Mount Maunganui to Taupo via Murupara

Sunday 28th October
Now our travels are starting for real after having a few weeks not travelling very far from home getting things done to the bus and having a relaxing time catching up with family and friends.

One of the first things we needed to do was to play golf at our new golf club, Murupara, a much more viable option to join while we are on the road. Membership fees are considerably less than those of our home club of Whakatane which is a great course and a friendly club which we love and look forward to rejoining.

So Murupara golf club was the first port of call after leaving family and special grandsons at the Mount. Rain was expected and our hopes weren't that high for staying dry but the weather was kind to us with just clouds and a glimpse of blue sky periodically. The first difficulty however was finding the entrance to the club. We could see a green and some of the course but couldn't find a signed entrance. A girl feeding animals in her  front yard fortunately directed us to the driveway next to her house which on closer inspection revealed a very old rotten framework which probably once held a golf club sign. Now it's just a sign of how many clubs around the country are struggling with membership numbers and subsequent funds to upkeep their courses.

There was further evidence of this all around the course with some tee signs broken or rotted making difficulties with knowing where to go. Somehow we couldn't find the ladies 2nd tee or any signs to tell us where the 18th tee was - we went in totally the wrong direction. If there were people in front of us we could have followed them but we only saw 2 other people on the course all  afternoon and they were well away from us. The course was difficult to play as the grass was very long on the fairways although we could see what looked like a new mower in the open shed. Needless to say that with the condition of the fairways with no run and the unseen water and drain hazards we didn't have the best of games!

We just felt very sad that a club, through no fault of their own, with such a potentially  beautiful and interesting course can't afford to do the maintenance needed to keep it in good condition. Such a shame and we like to think that we can help in some way when we are back in the area. With knowing the course a little bit now I'm sure we'll play better next time!

A cup of coffee in the bus and then we headed for the NZMCA Park in Taupo arriving in time to cook dinner.

On The Road Again!

September 20th 2018 and we were on the road again in Debussy. The plan is to spend a few more months travelling around NZ, especially the South Island, returning to the North when we start feeling too cold. We expect that to be about April.
Initially, having just returned from travels overseas to see family in England and Bangkok and thence onto Vietnam and Cambodia we set about catching up with family and friends in Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Auckland.
It was also time to get a new fridge and new kitchen tap fitted in Debussy as well as getting the gas system brought up to current standards. This work was done by Alliance RV in Tauranga at a total approximate cost of $4500.
We have had a B service at East Coast Heavy Diesel, who have always served us well in Whakatane and Len has fitted an amazing new 24" TV into the bus. With a new fishing rod and a holder for Claudette, our phone GPS, we feel ready to go!

Apart from staying outside the homes of family and friends we have spent nights at Kulim Park in Tauranga, a lovely spot on the waterfront, Tauranga Airport, Dotterel Point at Pukehina

Relaxing at Pukehina 

a fabulous spot overlooking the sea, McAlister St car park in Whakatane, Waihi Beach NZMCA, Matatoki Cheese Barn, Rhodes Park in Thames

By the cycle way into Thames 

Paeroa Golf Club (quiet) and Maramarua Golf Club ( noisy with traffic being beside State Highway 1)

Waihi to Paeroa rail trail

Karangahake Gorgeous

We have ridden the Waihi to Paeroa to Thames railway cycle track in both directions, especially enjoying the section between Waihi and Paeroa which has lots of interesting gold mining relics, a tunnel and great scenery as you cycle alongside the Waikino river.

The cycle ride from Ambury Regional Park around the harbour edge as far as we could go was also great with the views and birdlife although we had to peddle extra fast on returning as the rain was coming in!

Our golf was rusty, not having played for 3-4 months, but we have again enjoyed playing at Ohope, Whakatane, Omanu. New courses to us have been Maramarua and Paeroa.