Hastings to Hawera and another reunion of cousins.

The bus trip from Hastings to Palmerston North, where I was catching the bus to Hawera was quite dramatic as we climbed up over the Saddle Road, now the main route since the Manawatu Gorge was closed due to slips. As well as the Native Bush there is a Wind Farm and you get very close to the turbines on the road.

The bus driver took it pretty steadily and after passing through small towns and over a river we arrived in Palmerston North. It was a beautiful day and I was able to leave my luggage in a locker. I had been chatting to another lady so we headed off to the coffe shop for some lunch.

The bus for New Plymouth eventually arrived and I enjoyed reminiscing on the journey up to Hawera, passing through Wanganui, where I used to sprint in races as a teenager, and Waitotara valley, which I always thought was particularly beautiful.

I knew I was finally in Taranaki when Mt Taranaki, which was totally clear suddenly appeared, I made some fruitless attempts to photograph it through the window so when I arrived in Hawera my cousin Doug, who was there to meet me drove me to an excellent place for a photo.

This morning I did a 5K walk up to King Edward Park and back. On the way I passed my Uncle Harold’s old house where I had stayed a number of times over the years.

In the afternoon Doug drove me and Merrilyn over to his brother -in-law Jimmy. We transferred cars and Jimmy drove us to one of my favourite childhood places, Lake Mangamahoe. The lake was absolutely alive with Canada Geese along with some ducks and Black Swans. I wanted to capture Mt Taranaki above the Lake. It really is a beautiful sight.

From there we drove to New Plymouth where we were having a family catch-up not far from where I lived nearly all my childhood. It looks almost the same; my room was at the front, and the Hibiscus my mother planted was flowering beautifully.

My cousin Paul had invited us to his home in Tukaupa Street and had fetched his elderly Mother, Aunty Stella. It was lovely to see her. It wasn’t a huge gathering, but still a lovely opportunity to catch up.

After a lovely afternoon we headed back for Hawera. On the way, just before Stratford, Merrilyn pointed out that it was possible to see Mt Ruapehu in the distance, because it was such a clear day. To anyone who didn’t know it would appear as a funny cloud, but it is indeed the big mountains by Taupo.

As we passed through Normanby Doug stopped the car so I could photograph my grandparents’ home in Normanby. It’s amazing to think that twelve children were raised there. We had lived there briefly when I was three years old.

In the early evening my cousin Brian, who couldn’t attend the reunion called to see me. Followed by Doug’s daughter-in-law and their five girls. I feel very blessed to have so much family in this beautiful country.