Carolina Kiwis: Improvising Ahead Of The Storm

Wednesday

The Mount was crowded today since the first cruise ship of the season was in port. Rain was in the forecast, and we could see dark storm clouds rolling towards us from the Kaimais, so we considered heading down to the museum in Rotorua for an indoor activity. We got a bit of a late start, though, and wouldn't have had much time there, so we took a chance and drove to Kaiate Falls. The rental had started making a decidedly unpleasant metallic grinding noise yesterday after driving through some construction zones on the way back from Hobbiton. Initially the noise stopped after about 10 minutes, but started up again this morning. Not wanting to get stranded on a rural road, we took our car instead.

The weather held off and the falls were roaring. We got a much better chance to savor their natural beauty this time without having to chase after Ro and Barnaby. The swimming hole below the lower cascade was still too chilly for a dip, but we certainly enjoyed the views. Walking back up the gorge afterwards was a bit hard for those not used to it. Norma told Carver it was a lot like walking up Mauao, but without the blazing sun.

Sherry & Cerine at the upper cascades

The gang at the middle cascades

Mark and his mom at Kaiate Falls

Mark briefly contemplates swinging into the pool

We took the back roads through Welcome Bay and on to Tauranga, showing Mark's family The Colonial Court where we stayed the first month we were here. The clouds looked ominous, but no rain as yet, so we took another chance on a picnic at Memorial Park, along the estuary. The gulls became interested in us very quickly, but behaved themselves for the most part.

A blustery picnic

Dawn Princess just a few hundred feet from our apartment

After Sherry picked Ro up from school, Mark accompanied Carver to the airport to turn in the stricken rental car a few days early. The lady at the Hertz counter was pretty understanding, all things considered. After all, we were essentially telling her, "We'd like to get credit for bringing the car back early...and we broke the tail light and dented the bumper...and, oh yeah, now the car's making a funny noise." On the way back, we stopped at Mount Mellick Irish Bar for a pint, as we talked and gazed out the window at the massive Dawn Princess docked at the wharf. Sherry and Norma had prepared a delicious roast chicken (and fried tofu) dinner, which we all enjoyed, but Ro couldn't wait for some leftover birthday cake. He and Cerine quibbled over who got the lion's share of the Gryffindor lion icing.