Ohaupo and Back

It was off to Ohaupo for Robin, towing the caravan merrily behind him.  Our Leisureline was booked in to get some repairs done in September.  But because Robin was going to hospital next week to get his second knee replacement done, Grant suggested he bring the van up early and leave it on site in storage.  Away he went on Saturday, with me and the cat staying at home. 

Off he goes

Travel on Saturday was in clear conditions, but is was rather windy at Waiouru.  Mount Ruapehu was nowhere to be seen, it was completely covered in low cloud.  He stayed at the Ohakune Club overnight, together with quite a few other vans.  It seems that these people were waiting for the mountain to clear, so they could get some skiing done.  I had suggested that Robin dine in the club that evening, but no, that didn't happen, the kitchen was closed and no meals available.  After a beer or two in the bar, he had to cook his own meal in the caravan instead.  It was very windy overnight with heavy rain beating on the roof.

Sunday was extremely wet for the drive to Otorohanga NZMCA camp.  Nothing much open there on a Sunday night except the local fish and chip shop, so that would have to do for his dinner.

Then a short half hour trip on Monday morning and he arrived at Leisureline Ohaupo to drop the van off into the care of Grant.  Ohaupo translates to “The place where the  wind blows at night”  It didn’t take too long for Robin to pack up the remaining food, his clothes and other bits and pieces, then he departed on the long drive home.  It was very wet driving along the Desert Road and all the way to Hunterville, with the temperature dropping down to 3 degrees.  He stopped for a bite at Turangi, then it was steady as you go all the way home, arriving here at 4.30pm.  That was a fair bit of driving and he noticed that the fuel consumption was certainly much less on the return journey, without the van on the back of the Jeep.  Robin was certainly rather tired after his long day, and after a home cooked meal he was tucked up in bed by 8.30pm!