THE FORGOTTEN WORLD HIGHWAY.

THE  FORGOTTEN   WORLD  HIGHWAY.

Stage One - Stratford to Whangamomona - 63km.

We turned our back to Mt Taranaki and headed east.

 Full tanks of fuel and fresh water , stocked up with fruit and veggies , freezer full and the grog drawer reasonably stocked we were on the way.

What a different scene - lots of green.  After the dry , brown paddocks we have travelled through for the last few months the lush green pastures were an incredible contrast.

The hills got steeper and the slopes down to the valley floors looked like a blanket had been cast over them with fold after fold creating a very rough terrain.

There was 3 saddles to cross .
First the Stathmore , next the Pohokura and then the Whangamomona.
We were blessed with a fine clear day and from the top of the Strathmore could see Mt Taranaki to the west , Tongariro, Ruapehu and Ngaurahoe to the east , and great vistas of the "folded" hills.

It is truely a large, very rugged district.

So far we have been driving through farmland , rough and unforgiving as it is.

Now the road is getting narrower and all the bridges are oneway.

We burst out into another area of farmland squeezed inbetween the ridgelines.

This looks like a two lane road but looks are deceptive.
A milk tanker coming towards us took up one and a half lanes and he was being careful.
We stopped on the grass verge until he was past. Was there another option?

Abruptly we were there - Whangamomona was around the corner.

EASTER RALLY - New Plymouth.

 EASTER  2013.

The Taranaki region is dominated by it's mountain , Egmont or Taranaki , whatever you call it , it is awesome !

The day we arrived the clouds cleared and this imposing lump of rock was presented in all it's summer glory.


 In the Event Centre the stage backdrop brought the splendour inside.

 The venue was the racecourse . It was a big area.


There were 797 motorhomes , some of them a long way from Event Centre.
The Parking Wardens parked just on 700 of them in under 2 hours.
An incredible effort.


We had booked a 'Special Needs" site in the 2nd row.


A lady from the Hospitality Team presented us with a "goody" bag with 14 items in it.

 From the all important lanyards and name tags to placemats, hotcross buns and yellow and black (Taranaki colours) jelly beans.


A total of 12,000 items presented in bags like a laptop computor is carried in , very nice.


The atmosphere was one of excitment but totally under control.

The 797 rigs created an impressive sight. We are in the lower, left of the  photo above , just the 2nd row in the more than 30 rows spread across the racecourse. 

Below , there is the First Response Team in the foreground with their bright blue container set up as an A&E clinic . It was well done.

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From the Grandstand , looking to the left , then to the right . Some people had a long walk there and back.

The main hall seated the 2000 plus people in comfortable chairs.
There was 4 nights of good entertainment , the AGM , the trouping of the Area Banners and the Opening and the Closing Ceremonies .

The mountain changed it's mood many times and even when it was completely obscured by cloud you could still sense it's presence.

Taranaki colours , gold and black were used with great effect.

Then there was Flick the Little Morris Minor Fire Engine who was ready for action.
The crew of Big Daddy knocked on our door one evening to check out the source of a gas smell - not us thank heavens.

All too soon it was over - the flags were lowered - the goodbyes and the many "see you next year" exchanges were in high gear before the motors were even started.

The Taranaki Hosts did a great job - thank you all very much , your time and your efforts are truely appreciated - Cheers.