red cod, as we were informed by a local. We were wishing we had thrown in a couple of rods for the roadie!

It was back to the main beach for a quick bathroom stop.

Art Deco Wanganui at its best and across the road a quaint little Sunday market was opening up. Stalls with everything free, donation if you like, a few locals enjoying just a social Sunday event, selling stuff not a priority!

The afternoon was filled with washing, cooking for a birthday dinner, a bit of personal maintenance…like the first shower since leaving on Friday! And now my brother in law is playing with his new toy, a skillsaw to chop up firewood. No such thing as no power tools on a Sunday in Wanganui!

We now have the Sunday roast and chocolate birthday cake – made from scratch, just because we can!

Tomorrow the roadie begins, who knows where this will find T & L!

Charity shoppers delight, a five minute walk from our abode found the girls in the hospice charity shop at 10am.

The roadie outfits are sorted for Monday when we head out, this is just a little teaser!

Plan for the day was to walk into town and explore the riverside market. (yes Aucklanders markets are allowed) After an hour or so in the charity shop fending off the teamed up losers begging for money, who soon realised there was no point in taking on Thelma and Louise, we returned to the homestead laden with treasures! We packed light and an outfit is needed for each day to come (watch this space)

The team then walked and wheeled it into town (approx three kms) making new friends on the way….mainly dogs!

Not quite the superyacht waterfront of Birgu (Malta) but this old girl was for sale. An option for Thelma and Louise if they become homeless once again.

After the traffic chaos of Auckland a no car day was much needed and we soaked in the nature of the Wanganui river…devoid of humans, cars and actually most things!

Arriving at our destination with about 40 minutes to explore the market before the locals packed up and went home to enjoy the afternoon sunshine. Having devoured an ice cream on arrival there was one last treat that we couldn’t resist…

Hot dogs on a stick…..keto, healthy options not an option in the food truck area, well maybe it was but not in our line of vision.

Then a treat of all treats for the charity queens! My sister in law Brenda works in a charity shop in town which is closed on saturdays. She purloined the key and a private viewing (and shopping spree) was had by the tourists! Followed by a second hand book shop (another friend) visit and a bargain deal on old westerns for Al! Thes books are like hens teeth and he has at least a couple of weeks worth on our return!

One more stop, should have worn the track shoes, refreshments again and a couple of supplies for dinner. Thelma and Louise were getting thirsty for the 5pm drinks, left our hosts to visit the phone shop and footed it home, promising to get the washing off the line!

It seemed a long way back on tired feet carrying a bag of ice (for Louises wine) and two leeks. We will see what happens with them…all in all no fossil fuels used and damn near 15kms of T & L’s energy expended.

Actually I’m on my second Speights and our hosts are still not back, hope the wheelchair hasn’t run out of juice!

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.

Living a weekend with friends and family, in my tiny house, makes the world seem a better place. Time alone, time to chat, time to smile and time to plan and dream of happy times.

Coffee and colour, sea and sand. A drive over the hill and searching for a secluded place to drink a coffee in the sunshine meant avoiding the crowded cafes and heading to the south end of Orewa beach at the mouth of the estuary.

White sand and clear blue water, sheltered from the cool September breeze fills the soul with warmth and peace.

After a breakfast of BLTs Dan and I left George to snooze after his night of camping a little further north.

Checking potential beach fishing spots and reinforcing our thoughts that we really do live in a beautiful place. A far cry from my weekly suburbia (which is only a stones throw away)

The afternoon provided time to be still and watch a mindless movie, until I was ready to wander up the road and sit on the building site with Dan and Floyd, catching the last of the afternoons rays.

Floyd followed the sun…and moved to the bottom step of Jax house as the sun dipped behind the hill around 3pm.

And the shadows lengthened. I wandered back from Dans to build a “Hello Fresh” for dinner, noting the visitors to Waiwera lined up along the road…

A mustang lovers delight.

Trudi arrived after work and we visited our lockdown friends from Tauranga, and wandered along the waterfront and the sun set on the glorious spring day.

The wind had dropped and the evening air chilled, reminding us that there is still a touch of winter in the air.

Reverse image of the sunset in the mirror of a waterfront home, capturing a loan walker and a clean car. With our water restrictions we are still unable to use the hose so most of us are sporting dirty cars so it is quite special to see a clean car.

This afternoon it’s back to suburbia and ready for a working week….yawn!

While the restless kiwis are exploring the far ends of New Zealand, a gentle reminder that paradise is just a stones throw away.

This restless kiwi has the weekend off, packed a bag, a box of Speights, emptied the fridge and jumped in the car and headed north….10ks over the hill and back to Waiwera for the weekend in my bach at the beach.

An evening of catching up with Dan and Jax and Steph, home made hamburgers and no TV! A Sleep in was planned but the body clock decided otherwise. Wide awake at 6am and not to waste a minute of my temporary freedom I lept out of bed to catch the sunrise.

Coffee in hand, takeaway cup courtesy of my Texas family…I climbed the gate and took us (my absent friends) to the beach to catch the suns first peep of what promises to be a glorious spring day!

The suns fingers reaching out to my toes as I sit on the sea wall sipping my coffee, birds calling, sea slapping on the sand and no humans! A cool sea breeze completing the morning wake up call.

Our little church catching the first rays

And the bench seat waiting for the old man that comes every day (with his walking frame) and sits there and reads his book for an hour or so.

Gate still locked, so another climb over the gate to sit in the sun (now streaming in my bach) and finish my still hot coffee!

My self managing garden looking pretty happy with the spring weather.

Appreciation of this magical place is compounded by absence. Covid enforced or circumstances enforced, but when one gets a moment and can return, it lifts the soul and warms the heart.

A friendly face, a smile and wave, the quacking ducks chirping birds and the sound waves of a seaside village, only 10 minutes out of suburbia, makes us realise that all is not lost! And then there comes a bus, empty as usual but routinely on the hour. Its going to be a great day in my happy place.

2020 has disrupted all our lives, our friends, our families and their friends and families. Everywhere you look, someone has a story to tell and we are hearing alot of unsettled humans in our new world.

House prices are soaring as Kiwis try to secure their forever home, and rentals are in high demand. Being a tradie at this time is a good profession to have, as the plans for building are popping up all over our country, New Zealand touted to be a safe place to live.

We are disposing of unneeded “things” and minimalising our lives to enjoy the more simple activities in our work life balance. While many are working from home, and disparing of stumbling from their beds to their computers on a daily basis, others are embracing change and making plans to action for a future in our godzone. As we have all been such a transient society, we have holes in our hearts where our overseas loved ones sit and memories return to us on a daily basis (facebook reminds us memory challenged humans). We tell ourselves it will not be forever and we focus on the summer in front of us with Spring providing sunshine and warmer days.

It is time for this old Girl to find a new home, she likes a roof over her head (garage) and who can drive two cars at once? Trade-me provided the perfect motivation on Saturday – gifting a free listing day and so I did….one test drive and a couple of lookers and bids later but no new home yet. She needs someone to care for her as Russ did and as I have a multitude of humans to care for, it can’t be me.

Days and weekends are littered with home tasks, work and, dare I say it, a slight boredom of looking out the window at suburbia (new subdivision – big houses on small sections) and the continuous banging of contractors working on the two mausoleums (bigger houses on smaller sections) behind Dads house in Silverdale.

Lawns are growing and plants need watering, windows need cleaning and cupboards need clearing. Jobs for a weekend, but by then its just block the world and do something unnecessary:

Two jigsaws in one day, Ok so only 300 piece ones, but an hour of mindless activity. I am looking forward to joining the ranks of the level 2.5 freedom campers….and getting some beach time or fishing time soon. This Kiwi likes the outdoors not the indoors and we still have lots to explore in this country of ours.

So my Wednesday ends with a medical appointment and building another “Hello Fresh”, although I am getting good at modifying these complicated instructions into very edible (and easy) concoctions…Dad has been baking himself in the afternoon sun in readiness for his appointment. Life is pretty simple really. We got through Fathers Day, not that well (sad face here), we now have the first year of Russ’s passing to navigate next week closely followed by his birthday (and anniversary of his funeral and the first game of the 2019 Rugby world cup). It is kind of hard to believe all this was pre Covid and we did not know that barring our losses what 2020 would bring for us. So long as we all stick together and spread a little kindness where ever we can we will all get ready to jump into 2021 with renewed vigour.

Spring is here, September is bringing sunshine to out closed doors, gates and borders. As covid lives in our community, we try to carry on with our lives and keep our heads above water.

We need to keep safe and designer masks are the new designer shoes. Gates keep us safe and our canines safe. Floyd has been hanging out in Silverdale while his house is a building site. Dan is cranking along with his renovations and a dog cannot understand why his home is being ripped apart.

I would actually like to fast forward September as I stare down the barrel of 60 years on this earth. I always said the 10 years from age 20-30 were the best of our lives, but on reflection 50-60 was pretty awesome! Russ and I had some great adventures until a year ago when September hit us. Now it’s only memories as I navigate Father’s Day, A year since Russ left me and his birthday in September. So I say roll on October and my next decade on earth and let’s see if the “time heals all” can take me to a new world!

This covid thing has become a drag for many… We are starting to accept that our freedom of choice is somewhat changed. Never having held on to things and a forever home(house), the focus is on making a nest where we can be happy seems to be the thing now.

George gave up on returning to the UK and started a kiwi work life this week, a Monday to Friday 9 to 5 working week. After working from home for 10 months, unsociable hours, afternoon naps and random gym visits, it’s welcome to the real world and a welcome change!

Dad is chugging along, walking laps of the house and bossing me around as I try to work in my world of selling bags and boxes! The covid world has crushed the retail trade but boosted the online shopping craze and I dream of box sales! Kiwis now shop from the safety of their home and our boxes are in big demand.

I kind of feel like a spider with eight arms as I try to keep my lot happy adjusting to a changed world. Sometimes one gets ripped off and another one grows in its place to reach out and pick up the pieces!

I never liked closed doors, but this is now the new norm and so long as we shut the gate the humans and canines will be safe!