Road Closed Ahead

 

Road Close Ahead!

 

 

Symbolic photo though we didn't know it at the time!

Our wandering road is going to be curtailed for several months and we are going to be back in Whangarei - and even living in a house!

This sudden change of plans and lifestyle was brought about by an offer I couldn't refuse - working for a couple of terms at my old place of work, good old Kamo Primary School.

So I will not be blogging for a while but next summer we'll be off again - this time we'll be exploring the North Island.  Malcolm will have had time by then to do all the maintenance and little changes that we have decided on.  So we - and the bus - will be ready to roll then.  Watch this space!

 

A Wet Week in the Waikato

 

Malcolm at Miranda

Red sky at night, Wanderers delight?
Sunset looking across to the Coromandel

View from the beach, bus in centre

Malcolm meets Marilyn at Katikati 

funky piano

I meet a bronze Barry

Katikati is known as mural-town and there are lots

Not entirely accurate - but alliterative.  We have been parked for some of the time on the borders of Hauraki and the Western Bay of Plenty but we had to drive through the Waikato, so near enough.  It has been fairly wet anyway!  We went to Miranda Hot Pools when we were there and had a good soak, very relaxing.  It may not be flash like Hanmer Springs but the water is hot, it's not expensive and there was hardly anyone else there.  And that was before the rain started.

After we left Miranda we headed through the Karangahake Gorge to Waihi Beach.  We've never been here before and it must be lovely in sunny weather.  Between showers we had a walk on the beach.  Next stop - the end of the peninsula at Anzac Bay looking into the Tauranga Harbour.  Sandy beach, pohutakawas - but no sun.  There were some archaeologists doing a dig (there's a Maori pa on the headland) and finding bones.  Next thing some workers came and fenced off the whole reserve area with us in it!  The foreman came and told us the council would chuck us out if they come down in the morning, meanwhile we have it all to ourselves.

Whangarei to Miranda

Freedom camping Whangarei - the trees starting to show Autumn

Wellingtons Bay - I went for a swim

Drive out to Tutukaka

view from bus doorway, Miranda

beach walk late afternoon...

...the tide is way out

 

We ended up spending more time back in Whangarei and area than we anticipated - but it was all good.  We moved around every 3 days as per the rules.  Finally we have done all that needed doing for now and headed south again to Miranda on the Firth of Thames.  A fabulous sunny day to drive down here.  We had a late lunch, sat reading in the afternoon sunshine then had an evening walk.  Suddenly it got dark - the clocks went back at the weekend so it's dark at 6.30.  Seems like it was not long ago we were in the South Island and it was still light at 10.00!