Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where

December 2022 - February 2023

Today is a day of preparation and rest.
After a week of catching up with friends, various meals to attend,countless trips to and from our storage shed as we loaded Waymaker up with rods, summer clothes, pots and pans, plus a thousand of other goodie Read more

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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Dec 18, 2022, 1:59pm
- 🌧 22 °C
- Altitude: 282 m
- New Zealand Bay of Plenty Rotorua District Hannahs Bay -38.118847, 176.30394338°7’8” S 176°18’14” E
Day 2
Trip 2 .. a Day Delay
December 18, 2022 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 22 °C
Oh, What a night! Poor Christine woke just after midnight feeling horribly unwell, and tried to make it to the bathroom..... not an easy task at the best of times. Unfortunately she was sick three times onto the duvet. Yuck!!!!!
While she looked after herself I changed the bedding .... double yuck!!
This morning I assigned myself to laundry duties while Chrissy had a shower and rested up.
The decision was made not to move out until she is up firing on all four's. I need a bit of sleep as well therefore Sunday has become a day of recovery and restoration.
Maybe, just maybe we will be off tomorrow... we will see.Read more
Traveler Oh dear hope she’s feeling better soon. You will pass our place but we not home until lunchtime
12/17/22Reply
Traveler we will see how she is in the morning. we were taking the car with us as well to Tauranga.
12/18/22Reply
Traveler Ok, we have an appointment in Tga on Tuesday at 11 so on our way home after lunch we might come via Welcome Bay but will let you know
12/18/22Reply
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Dec 20, 2022, 11:29am
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- New Zealand Bay of Plenty Tauranga City Kairua -37.714132, 176.28647537°42’51” S 176°17’11” E
Day 4
Trip 2.. once dead is Now Back To Life
December 20, 2022 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
Trip 2 has been a hard one to get going. What with Christine's illness which we believe is due to the new medication the Rotorua Hospital have recently put her on, and then on the morning we were due to leave, the car battery was dead... stone cold "dead!" Fortunately our dear friend Terry came forth with a battery starter thingie that worked a treat. He even allowed me to take it with us until I could get the car "sorted."
After two further car start failures I took her into a Tauranga Auto Electrician this morning whom diagnosed that the battery was "stone cold dead. " (see, I told you so!) After a short service we buried it and soon replaced it with a newer model with a ton of energy! .. yippee!!
While in Tauranga I sorted the personal plates out for Waymaker and was soon back at the NZMCA camp at Welcome Bay. Just in time to watch the rabbits playing outside our motorhome.
Let the pilgrimage commence.....Read more
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Dec 21, 2022, 1:19pm
- ⛅ 23 °C
- Altitude: 16 m
- New Zealand Bay of Plenty Tauranga City Kairua Kowhararahi -37.718283, 176.25383437°43’6” S 176°15’14” E
Day 5
Third Thing Now Sorted .. (we hope)
December 21, 2022 in New Zealand ⋅ ⛅ 23 °C
After not having the fridge working on "gas" since arriving at camp we have spent the morning getting it all sorted at the RV Service Centre. It only needed a new thermostat, a new igniter, a new circuit board that controls it all, plus a new bank balance (help!!) It would seem that the lithium batteries are not very friendly with motorhome compoinentary. Oh well... tonight we will be able sleep without the musical charms of beep, beep, beep, beep.......
Off to visit an old friend this afternoon then the family are coming over for a bbq tonight.Read more
Traveler Wow a major huh but glad you got it sorted
12/20/22Reply
Traveler yes.. Clint was excellent... saw my need and got to it.
12/20/22Reply
You are having a baptism by fire Maurice & Christine, wasn’t aware that lithium batteries would cause the repairs you had to do but I am not an Auto Electrician. For your reference, our Scout (Sasannach) had a 200 amp hr lithium battery in it as well. Still I bet you are still very happy enjoying the motorhome life, just initial teething problems. Cheers John and Marian [John Lee]
12/22/22Reply
Traveler You are quite right John. We must take these things in our stride and move forward.
12/22/22Reply
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Dec 27, 2022, 1:23pm
- ☀️ 25 °C
- Altitude: 186 m
- New Zealand Waikato Taupo District Mangakino Matekuri Island -38.365, 175.7838°21’54” S 175°46’48” E
Day 11
On the Road Again
December 27, 2022 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
Left the NZMCA camp at Welcome Bay after spending Christmas with our daughter Rachelle and her family. And what a precious time it was.
Our intention was to go to the dump station in Te Puke on our way taking our car back to Rotorua. Unfortunately it was so overflowing we decided to move on.
We left our car with friends then dumped in Rotorua, filled up with diesel ⛽️ and headed off for our pilgrimage around the Naki.
We are now set up on the edge if the Maraetai Lake again and what a wonderful back yard we have.
We are not too sure where we go next or when!! He does.Read more
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Dec 30, 2022, 10:54am
- ☀️ 21 °C
- Altitude: 202 m
- New Zealand Manawatu-Wanganui Ruapehu District Taumarunui Sunshine Settlement -38.886667, 175.25833338°53’12” S 175°15’30” E
Day 14
All Set Up
December 30, 2022 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
We are all set up in Taumaranui for a couple of nights and we are still enjoying our wonderful summer.
We needed to leave Maraetai Lake due to the continual dust being created by the many many boats and hundreds of people using the reserve. It was a wonderful spot but ideal stopping point during quieter times.
We are now camped at a POP site just above the junction of the Whanganui River and another one. We are off to walk it later today... meanwhile we are cleaning the dust out of Waymaker, relaxing and enjoying our journey.Read more
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- Dec 31, 2022, 3:57pm
- ☀️ 22 °C
- Altitude: 579 m
- New Zealand Manawatu-Wanganui Ruapehu District Ohakune Mangateitei -39.411667, 175.40166739°24’42” S 175°24’6” E
Day 15
Where oh Where Do You want Us To Be?
December 31, 2022 in New Zealand ⋅ ☀️ 22 °C
National Park was not to be our night over place for New Year's Eve. Went there, drove around, had a coffee, then drove out.... and onto Ohakune.. Carrot Country.
Once again we drove around, but all the freedom camping site were either gone, closed off, or didn't exist... BUT .we knew we were in the right place and then...... on our way back into town, here was a golf club with motorhomes over the back of the carpark.... here we are., all set up and ready to party hard until 9.30pm bed time°Read more
Traveler ⁸
1/9/23Reply
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Jan 2, 2023, 10:41am
- ☁️ 17 °C
- Altitude: 517 m
- New Zealand Manawatu-Wanganui Ruapehu District Raetihi -39.426667, 175.27833339°25’36” S 175°16’42” E
Day 17
Pipiriki.. Heaven on Earth
January 2, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C
Pipiriki, a beautiful settlement on the upper Whanganui River, miles from anywhere (and everywhere).. where there is no cell phone service, but there is a wonderfully maintained camp with full facilities... awesome... peace perfect peace!.
The trip here from Raetihi was downhill for 27kms.. winding narrow, many one way bridges, yet a tarsealed road.
Looking forward to an afternoon of rest before heading downstream to Whanganui tomorrow.Read more
Traveler you are sure living the life blessings
1/1/23Reply
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Jan 4, 2023, 4:23pm
- 🌧 19 °C
- Altitude: 76 m
- New Zealand Manawatu-Wanganui Ruapehu District Pipiriki -39.477745, 175.04351339°28’40” S 175°2’37” E
Day 19
We Have Been to Nowhere Today!
January 4, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 19 °C
What a wonderful day Christine and I have had. Zooming up these Whanganui River canyons in a jet boat for 37kms. We were treated like vip's by the staff and given the front two seats to ride in. Stopping several times on the way for our driver Thomas to pass on his river knowledge as a 5th generation river-man.
Once arriving at the landing we walked for another hour through native bush to the Bridge to Nowhere!
My impression of the day were (1) just how busy the river is with canoeist everywhere, (2) the huge number of people walking various bush walks that you come upon, and (3) just how unfit I am. Never the less we made it to the Bridge and back to the landing again. Yet... fit enough to totally enjoy the three doughnuts we did in the jet boat on our way downstream to home.
Maybe the cost was a wee bit extravagant but it was worth every penny. I think it will be early to bed tonight.Read more
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Traveler Trip 2, To We Don't Know Where
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- Jan 7, 2023, 11:29am
- 🌧 21 °C
- Altitude: 6 m
- New Zealand Manawatu-Wanganui Wanganui District Gonville Putiki Pa -39.933333, 175.05166739°55’60” S 175°3’6” E
Day 22
Wet, Wet, Wet, Whanganui
January 7, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ 🌧 21 °C
Our stint of freedom camping in a Whanganui Park on the banks of the Whanganui River didn't last long; one night to be exact... the noise of the continuous traffic behind us meant we had no sleep. We decided to move into the Castlebeach Holiday Park for 3 nites. The wonderful managers made room for us in a very full camp.
We have caught up with our dear friends Harold and Jeanette and they have taken us under their wings in showing us their city.
We went out to diner last night and are off to church this morning...
We are dry, warm, and at peace.Read more
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- Jan 10, 2023, 11:06am
- ☁️ 20 °C
- Altitude: 93 m
- New Zealand Taranaki South Taranaki District Hawera -39.586824, 174.26786539°35’13” S 174°16’4” E
Day 25
Storm Runners....
January 10, 2023 in New Zealand ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C
Today we have ended up at Hawera for the night after setting up at the river mouth in Patea and again on the cliff top in Hawera.. neither were very practical locations with the stormy weather expected. We are now safely tucked up in a NZMCA camp in the heart of Hawera.
My hair is now all cut and Road User Milage bought.. we are all set for a safe night.
And... a huge thank you goes out to Harold snd Jeanette for the wonderful few days with them, dining, and visiting not only their wonderful city but also with them ... an awesome timeRead more
Traveler Lloyd
1/15/23Reply
Traveler Use you
1/15/23Reply
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