Grand Tour South XIV

After being on holiday for almost three weeks it was a shock to the system to be woken up at 6.20 in time to check in for the ferry back to Wellington. We were in plenty of time and were soon aboard the Santa Regina bagging the best seats and a fresh cup of coffee as we settled in for the trip across the Strait. It was miserable on deck, a cold wind and frequent showers drove everyone inside. Cook strait was calm and we docked on time just after 11am.
We drove off the boat into the rain. We were following a large truck in front of us that turned off down the wharf and left us trying to work out where we should be going. There was a long queue behind us so any mistake could be potentially embarrassing as I headed along what looked like the wrong way down a one way street with a fork hoist in front of us. Fortunately it was the right way as we shortly turned onto Aotea Quay and onto the motorway north. It was a nightmare on the motorway, rain, mist and cars sweeping past throwing up more spray. With no wing mirrors and a rain covered bit of plastic surrounded by two huge canvas blind spots it was hard to see any traffic approaching from behind. Ahead wasn’t much better, blurred tail lights disappeared into the gloom about 50 metres beyond. Brake lights flashed ahead so I touched the middle pedal and the car lurched sideways before straightening up as the wet discs dried out. A huge truck was monstering me from behind but I wasn’t game to go much above 80K in these conditions. We left the motorway as the rain eased and the mist pulled up into the hills making driving conditions easier. The heater, having paid good service keeping the windscreen mist free, became a problem again as the temperature rose. The clouds still looked threatening but at Sanson we stopped for lunch and lowered the roof. Things improved and it turned into a lovely but slightly cool afternoon as we fuelled up at Waiouru and took to the Desert Road. There was a heavy black cloud up ahead as we descended towards Rangipo but the shower passed ahead of us soaking the road but leaving us dry. We made good time to Taupo and late afternoon found us turning off Highway 27 just past Matamata heading towards Te Aroha, Paeroa and then taking the steep and twisting road over the Coramandel ranges. I was getting tired as we left Tairua for the last few kilometres when some big American 4WD with huge wheels and chrome teeth tried to monster me through the windy bits. I wasn’t in the mood for that and planted my foot, using the nimble handling and all 108 horsepower, we left him scrabbling and squeaking through the corners. A loud wooshing noise from the engine on the short straight bits saw him catch up some of the distance but he was dropping behind until a noise from the passenger seat made me back off. The 4WD raced up, sitting on my bumper, filling my mirror and snarling at us so at the first opportunity I let him on his way. With the twilight turning to dusk, we finally arrivied at Hahei around 8.45, turning into the drive and switching off the engine. Silence.