Waiouru.

Day 11. It was a very laid back start to the day as we were only travelling 33 kilometres to Waiouru. Along the way we called in to have a look at the Tangiwai Rail Disaster memorial about 8km’s from Waiouru.

On 24th December 1953, 151 lives were lost in the Tangiwai train crash. This memorial was erected in 1989.

This train crash happened on Christmas Eve 1953 with the loss of 151 lives. A lahar from Mt Ruapehu washed out the bridge moments before the train was due to cross causing the disaster.

You have been warned!

We recently found out that Dot’s Uncle Bill had been booked to travel on this train but was called back to work at the last minute. His ticket and that of a fellow traveller were passed onto other people. After the disaster he was deemed missing presumed drowned as his name was still on the passenger list and he was unaccounted for. Thankfully this was not the case as he was safely at work.

Freight train crossing the Whangaehu river at Tangiwai near Waiouru.

Arriving in Waiouru we parked around the back of the Army museum and after lunch spent a good 3 hours perusing all the new displays in the museum.

The gang parked up behind the Army museum, Waiouru.Here we are parked behind the Army Museum at Waiouru.

This is a top class facility and a credit to all those involved. From the Maori wars of the 1800’s to modern day it covers all aspects of the military activities NZ has been involved with.

Memorial wall at the Army Museum at Waiouru displaying my Corp badge.Times have changed.  Waiouru railway  station is now just a bus shelter type building.

Turoa Ski field.

Day 10 The summer heat is still with us and temperatures in the mid 30’s today. What better way to cool off but a trip up Mt Ruapehu and the Turoa Ski fields.On the way we checked out the local railway station and signal box. The latter once stood at Paekakariki until 1991 when it was relocated here.

Paekakariki signal box now restored at Ohakune.Ohakune railway station.Signal box now restored.

Of course this time of the year there are only maintenance staff working up on the mountain preparing for the forth coming ski season.

Turoa Ski field on Mt Ruapehu.Turoa Ski field on Mt Ruapehu.Dot trying out a chair lift on Turoa Ski field.Turoa Ski field's Movenpick chair lift on Mt Ruapehu rising 307m on the left, Parklane on the right.Snowman in Summer. I think not!

This did not deter us from having a look around and enjoy the ambient temperature on the mountain. Being a fine day we could see for miles, in fact as far as Mount  Egmont /Taranaki over by New Plymouth. Back down on the flat again we did a bit of shopping before returning to camp.

Through the gloom you can see Mt Egmont/Taranaki.Beautiful Alpine flowers.Views around Mt Ruapehu and the Turoa ski-field.Views coming down from Mt Ruapehu and the Turoa ski-field.Ohakune through the glare.Rugged terrain around Mt Ruapehu.

This evening a putting competition was organised on the practice putting green. This was a laugh a minute as there were only 2 of us having ever played golf before except for perhaps a few games of Mini Putt.

Tomorrow we are off to Waiouru after which Tom and Jan have named their narrowboat.

Around the Mountains

Day 9. Last night after dusk Dot and I went for a drive to see the glow worms that are just a couple of kilometre’s away down towards the Wanganui river. The road runs into a mini ravine where the glow worms live on the sheer bank’s. Over about 500m’s there were hundreds of these insects glowing a shade of blue. Very impressive.

We were in no great hurry to leave “Rawhide” our camp site for the last 2 nights. Barbara, the owner, was very obliging and a perfect hostess. After sorting out the water and waste tanks we headed off towards Ohakune. We stopped at the Makatote railway viaduct where some major underpinning had been done in 2006. This is a very impressive viaduct on the main trunk line. I knew there was a train in the area, probably working up the Raurimu Spiral and was hoping to photograph a train crossing it but we left about 30 minutes too soon.

Makatote viaduct. Nearly 80m above the Wanganui river built in 1905/6.

At Horopito we called into the famous “Smash Palace” auto wrecking yard. This was the yard used in the movie “Goodbye Porkpie”. This coming Easter there is to be a re-run of this event from Cape Reinga to Bluff with at least 43 Mini’s taking part.

Smash Palace in Horopito.

The yard is massive covering 17 acres with vehicles dating back to the 1930’s and earlier.For a gold coin donation you can wander among the rusting relics and check out the huge warehouse of dismantled parts. The latter was mind boggling with all parts marked as to their make, model and vintage.

Humber Super Snipe and Austin Princess at Smash Palace in Horopito.Smash Palace parts warehouse in Horopito.

Rear lightsAnyone for a hubcap?This Mini is still registered, expires today!The old part of Smash Palace's yard. Real old stuff here.Two PAX Vauxhalls at Smash Palace.Two Austin A55 (Somersets?)A Vulcan Truck!This fire engine won't be fighting any more fires.Fordson Ute.

After a quick bite of lunch we were back on the road heading for the Waimarino Golf Club at Ohakune. Another lovely site with all services. Robin and Peter opted to play a few holes after dinner while the rest of us took on less energetic activities.

Taumarunui.

Memorial pole and fountain next to the Marae in Taumarunui.

Day 8. Today is turning out to be another scorcher with temperatures again  reaching into the low 30’s. Everybody went into town for various reasons but we were not expecting too much as it’s a public holiday. The Laundromat and the supermarket were the biggest winners. We also had to get a gas tank refilled which ran out this morning at a very inopportune moment.

Marae at the top end of town, Taumarunui.

A few photographs were taken before returning to camp to hang out the washing. No point in paying for a dryer in this weather. It will be dry in no time.

Old carriage now part of a cafe in Taumarunui.Together with the old guards van and carriage.Anyone for a coffee?

Chateau to Plateau.

Whangamomona Camp.

Day 7. We were in no great hurry to leave Whangamomona today as there were approximately 300 motorcycles due to arrive in town on the Lions Club “Chateau to Plateau” charity ride. We didn’t fancy meeting them on the 16km stretch of unsealed roadway.

Whangamomona Rail Crossing with the Forgotten World Adventure rail carts.

Instead we had an early lunch and moved into town near the railway crossing where we could watch the motorcyclist’s arrive. As they started to arrive so did the Forgotten World Adventure rail carts on a Douglas to Whangamomona return trip. They were having lunch at the pub and the lions club had set up lunch for the motorcyclist's around the corner in the Community hall.

Waiting while the motorcycles on the Chateau to Plateau run pass by.

I made myself known to the FWA guide, Dave, and was invited to assist with turning the 9 rail carts around for the return trip. I didn’t need to be asked twice and was more than happy to have another go on the carts even if it was only on a short length of track. Getting them off the rails onto road wheels was easy but the reverse operation needed a bit more care. The 2 seater carts were easy to line up with the rails but the 4 seater long wheel base version wasn’t as easy and took a bit more skill.

Derek gets a go at driving the carts on tyres, not rails as on Friday.

By the time we had finished manoeuvring the carts most of the motorcyclist’s had arrived in town so we set off. We were to be tail end Charlie on this run as our 4 travelling companions were well ahead of us. Meeting only a few vehicles on the narrow and unsealed road made for an easy drive. At Taumarunui we headed to the Cosmopolitan club where we were able to replenish our water supplies and empty the waste tank.

Motorcycles on the Chateau to Plateau arriving at Whangamomona.

Our next camp site was located about 16km’s outside town and wasn’t the easiest of places to find. Turning off the main highway onto a side road was OK until we had to turn onto a narrow  unsealed side road where we thought the GPS had led us astray. A couple more intersections and we finally found our travelling companion’s parked in a paddock. To reach them we had to negotiate another paddock  also full of motorhomes and caravans who it transpired were the Lake Taupo Caravan Club. Apparently they always rally here on Auckland Anniversary week-end.

Welcome sign into Ruapehu District where we could see Mt Tongariro smoking in the distance.

Once settled in we were invited to join the above club for afternoon drinks and later some light entertainment. This turned out to be a couple from the club doing an imitation of the Topp Twins. They certainly got a few laughs and one wasn’t too bad a singer either. Part of the evenings activities was they all had to dress up as cowboys and Jenny and I were asked to be impartial judges. We gladly accepted the challenge choosing a cowboy and cowgirl as winners with two granddaughters as runners up. 

Whangamomona Republic Day.

Whangamomona Republic Day. Different from yesterday.

Day 6, Today was Republic Day here in Whangamomona which is now celebrated Bi-annually. It’s now run as a fund raiser for the local community board and the school.

Whangamomona Republic Day. Sheep dog trials.

It all came about years ago when the locals were not happy with the way New Zealand was heading and decided to break away and become a republic. What started out as a serious gesture has now become a fun day out with many thousands of visitors flocking to the event. You have to purchase a passport to enter the town and have it stamped when ever you cross a border crossing.

Whangamomona Republic Day. The Gut Buster marathon open to all ages.Gut Buster marathon. Up the fence line to the top.

Basically it’s a look at life in a rural town. Activities like sheep dog trialling, sheep races, whip cracking, wood carving by chainsaw, possum skinning, wood chopping competition, metal work at the Blacksmith forge and the Gut Buster marathon were just part of the days entertainment. The Gut Buster was about 2-3km run from the pub to the top of the hill and back. It was more like an Iron Man run than a marathon but about 40 contestants of all ages and sex took part. Bare feet or gum boots, it didn’t matter, the steep climb up the hill had them all scrambling on their hands and feet to reach the top before the hair raising run down the other side with a few tumbles.

Whangamomona Republic Day. You even needed a passport!

There were many food stalls and hand made articles for sale from leather to wood or metal, even puppies or kid goats. Competitions like counting Eels in a tank or guess the weight of a newly shorn fleece. If all this was too much there was always the pub to retreat into.

Vintage machinery display.

We retreated back to camp at lunchtime as the temperature was rising and hit about 31⁰C . Reports of the tar on the road melting which would have made it quite uncomfortable walking around town.

Republic Day wood sawing and chopping competition.

Tomorrow its on to Taumarunui.