Road Trip 2013 - Celebrating 50 Years of Friendships: Auckland to Taupo

We have got to the stage in our lives, when the birthday of significance is now 70... OMG where has that time gone They have slowly been eventuating, over the last 3-4 years but they are coming thick and fast now So all the good reason for the Road Trip 2013

Funny how the Trip from Wellington to Auckland and Vice Versa, (680kms) used to be so stressful in the past.
The beloved, very much liked to get there ,as quickly as possible.
He drove like a Bat Out Of Hell, to coin a phrase Barely time to stop for the loo.
I used to make Bacon and Egg Pie and Apple Pie, for sustenance en route
Waiouru being about halfway was designated for a quick bite and if possible a trip to the Loo
We would go to bed at about 8pm, having already packed he car.
About midnight, we would haul the kids out of bed, stick them in the back with pillows, blankets and toys, no seat belts of course. ETA Auckland, just before the Rush hour and in time for breakfast, with our hosts the Burts.
Dale loved the drive, the kids slept and I spent most of the time, eyes closed,
holding on for dear life, as we raced around all of the bendy roads
Now as our circumstances have changed, I am in charge.
We now do a road trip.
Arrange to stay with friends, throughout the country.
Hopefully, they don’t mind and they do seem reasonably happy to see us!!!

So we get up leisurely, pack our bags and the car, all without any mad rush.
Each journey is usually maximum 4 hours including stops, Loo, food and photo opportunities.
It’s a doozie

This trip, our first watering Hole is Tirau.
This little town, has taken advantage of passing traffic, most of which like to stop and refresh.
It is loaded full of cafes and interesting little shops
Our café of choice this visit, is The Alley Cat

Really interesting eclectic selection of goodies, art splashed around the place, all of which is for sale

Food OK. The reason I say only OK, is that I really want my cafes to have nice club sandwiches, little mince pies, great scones, savoury and sweet etc.

I find Panins, the sandwich of choice for most cafes, as tasty as they can be, just pedestrian.
The worst thing that seems to be on most menus are the giant bloody muffins, which all taste of baking soda.

I guess that's how they get the rise!

Anyway for those who like large Paninis, baps, all bursting with ingredients, I think they do a good range.

We did order a cake with our coffee, which was quite tasty.

Tirau is the home of "Corrugated Creations"

The town is full of them

Very quirky and colourful

The sculpture on the left, is in front of The Church of The Good Shepherd.
A handsome piece, right next to
the Information Centre which in the shape of a dog. Cute
Apparently the cafe there according to my friend Mary, could be more of my cup of Tea, as they say!
On the way home, me thinks.

The Sign for the School

One of many businesses, using this art for their Signage, Clever

So out of Tirau straight to Taupo.
Now we are onto one of the main reasons, for this trip, spending quality time with dear friends
Skid and I met in 1961 where we both working for Lever Bros.
Levers was a melting pot of young people starting their careers.
Good training, wonderful social life.
Perfect for a 16 year old. (Moi)
During our time there, I met Dale and we married,
Skid also married Darielle (neither of them Lever Bunnies,,,,there was a life outside of the factory don't you know)
So over the next 50 years, we have met up as often as possible.
They have lived far and wide so it's not been easy to catch up
We did experience a wonderful week that we spent with them, when they were stationed in Bogota.
There, we learnt to appreciate Aqua Diente, drink of Columbia best consumed as a shot.
Works well. A little like Tequila. Giggle juice really.

Anyway Darielle and Skid, now have a wonderful home in Acacia Bay overlooking Lake Taupo.

Not too hard doing dishes, with this view.
Skid smoked us some freshly caught Trout. Superb

Then a great night of fun and frivolity.
We were joined by Kathryn, an old friend of theirs from their stint in Columbia in 1974.
Would you believe now they are neighbours all these years later in Taupo.Small World.
After a very funny time of ‘6 degrees of separation’ discussions, finding people in common as you do, after a few drinks, we retired and we awoke to this view from our room.