Home again

We left Whakatane with the original intention of driving to Waihi to try out the new NZMCA park there, but as the next band of bad weather was descending upon us, and as the previously closed roads had opened again, we decided to make a run for home.

This was to be one of the biggest days of driving, this trip, with the exception of the Whanganui to Taupo leg. It seems a bit of a shame that Hunter is just starting to get used to travelling in the motor-home again, and his anxiety is settling just in time for us to come home.

The roads had been closed around Katikati, and as we drove through that area we could see plenty of water in the paddocks, and soggy roadsides where it had been across the road.

The drive was uneventful though and we finally arrived home at around 5.30pm. We were greeted with a beautiful sunset and a temporary reprieve from the rain – enough to get the necessary stuff out of the motorhome – leaving the rest for tomorrow,

The next morning we could see plenty of evidence of the lingering wet weather. The back deck was green with mould so Bruce set to work with the water blaster (after first fixing the start cord). Judy went to put food away in the pantry and found the Indian Meal Moths had been very active in our absence so she spent the day going through the dry goods, chucking stuff and cleaning the pantry. Neither of these were planned activities but they took up most of the day.

We were relaxing at the end of the day when Bruce made the statement “I would really like to see Maia (his grand-daughter) for her second birthday, which was on Saturday (and today was Tuesday). Problem was, Maia lives in Wellington! After a bit of discussion we decided we might as well go, so Wednesday was spent readying the motorhome for another trip south.