Over the Back Fence!

Much better than the last one, eh Tom? This is what I should have done last time.

Home Again! for a few days

Flat Hills Cafe State Highway 1

With the weather forecast deteriorating again it was time to head home after 3 weeks at Tongariro. Temperatures are definitely a lot colder than home and we didn't want to get stuck in the snow.

Unfortunately we were unable to catch up with fellow members of the Heretaunga Caravan Club who were meeting for Ladies and Gentlemen's luncheon's, we decided to have one of our own.  We had planned on stopping at Mangaweka International Airport Cafe but parking was limited for Gypsy Rover.  We continued on to Flats Hills Cafe a few km’s south.  We will check out the parking at Mangaweka for another time.  The cafe is rather uniquely situated alongside the main road in an old DC3 aircraft. 

Flat Hills is a very popular Cafe as most of the long distance coaches stop for refreshments. We were lucky as two Intercity Coaches were just loading up for departure so we had the place to ourselves for a few minutes before other motorists arrived after us.

These two  were patiently watching the comings and goings at Flat Hills.  Who's that in the background, not really meant to be a self portrait?

We then continued home with the sky becoming increasingly dark with the forecasted weather coming up from Wellington.

The weather’s deteriorating as we get closer to home.

We arrived into Levin around 4pm and it looked more like 8pm. The rain stopped just long enough for us to unload Gypsy Rover before the heavy overnight rain arrives.

Wow minus 2deg and Freezing!

We awoke this morning to freezing temperatures but how beautiful the place looked under a very heavy frost.  Sorry I forgot to get the camera out. It is the coldest we have had here but was followed by a lovely sunny day.  Hardly a cloud in the sky and it didn't take long to warm up.  The Tongariro Crossing was open again today and we had 6 brave souls catching the shuttle up to the track at 7.15pm this morning. Rather them than me!  The recent snow levels on the mountain have now receded and the crossing is clear until the next snowfall.

 Derek removing the last remnants of a dead tree from the motorhome parking area.