On the road again

Time to start this again.
Have just finished 3 months pack house work at Riwaka, Motueka and now have 3 months to get to my next job in Levin. Heading down the West coast of NZ south island to Bluff then up the East coast.Have just brought anew moutain bike and looking forward to getting some riding in.Will up date this as often as possible.Paul

At present backin Dinsdale to sort out a few problems.To be continued

Wednsday

WEDNESDAY 25

ANZAC DAY

Another nice night apart from the trains rushing past now and then,only a short drive today. Drove to Levin and stopped of for a ride up Arapaepae lookout point. A lot of other people walking running riding up it as well. Bloody steep hill and a bumpy ride down. Back into Levin to dump waste then along to Paraawau Bridge parking spot. Still nice weather but they say there should be some rain today ( Thursday ) will head down the coast road to Otaki or Waikanae Beach

Tuesday 24

TUESDAY 24

Left Vinegar Hill about 8 to drive till I found a spot with phone access and a view . Stopped at Stormy point just past Rewa on SH 54 made some calls and sent of blog update.

Then drove past Fielding and into Palmerston North. Had a ride around to the Square and other parts had my first Macca's this month and checked out the I centre no bike rides around here apart on metal roads and I am so over them after Ohakune . So I checked out the RSA but it is too small for my bus so headed out of town. Spotted a countdown so parked up in to car parks opposite and got some food, Was parked right next to a Z station so got some Fuel ( $1.56 – 4 from a coupon I had choice I Paid $1.52) drove 1 km down the road It was $1.49 stink.

Anyway drove down SH 56 to the Himatangi Beach turn-off then down SH 1 to the Manawatu River bridge where I will stop for the night

Vinegar Hill

SUNDAY 22
Quite night at Waiouru headed south on SH1 not much traffice around,
Nice sunny day again. Stopped at Taihape to refuel then onwards.
A very senice drive south of Taihape as you wind down the valleys along side the Rangitikei River. Got as far a Vinegar Hill Reserve for lunch and as it was so nice stopped for the nigh Very very quite night so peacefull decided to stay the day and do some maintance on the bus,No phone service so will send this tomorrow.
Replace the hose clips on the gas line with the correct fittings at last.
Also checked to see why I have a small leak on the clutch line, tighten up a bolt going to the slave cyclonder and toped up fliuld . Replace water pump as it was getting very noisy and slow, found filter nealy blocked up with gunk, tank must be full of something as well as watere, no wonder the water is not too nice to drink, will put some janola in it next fill
Will head off to either Marton/Bulls or Palmerston North tomorrow
Tuesday
Parked up at a place called Stormy point, which is a lookout place just south of Rewa on SH54 on the way to Fielding. Fantasic views across the Rangitike River valley and back to Mt Ruapehu to the North. Another lovely sunny day. Hoipe to spend the day in Palmerston north and stay at the RSA tonightr

Saturday 21

Saturday 21

Spent a very interesting day going around the National Army museum. Very good

Then went for a bike ride around the camp , man it has changed since I was here last.

Thats it must not say more as I might get chased up by the seceret Police for spying.

On south Sunday

Friday 20/4

Drive down to town and park in a little park beside the Mangawhero river and ride into town. Check at the local bike hire place that all tracks are open and head off. Big mistake did not ask the vital question , what kind of tracks are they. If I had of and got the answer rought metal farm tracks and shingle roads I would not have gone after doing the Old coach road the day before.

Neve mind off I went. After 22kims of road rideing the best bit was rideing back down the track beside the Mangowhero river.

So up stakes, food up and head to Waiouru Army camp with a short stop to view the Tangiwai Memorial where on Christmass eve 1953 the Auckland bound train fell into the river as the bridge had been swept away by a Lathar flood from Mt Ruapehu. There was a lost of 151 lives. On to Waiouru to park up behind the Museum with 6 other motorhomes