Leaving Hamilton

 

This was the crank shaft from a Peugeot 405... including the flywheel.

The dish at the top is, I think, made from a hub cap. This reflects light from a candle set in the pot on the top.

One of John Taris' useful sculptures!!

We left a little late...I packed and Pirate chopped some more firewood so that he would feel better about the world..11am was an hour later than I had hoped.   But we both felt so at home that staying longer would have been easy!  However, Jenni needed her sewing room back!!

Car refuelled at Te Awamutu....and us with coffee...a clean T shirt for me from the St John's op shop...and we were away down State Highway 3.

I decided on this way down as the driving on SH1 always feels rushed and pushed..and it is a big haul for the car up onto the Desert Road to the east of Tongariro and Ruapehu. When we were planning, SH4 was closed by slips and washouts, but even though it was opened again yesterday morning I decided that it was a bit too scary! 

Plus the weather forecast was hotter for a drive down the middle of the Island.

So carry on down the 3 it was, after our lunch stop at Te Kuiti.  As we headed into the hills we found that a tunnel was now a cutting!! 

We both remembered the road from a journey made by bus ten years ago and it was interesting to see the changes.

A massive change is being made at Mount Messenger, where the road is very wiggly, and extremely steep for those heading North on The Great North Road as it is called.

The layby at the top is fenced off and is full of workers from Waka Kotahi, the roads department...and huge cranes and gantries with wires.. Like the ones the tree fellers sling huge trunks over and down from high slopes.

They are using this to bring up machines and materials.

Apparently a huge new route is being built over a swamp and a deep cutting made.  As it is the same crew that built Transmission Gully, with the same project manager, I am not surprised.

There are many questions over a project like this and how it affects nature and the environment. I can see pros and cons from both sides, and do not wish for any argument!!

We stopped in New Plymouth to call by a mutual friend who lives above his motorcycle mending and restoration business in a beautiful second floor flat with a fantastic view! The cuppa and cookie was welcome, and chat and relax.

Then back on the 3 as the rush hour traffic subsided, with a good two hour's driving to go. I hadn't been on that road for ten years, and hadn't driven on the section to Waverley..so it was good to see more countryside with fresh eyes. It was still hot, to our right Taranaki mountain and far away to our left lowering clouds over the hills.

Supper in Hawera then back home by 9...a ten hour day, but with decent length stops.  

We are feeling it a bit today...but still glad we did it all yesterday!!