Another flat battery and a bump start later and we got on our way via the ´Forgotten World Highway´ - a pretty drive through crazy small tunnels and over big mountain ranges. Mid way along the journey, we stopped off in the Republic of Whangamomona - a town where the townsfolk didn´t want to be ruled by the district council and instead decided to form a republic independent from New Zealand. Sadly it didn´t involve a stamp in our passport, only comedy photos next to their budget welcome sign. As we understood from the locals, both a goat and a poodle are representatives on the Whangamomona Council. Both of them probably do a better job than most of the councillors we usually have to deal with...

From goats and poodles, we made our way over to join the hobbits in their search for the ring in the land of MORDOR. Ant morphed into Golum as we approached Mount Doom hissing "my precious"as we passed fellow "all the gear no idea" trekkers. Another couple of volcano climbs later and we were back in Middle Earth aka a fancy campsite complete with thermal pools to relax our muscles. Ahhhh heaven.