Waipukurau

After arriving back in the North Island, we started to head north towards Tauranga. Via Napier and Taupo. One of our first stops was Levin. The weather was wet and cold. I think it was miserable all over the island really. As well as this, my workload (job) was quite heavy, and consequently I didn't take a lot of photos in Levin. Except this one. Who could resist this wonderful wee caravan at Gipsy Caravans. We called in there to replace our levellers (those things you run one set of wheels up on to try and make the rig level). Well, one of them had cracked and we needed a new one before it gave out altogether and we ended up having to sleep on a slope. Gipsy Caravans were wonderful! They told us that the levellers should have held up a much heavier rig than ours and as they were less than a year old, made some phone calls and managed to get us a new set for free. Very happy. Thank you, Gipsy Caravans, Levin!

After Levin, we travelled north towards Dannevirke. We went through Ashurst and over the saddle. It's a windy road, up and down, but apparently better than the Pahiatua Track. And now that the Manawatu Gorge is closed, well, this is the best option. The weather was still miserable, but these wind turbines on the east side of the saddle are just magnificent.

Just look at them all! And look at that sky! Waiting to dump on us again . . . .

We stayed at the Dannevirke Golf Club so that we could catch up with some special friends who travelled across from Fielding to see us. Dave and Mark had a game of golf while Sandra, Lucy & I had a great walk around the golf course.

Although we could have travelled further on the next day, we'd arranged to have our mail forwarded to Waipukurau, so that was our next stop. We happened to arrive on the weekend, so it was a couple of days waiting for the Post Shop to open.

We went for a walk one afternoon (between the showers). All rugged up against the cold. And these are some of the sights.

Waipikarau's claim to fame.

The back of the train station.

And this is where we stayed—in the car park of the Leopard Hotel. Although a car park of a hotel may not sound very exciting, it has some great advantages:
1. You're on solid ground, so if it's raining, you're not going to be in the mud or get bogged down. You'll always be able to get out of there.
2. You're well off the road, safe.
3. You get to meet the friendly locals. Sometimes. We find the smaller the town, the friendlier the locals.
4. You can usually purchase a well-priced bar meal and have a break from cooking.
5. You can drink and not have to drive.
6. You can beat your husband at pool. Again. ;) Hehe. (It happens so infrequently, it needs to be recorded/celebrated.)

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