I don't think we should be out in this.

 22nd November

 What storm??? We had glorious weather this morning, hardly a cloud in the sky. Very glad about that because we had planned to walk to the Piroa Falls near Waipu. Ian took the opportunity to check the Toy's oil, water and gearbox oil. This Toyota Hiace has no bonnet, the engine is in the cab. In fact under my seat! Took some working out but my 'man that can. sussed it all out. All was excellent so we were good to go.

Still a good few km to go (roughly 90) it was back on SH1 and the never ending roadworks. Gosh the Kiwis love their cones, and how baffling this was. Roads going in all directions it was worse than spaghetti junction and guess work to find the right way.

Which way????

Got it right.... Yeah...

By now the clouds were forming and the wind had picked up. Reached Warkworth and came across a lookout point. We pulled in more for a coffee break than the lookout but seeing as we were here....Anyway we discovered the lookout was over the Dome Valley and looked way out over Warkworth and the Warkworth Satellite Earth Station  We had to go for a look.

30 minutes each way, was on the information board. Okay, we could easily give up an hour of our time. First the shoes needed a clean. Pests are a real problem here as is Kauri dieback

A cleaning station, first the brush to take off any mud and then the disinfectant spray as you stand on the green grill.

 We knew we had to climb, what we hadn't realised was by how much. The steps went on and on hardly any let up and by the time we had both made the viewing platform, a good dose of oxygen would have been beneficial.

At blooming last!!!

Was it worth it? Well on a good day it would have been stunning, today not so good but very glad we made the effort.

 

Warkworth Satellite Earth Station

 

On the way down we challenged ourselves to count all the steps, would you believe there were 584 up and of course the same amount down. A total of 1168! No wonder we were knackered.

Ever the glutton for punishment the Piroa Falls still had to be done. The drive to it was off the SH1 at Waipo and down a dirt track for several km. Really out in the back of beyond and the road had those horrible ridge humps. It was like driving over corrugated board, most uncomfortable. 

There was no car park as such, just a wider bit of gravel with a sign Waipu Gorge Scenic Reserve on it.

More steps! 100 this time but with legs like jelly from the previous climb, I felt like I had lead weights in my shoes.

Took my sticks with me this time, forgot on the previous walk, mores the pity. Very helpful when clambering over the rocks. It was obvious that the river was up, the small gravel island was almost submerged and the only way to see the falls was to go for a paddle.

 

Not me....not that daft. My 'man that can' was the one to go so shoes and socks off and into the cold water he went.

My view of the Falls was this

And Ian's this.

Note we did have our rain jackets on. The skies started to darken as we left the Toy and if only we hadn't spent so long at the Falls. As Ian was drying his feet the biggest clap of thunder was heard. Not quite overhead but very close. Crikey somehow I managed to get into second gear and took those steps almost at a run...well as fast a pace as I could manage anyway. Almost at the top and down it came, not just rain but hail. We sat in the Toy with lightening and thunder rolling around, I think the storm had arrived!

The journey back was slow, in no time the gravel road became a muddy mess with rivers of sandy coloured water pouring down the cracks. Oh dear, I think the Toy may need a good wash after this!

Back on SH1 and the conditions worsened. We had planned to get to Whangarei but once in Waipu Ian stopped to look for somewhere nearer. We made for Ruakaka Reserve. A small break in the rain and we made a dash for the beach. That didn't last long, and to date the rain is still with us and the forecast for tonight is for 40kmh winds. The top will definitely be staying down!

The white dots on the top left photo was hail.

And seen on route

Madness!!! How can another truck driver be so inconsiderate. He was trying to overtake on an uphill section with a truck in the slow vehicle lane on the left. Trucks are notorious for slowing down on uphills because of the weight they carry. This overtaker had no load and being impatient tried to pass. But his speed was only marginally greater than the inside truck and consequently, instead of tucking in behind when the warning road narrows sign came up, he forced the inside truck to swerve even further to the left to avoid a nasty accident. What a complete idiot!

 An unwelcome visitor

And wildlife