Journey Through Central North Island.

After a journey of more than 1100 kilometres we are back, to warmer BOP. On Thursday we traveled down through the middle of the North Island, going that way especially to see what the Desert Road looked like. It was worth the extra kilometres to see the spectacular snow scenes.Come with me and see some of the sights.

This is a view of the Prawn Farm near Huka Falls at Taupo. We called into this area briely to swap books with a friend.

On the Desert Road Mt Ruapehu had it's head in a snow cloud.

As we travelled through the Desert Road there were amazing snow scenes. In all the years ( my entire life ) that I have used this road I have never seen so much snow, ( the road was closed last Monday and Tuesday ) even in the middle of Winter. ( this is Spring! )

We saw snowmen built by travelling families and everywhere vehicles were pulled over for either photograpy or snowball throwing reasons.

Snow was still on the ground south of of this area almost as far as Taihape.

Friday started windy but fine and I took a walk before breakfast. By mid day the weather had deteriorated dramatically. We got to the church early; it is having restoration done and was quite small for the huge crowd that turned out for the funeral.The side windows were boarded over but the family stain glass window was uncovered.

Many had to stand outside and as the service started so did the rain. The wind became a  gale, something I remember from the time I lived there. This was a spectacular weather display. We both had umbrellas turned inside out and later with rain going horizontally folk got very wet. The Service was amazing with huge variety in the tributes. The Bishop of Taranaki paid a tribute saying he didn't know of anyone who had served in that church or any other for more years - over 70. Ken had started by pumping the bellows for the organ as a young person . 4 clergy officated and after processed  to the end of the street in the rain in front of the hearse.

There were tributes from grandchildren; an email fom the latest family member - a great grandaughter in the UK only 6 days old! As the coffin was leaving the church a local Maori made a spine tingling Poroporoaki ( chanted farewell )....... This was a dear and much respected man - a Totara tree  in thre forest had fallen.

The horrendous storm continued that day and night and was still very windy next morning when we visited our old house. This is where I lived for the first 10 years of married life. It is in need of much repair but the young family members there now are building a new house on the spot this photo was taken from.

This is the view out towards the Tasman Sea  (that I used to see from my kitchen window )

The weather remained very cold and very very windy so just after mid day Saturday we decided to start the return trip.(  photos of that tomorrow. )