MAUNGAPOHATU
Boulders bigger than our trucks sat on the road and deep silt covered the bank like a ribbon to mark where the torrent and raging water had passed. Skeletal trees were mixed into the debris, pushed aside by the diggers and dozers that cleared our path, fallen warriors who had guarded the road and these foothills for years, if not decades. A silent message to never underestimate this land.
Deeper we went, not sure if we’d get any further or would be halted by a ‘stop/ go’ person and sent back, ending our mission. The good spirits were with Adrian and me, guiding us safely through. This was the fourth invite I’ve had to come here. The previous three I’d had to decline for various reasons…business is always calling…
“What ya up to?” the call had come from Adrian. “I was thinking we should head up to the mountain on Tuesday.”
I had two days to convince my wife, whose birthday was on the Wednesday, and do all the necessary business things like adding a message to my cell phone.
“All good to go?” Adrian asked the day before our departure. “Meet me at the Rainbow Mountain turn-off and we’ll carry on from there.”
I had heard enough about this place to make me want to go and
