The last day and
it was damp and cool for a change. Enough for the hood to be kept up for a while. The
driver's briefing consisted of walking around Marama Resort and talking to individual
groups as they finished breakfast in their luxurious units, or packed up their cars. We
find that the AA had been called out to help get a poorly presidential MGB back to
Auckland that day. Vicky would travel with Cindy and Geoff would travel back home via hire
car instead. People started to depart shortly thereafter. The BOP group turned to the
east, but the rest turned west and headed around the lake. Some managed to get to the
Mamaku Blue blueberry farm that was mentioned in the trip book. It was maybe fortunate
that not everyone made it as the few staff on duty so early in the morning had trouble
keeping up with the orders. After morning tea, it was back on the road to our lunch destination,
Kaimai Cheese Company, in Waharoa, which had been organised by Sue Martin. For a time we
were in a convoy of several MGAs and MGBs. Some nice Waikato backcountry roads had been
plotted but one MGB, with an entourage of two MGAs, took the short GPS-plotted route
instead.
The cheese factory café was quite busy but several tables were reserved
for us. Coffee was available immediately, and the food orders were taken quickly. The MG'ers were abuzz with the weekend's events, and the conversations
flowed around the room. It was then off on the main highway back to Auckland with rain in the air
and a deepening gloom. The GPS group stopped off for ice creams in Pokeno but the majority
headed directly home, not wanting to get tangled up in motorway traffic. Back to Day 3 - Napier to
Rotorua via Lake Waikaremoana Neil Courtney |
