Day 72 Wellington

Yes Ron and we only have your word that you are working in Barnoldswick, you could be sitting in your spare room making this all up!!!!!

Everything accommodation wise completely booked for Easter but we managed to re-book with the Cambridge Hotel (over 100 years old) for a couple of single rooms, at least Keith can enjoy a good night's kip without my snoring!!! Spent hours in the Wellington Museum (Te Papa), very interesting not our usual thing but it was well worth it. Evening spent in the local Chinese, good meal for 23$. Eating out can be the best option you can get good deals as there is so much competition with every type of cuisine, the cost of living is very expensive.

Day 73 Wellington - Stratford

Sorry we couldn't reach you Lee & Huong the other evening, but hope that you had a good Easter.

Daylight saving, so clocks went back at 3 am this morning. Travelled along the Harbour Road towards the railway station to catch the Intercity Bus for Stratford. Buses waiting at Platform 9 3/4 yes really. The journey was over 300k and we didn't feel a thing, bikes safely stowed away with the luggage. Arrived at 4 pm and to the only backpackers available, luxurious it is not!!! smells musty with a hint of piss, something appears to be living in the fridge but I only just managed not to fall headlong into it with the heady smell of penicillian and bad eggs... give that one a miss. Journeyed through Paraparaumu, Levin, Wanganui and Hawera (very up-market when pulling out of the town with views of the coast) today. On to Stratford gateway to Mt Egmont/Taranaki National Park with the first Glockenspiel in NZ. North Island is more populated and the roads busier then the South Island.

Day 74 Stratford - Whangamomona

Intend to travel along the Forgotten World Highway but need to visit the Isight first to clarify that there are places for us to stay, it will be getting darker earlier now and we don't fancy riding on the roads too late (must get settled). I site shut but decided to go for it! The scenery was hobbit country, mini hills cut deeply down to the roadside, weather lovely. First stop and the only one was at Whangamomona boasts a hotel and empty shop fronts, the originals got burnt out many years ago. The area was once a thriving community mainly farming but when the work disappeared so did the people, empty properties everywhere and the most vital transportation (steam train) de-commissioned. No room at the hotel so we got sent to the Camp ground. . . cabin for the night, very basic, it's not nice but it's better than sleeping rough ... just! There was a convention of early Ford V8's which the owners had lovingly restored.

HAVE A GREAT HOLIDAY IN CAPE VERDE (kEITH AND THE fAMILY).

Day 75 Whangamomona - Taumarunui

Up early just couldn't stay any longer, heavy rain but preferrable to staying another night. Have to cover 90k today as there is no other accommodation. There are many steep hills and 13k of gravel road to negotiate before we get to our destination. In the middle of nowhere found a lavender farm that produced toiletries with a big wooden lodge and decking all around. There was Wisteria around the windows and verandah and the whole thing surrounded by lavender bushes. It was wonderful and supplied coffee and cake... just the ticket we were knackered. Arrived at Taumarunui at 4.30 pm, our motel for the night had bedding, pillows, TV, heater and NO MOULD!!!