MIDDLE EARTH TRAVERSE
hat’s right; our plans – as a couple of fairly typical North Islanders four-wheelers – for a full-on four-week sojourn down south were well underway. But like those of many other Kiwis they had to change post-Covid-19 and the end of (the first) lockdown.
Instead we pondered which areas of the North Island we still needed to explore... only to make a last-minute call based on the weather!
And so our 11-day/1,700km journey began ‘at home’ in Taupo from where we heading east down the Napier-Taupo Highway to the Mangatutu Hot Springs in the Kaweka Forest Park north-west of Napier.
The winding gravel roads were warmly welcomed after a seven week lockdown, especially with a fresh coating of snow on the range. The drive also gave Cam an opportunity to finally unleash the TD42 engine after a lockdown conversion from the original ZD30. Not to mention an opportunity to use the winch... when we came upon a turned over bus on a narrow corner that was completely blocking the road.
FIRST ON THE SCENE
Being the first on the scene we set about comforting the shocked driver then attempting to winch it back on its side. However, after several different techniques we called it quits before we did our own gear any damage. And after three hours had passed there were three suitable vehicles trapped on the other (lower) side of the hill, the owners of which offered to join together and tow the bus downhill 20m to a wider part of the road so they could pass. Success!
And us? Well,
