10-16 March:  We said, "see you next time" to Cathy and Max on Monday morning and headed north. It was a beautifully clear day, and there was perfect visibility for viewing the three main mountains of the island. Mt. Ruapehu, usually just called " the mountain", is majestic with its snow covered peaks. Mt. Ngauruhoe is a perfect cone shape. The rounded Mt. Tongariro has a famous track called the Tongariro Crossing. All are a photographers dream come true on a clear day. The shores of Lake Taupo beckoned, and we stopped to have our lunch at a picnic area near Waitetoko at Mission Bay. Lake Taupo is more than 600 square km in surface area and is a huge draw for locals and tourists alike. We continued north through the Wairakei thermal area and Rotorua, famous for its thermal pools to Pyes Pa.

Our return to Pyes Pa for a few days with Audrey and the opportunity to catch up with Dalt and Sandy West was just the right way to start to wind down. We met the Wests at the Tauranga Fish market for lunch, had a look at the crafts in the Cargo Shed and went out to Mount Maunganui with them to see their lodging and take a walk on the beach. The Mount, as it is known, is a hugely popular holiday spot and very congested in the CBD. We were pleased to find the end of the beach near the apartment to be very quiet.

We caught up with a few of Audrey's friends we had met on previous visits, went out to dinner with the people in her neighborhood to farewell one who is moving, and suddenly it was Friday and time to move on. Once again we said " see you next time" and headed north.  

The day was sunny as we started our drive, but soon the clouds moved in...in advance of the arrival of Cyclone Lusi. We arrived at Jim and Helen Grayson's home overlooking the sea in Red beach in the late afternoon and spent the evening catching up. The wind began in earnest late in the evening on Friday and howled all night. By Saturday morning we were truly in Lusi's grip. The wind was a fury and the sea raging. Jim and Helen went down to the sea behind the house to inspect and found that all the sand had been washed away leaving only rocks where there was beach the day before. We ventured out in the car to go to the Lions book sale - $5/ bag - but mostly stayed at home. The winds calmed down overnight as Lusi began to move south, and today the sea is normal and the sky, while cloudy, has some bright spots.  

Tomorrow we will repack and make sure all our bags are the appropriate weight. Tuesday we leave for Melbourne, Australia and a road trip through Victoria.