No road is long with good company

Today TOF and I went for a drive to Putaruru to visit a friend of TOFs who has had some bad luck of late and pretty down in the dumps.  It is a lovely drive through small towns and the beautiful Waikato countryside.

Sheba had stayed last night at the Heirs house and went to work with him for the day so Oscar got to come along for the ride with us.

The road was reasonably busy from Hamilton through to Tirau. Not that you can tell from my photo, it was flowing well.

The scenery is beautiful and full of contrast.  Flat paddocks, rolling hills, green grass, tall trees and plenty of farm animals. Loads of babies and bright yellow Daffodils.

TOF and I quite like the look of this place, tucked at the base of some hills, looking all cosy and inviting.

As we drove into Tirau TOF decided he needed to top up the diesel and visit the Confectionery shop.  Oscar also needed a comfort stop so he took advantage of a spot of grass.

He came out of there with 3 bags of lollies and was gob smacked at the prices. I think it is priced for the passing tourists that stop off in Tirau.  There are some lovely shops there but not as many as there used to be, sign of the times I suppose.

I remember when this Hotel was up for sale and thinking it could be an interesting change of life, now thinking we would have just been buying into HARD SLOG! No life balance in that.

Off we went again and headed to Putaruru our destination for the day.

We spent a couple of hours with TOFs friend and hopefully we have helped him know he is not alone with his troubles.

We said our farewells with a bottle of his plum wine and some beetroot from his garden.

On our way home we stopped at Arapuni where there is a Hydro dam.  As we drove over the bridge over the river diversion I got this photo looking back down the river, The Waikato River.    The Waikato River is the longest one in New Zealand and runs for 425 km through the North Island from Lake Taupo to the Tasman Sea.  The name Waikato is Maori and translates as 'flowing water'.

We parked the car and walked to the other bridge to check out the views of the River and the land.

 

This is the view looking back to the bridge over the river diversion that we drove over.  I do like that curve shaped concrete.

Looking up the river you can see the Arapuni Hydroelectric Power Station, not visible in this photo as I was only using my little camera today.  Arapuni is 80 years old now and according to my research is now under the protection of the Historical Places Trust.  There are 8 Power Stations on the Waikato river all being built between 1929 and 1971.  

Remember,

we are still a young country!

We could hear the sound of cooing shit machines pigeons under the bridge and then this lot flew past.  There was a dude on the bridge fishing, for Trout I suspect.

A milk tanker rumbled over the bridge while we were standing on it, Oscar retreated to the safety of TOFs feet.  YES, TOF has his slippers on!  Comfy for driving in he tells me but I don't recall him changing his footwear at any point during our outing.  Hey but that is how we roll round here!!

Selfie on the bridge, and just remember he is smiling on the inside, just not big on photos.  He should be used to it by now you would think!!  From there we drove to Kihikihi, "did you hear us toot as we drove past your house Julie"

 

We stopped at a lovely bakery in Kihikihi for a rather late lunch and I had a good giggle at their blackboards inside and outside the shop.  Wish I had photographed the humor inside the shop!

 

Naughty us, Steak and Cheese Pie each, OMG they were divine.

I will never be a skinny minnie again at this rate!

 So this is where we drove.

Follow the PINK arrows and that was our drive.  We left Hamilton at about 10:30 this morning and got back round 3pm.

I told TOF today that I can remember visiting a power station when I was a kid, here is an old photo to prove it.  Taken by my dad in the 1960s.   Easy to spot us three blonde girls. 

 TOFs lollies are in a jar,

and we have settled in for the evening.

Fish and Chips for dinner

as we obviously have not consumed

enough fat today!!

I may not be CASH rich

but I am rich in

HEALTH and HAPPINESS.

A lovely day out with my buddy

TOF!!