Day two: In which I feel like my tongue is tied in knots.

Before I start another post. I wanted to apologize for any typos or misspellings I might have. I find it difficult to write long pieces on my IPad, and I often miss a word that was autocorrected.

 After a late start (We had to see Michael's model trains, and the village he built his fiancée when he proposed) we were on the road again!

Along the way we made numerous stops to dance, for lunch, and of course to take pictures! I also got lessons throughout the day on how to pronounce  Maori words since the majority or town and street names are in Maori; Eketahuna, Mt. Ruapahu, Turangi, Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateapokaiwhenuakitanatahu. I have a lot to learn.

Shortly after clearing the beautiful Manawatu gorge, and driving through Palmerston North (finally, something I can say!) we started along the desert road. This is one of the few areas outside a mountain range, that routinely get frost. The area is bushy, and shades of brown. It should not be gorgeous, but it is. The land looks flat, but the bush is deceiving and the road twists and turns through small hills. Snow capped mountains rise to the right, and dark, devious-looking hills rise off in the distant left.  The landscape has a gothic beauty to it, very different to the rolling green hills and sunshine that is often seen.

Eventually we hit Lake Taupo. We were going to spend the night at Stephen's  family holiday house(very similar to our northern cabins), but decided once we got there to keep going to Matamata.  Unfortunately it was growing quite dark, so we were unable to see much of anything (as demonstrated by a few failed attempts at "Eye Spy" ).

Finally we got to Matamata!!! After much hugs, squee-ing, a bite of pizza with my dear old flatmate Ruth. It was time for bed.