#3 Northern Manawatu, Taihape and Taupo.

New Zealand’s weather has been very unseasonable, threee seasons in one day. Spring, Winter and Autumn with not much Summer, but boy is the countryside looking green!

This was the first sun seen for several days

 Late afternoon I pulled into Apiti expecting to use the advertised free parking at the Apiti Domain but that was all locked up, so the next alternative was behind the Apiti Tavern and Eatery on the old disused tennis courts.

Apiata is above 500meters and I spotted a frost first thing in the morning.....good job I had porridge for breakfast!

With many stops to take photos gave me plenty of rests from sitting

Below......

Not quite kiwi number eight wire mentality, but definitely lateral thinking

Now we hit the metropolis that is Taihape...New Zealand’s Gumboot Capital.

I missed taking a photo of the huge corrugated iron Gumboot sculpture....but managed to pinch this one off the internet

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Here is another iconic structure in Taihape

 A Christmas decorations shop in Taihape....

I couldn’t believe it...but here is proof!

Just when I’d lost faith in small towns magic...I looked up and there it was

Onwards across the Desert Road the views to die for.....

I considered walking inland to take a photo between the lines of power pylons, but decided against it because of the Army’s danger signs that this area is used for army training. 

That may have been a photo to die for????

Maybe that age wisdom thing is starting to kick in...you reckon!

In Taupo I looked for a park up, there used to be some along on the lake front near the marina, but they have all been removed!

I solved this by parking overnight at the AC Baths slightly out of town on Spa Road and going into the baths first thing in the morning!

Ok lads ...line up, line up, scooters at the ready

 But not me...I rode past on my Unicycle.

I also visited the Taupo Mens Shed....another good place for overnight parking.

Predominately a woodworking shop.

Classic Mens Shed humour

Next I headed for Rotorua

It was raining but I managed to find a car park...took a few photos and visited the very flash tourist information centre, but for some strange reason I didn’t want to hang around in Rotovegas...as they call it! 

This is the first photo taken with my new Canon Powershot camera while having a coffee in a cafe.

So 2 hours parked in Rotorua got me I parking ticket, which is maybe why I didn’t hang about afterwards or even like Rotorua.

Heading North towards Tauranga through the rain and wind I ended up on the East Coast at Maketu

It felt and looked like a late winters day....

However it was a perfect place to park up beside the Maketu Beach Cafe and campground which had for sale signs on its walls!

I have some very old friends who came to New Zealand at the same time and I headed to see them in Papamoa.

Once again I took alot of photos....so this particular blog nears its limit.

Hope things are well in your world

Have fun and be creative...that’s all that matters from this old Clown.

Till the next one

Cheers Jimu.

 

Wellington Heading North

 I headed to Evans Bay not really expecting to get a spot to park so late in the day and was pleasantly surprised with new toilets and plenty of parking places.

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This sign (done by me) seemed appropriate as I leave Wellington.

 Another message...not done by me..seen...was my sentiment entirely!

Wellington sure is a funky town!

You may know I am a fan of fantails

Several weeks ago while visiting Christchurch I viewed the Owen Mapp exhibition at the Canterbury Museum. This was celebrating 50 years as a carver in New Zealand. In a gallery video Owen gave his phone number and stated he is open to visits from passerby’s.

Here are some of his exhibition pieces.

I was blown away by his work and attitude...so I made a point to pass by his home on the Kapiti Coast if I could!

When I contacted him I mentioned I already had one of his pieces from an english friend who commissioned a lovely work but was unable to take out of the country as it had beautifully carved whale bone. So he very kindly gave it to yours truely!

I visited his home and workshop and as you can see below it is a veritable Aladdin's Cave full of amazing artifacts and objects of rarity and beauty!

We had a great wide ranging chat on many subjects.

More photos...

Things were just as interesting outside in the garden and he even had bananas and Persimmons setting fruit.

Northwards I charged, being charged up by my visit to Owen, I stopped in Levin and got my busking gear out for a much needed blow out.

I gave the Highway 1 truck traffic quite a blast as they motored through town.

This Chinese lady came by taking a photo of me, but when I asked and motioned her to take a photo for me with my phone camera, she couldn’t understand me, nor speak any english.

Amazing ...Eh!