Not Quite North Yet

We left our Friends home in the Rotoiti Forest and headed off to Opunake where I am ministering this weekend. First stop was at Turangi then onto the Château and Whakapapa Ski Fields. Sadly there was nothing but rock plus many signs saying "no dogs." Therefore we came off the mountain and drove onto Taumarunui for the night. Just outside our motorhome were lots of beautiful big red mushrooms.
Next morning, against advice we headed off down the Forgotten World Highway. We knew the road would only be open for 1hour from 12noon until 1pm as they were doing major road works plus stabilising cliffs and washouts.... gee it was bad... they even had a ban on heavy vehicles driving the 5hours over it due to it unstable condition in parts.
We were stopped an hour in and had to wait 2hours. We did what we all would do and invite others plus the "stop and go" lady in for a latte'... the party started as too did the rain. Eventually we were released to drive on and wow! what a drive... much of it over tracks under construction.... eventually we made it onto the black top again and got to Whangamomona before the passport office closed... my old NZ passport had expired therfore applied for their republic's new one.
Then onto Stratford where showers etc were much appreciated... roll on tomorrow!もっと詳しく