Over the Hill to Pahiatua

Muffy looked on in interest as we finished packing the caravan for our trip to Pahiatua.  We trudged in and out through the light drizzle as we carried loads of clothes and food for our trip.  We were extending the usual weekend rally and travelled up on Thursday, not coming home till the following Tuesday.  Oh my, the joys of being retired and no work commitments hanging over us.  Muffy lay on my lap patiently while I buckled her pink harness on, and clipped on the light stretchy lead.  Then she sneaked quietly away.  She was probably thinking, “Oh no, they’re taking me away in the car again”.  She doesn’t seem to mind being in the caravan, but obviously finds the car trips a little disconcerting, as she often travels in the back with her head hanging down low over the seat.  

I’ll just hide here and they won’t find me

I helped Robin to guide the 4WD back onto the tow ball.  “What’s that noise?”, I asked him.  It was a strange “click clack click” coming out of the left front wheel and it didn’t sound at all healthy, especially as we were shortly going on a long hard tow over the Rimutaka Hill.    We went straight down to the garage we take the cars to, and the owner came out to see if he could  fix the problem for us.  Off came the hub cap.  “There’s your problem”, he said.  The grease cap had come loose and was rolling around inside the wheel trim.  He also tightened up the axle mechanism. Thanks so much for your help, Murray, we always get get service from P J Crooks Ltd.  We were so pleased it wasn’t a major problem.

Our trip over the Rimutaka Hill was a stop-start affair with the road works.  The road was reduced to one lane near the top and the traffic controlled by traffic lights so there was plenty of time to see what was going on when we were stopped in the line of traffic. 

Stopped on the hill road

There were trucks and diggers working away wherever you looked, including this bright yellow one right beside our car and caravan.  Just hope he is careful where he swings that bucket.

   Big yellow digger

Once over the hill it was an easy drive through the Wairarapa towns of Featherston, Greytown, Carterton and Masterton.  We stopped at Ekatahuna for “you know what” at the public conveniences.  And no, they haven’t been painted like this just for the Royal Wedding, the building always looks like this with the Guardsman and the royal corgis!

  A little bit of light relief in Ekatahuna

Next stop was Carnival Park Motor Camp, where we will be staying for the next three nights.  It is really pretty with all the golden leaves fluttering down from the large trees.

Entrance to Carnival Park Motor Camp, Pahiatua

We are on our own so far so have the place to ourselves, except for one solitary van tucked away under the trees, and the manager.  We  decided to come up a day early, but most of the others will not be arriving until tomorrow.

All by ourselves, but more friends expected soon