To Turangi and Tongariro National Park.

The mountains dissapeared overnight and we woke to rain and fog. It's a straight drive to Turangi and we were hoping to get there early and have time for a few walks in the mountains where they filmed the movie.

We got to the information center and the woman, Rhonda, couldn't believe we wanted to go out in the rain. She showed us a few short walks right in town along the river and up by the trout center - this is, according to a sign in town, the trout center of the world. After a few questions she finally told us how to get to the national park and the mountains but couldn't imagine we'd be able to get there. It felt like she was sending us out the door with a binky saying "go walk by the river like nice little children." (That's Toot's line)

Well we did head up to the national park and tried a few trails that were just too icy and snowy but as we headed down below the snow line, but not rain line, we saw a sign and parking spot for another trail. We had our rain gear on so damn it, we were going to walk somewhere. This turned out to be the Whakkapappanui Trail and it was, of course, beautiful. We started on a small suspension bridge into a mixed semi-tropical forest with hardwoods, evergreens, short palms, hanging vines and large ferns. With a little snow just off the trail and in the forest it was unlike anything we'd seen so far.

This hostel had heat and we couldn't see our breath in any of the common rooms. The owner, Roger and his wife retired and couldn't hack it. He built the hostel himself and then a few years later added a large climbing center with walls for every level of climber. They've been married for 43 years and have never stopped moving. Roger sounds just like Michael Caine when he's playing a working man role and his wife when not helping 100 kids suit up for climbing, comes into the hostel and keeps the fire going.

toots

bjorn borg was actually at the hostel.. i know it was him.. he was very quiet and had long hair and he had a tennis racquet.. no not really.... no racquet... but he was quiet and had the demeanor of bjorn... he ate peanut butter and jelly and i know bjorn loves p and b sandwiches... he watched movies all day and read and got on the internet.. he wasnt a brave soul like us... we were out walking in the rain....i said.. hey bjorn, good day for movies eh... he looked up .. nodded..grunted... it was bjorn alright....

we couldn't resist a sign that said.. maori village.. turn here..... well it might have been during summer months.. must have taken down the little houses.... but the maori fence went all around the property.. a fence i loved... made of very thin 5 ft high straight branches... close together.. and one long branch connecting them ... about one-third from the top... this spot looked perfect for a maori village.. overlooked the ocean.. looked south seas, which it is..... and hawaii... palm trees, green green grass with abit of a rolling hill... wanted to lie down on it and look at the tall palms, but the rain was pelting and we thought maybe we are not supposed to be here...so we left.... next off to the rugby winners town.... wellington