SWMBO sends thanks to everyone

SWMBO sends thank you to everyone:

Thank you to all the love and messages of sympathy to SWMBO.  On Wednesday afternoon She slipped over to sprain one ankle and broke the other.  So TRM was the same as the NZ Government – rudderless, operating on auto, while the Manager of everything was in Taupo Hospital emergency ward.

In three hours She had been admitted and registered in Turangi (Pihanga Medical Centre) and had the doctor check it out and send Her to Taupo for Xrays who referred her to Taupo Hospital where She was attended to immediately on arrival and thoroughly spoilt with sympathetic attention and fitted with Her moon boot.

What wonderful efficient medical service and such nice professional people we have available.  Most impressed.

TRM’s apology was particularly needed for inmates – firstly Graham who left his trout in the smoker – to take out 4 hours later…  I was supporting SWMBO to the local medical centre when I remembered their time was up so they must have been incinerated to smoked kippers as I returned to turn it off over an hour later.  Secondly, apologies to Kev as well – we had booked a remote river fishing trip this weekend but my leave pass was cancelled.

 

Meanwhile…

A better alternative option to the Tongariro Crossing:

Now the summer weather is approaching it is time to plan your next big adventure (Adventure before dementia?).

The Tongariro Crossing has been on everyone’s bucket list but the crowding and traffic parking hassles and delays over the last few seasons has forced TRM to suggest other alternatives.

SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed manages everything around here) cannot afford to have unhappy inmates so we needed to identify a better option than the 20km crossing.

And we did!

The best alternative option for those young and fit enough is covered in the video above – to climb the highest mountain in the North Island is a worthy replacement – what is more it is easier in every respect.

(See photo – climbing Mt. Ruapehu the hard way…)

No crowding or queues.

Much shorter distance makes it more “doable”.

The sense of accomplishment is better.

The views are far better in all directions from the roof of the North Island.

The ride up in the chairlifts in summer is the only expense – instead of shuttle bus fares.

At the end of your walk is the highest cafe in the Southern hemisphere.

Like the Crossing you need fine weather.  Absolutely essential.  But we even have an even better alternative option for when the weather fails.  This involves three separate trails with entirely different themes.

Each loop trail is short enough to be able to back out if the weather turns…

1  A one hour riverside loop walk with views over the Tongariro River and Lake Taupo (see below)

2  A two hour walk around a beautiful secluded hidden lake.

3  A two hour alpine loop walk to a spectacular waterfall.

To describe each of these we have copied previous reports as follows:

 

Alternatives to the Tongariro Crossing

….. TRM warned about the excessive crowding on the Tongariro Crossing – up to 3-4000 tourist trampers per day during the silly season.  In preparation for more complaints we also commented on:

Better alternative options

…… Today we explain the  first alternative option – an easy one hour stroll from TRM in a loop trail around the Tongariro River.  This can be done before breakfast but we were only allowed out after laundry duties were over.  As expected this was a very busy day.  The images tell the story.
The preferred route is usually anti-clockwise – from TRM, cross Taupahi Road to head down Te Aho Street towards the river – a quiet cul de sac of holiday homes to link with the Tongariro River Trail and head to the right up river.
 
The track is shared with bikers and dogs and kids and swimmers and anglers and tourists and locals on their daily constitutional walk.  On Tuesday the usual coveys of quail and rabbits were missing – spooked by the numbers of tourists.
 
The track takes walkers along the back of many residential properties and local parks adjoining the river.  The surrounding natural scenery is as good as any track I know.  It is one of the main reasons why many people live and retire here.
 
Yesterday we met Alia Robinson from Palmerston North returning from her swim.

If you wear ‘polaroid’ sun glasses you should be able to spot huge trout in the river.  The route wanders past several famous trout pools – Island Pool, Major Jones Pool, Breakfast Pool, to about 1 km up river to the swing bridge….

A few rest seats are positioned for watching the anglers wading in the river – fly fishing only.  It is very entertaining and therapeutic to watch and admire their skills at casting and drifting their dainty flies.
 
Bikers on the Tongariro River Trail come in all sizes.
 
The biking and walking track crosses over the swing bridge to the TRB (True Right Bank looking downriver) and just follows the anglers access track.  Or – if you have time – you could turn right and walk/bike another five km up to cross Red Hut Bridge and return on the TLB via the Trout Centre.
 
Had we continued further north over the bridge – back down river – the track passes along through several winding tunnels of attractive bush mixed with mature native trees with several anglers side-tracks access to the pools, then eventually opens out during a gentle climb to the ridge where wide views are available over the Tongariro River and beyond Turangi town and further north-west to Lake Taupo.  Then a zig-zag path leads down hill back to the main road bridge over SH 1 and heads south again to TRM.

The images below were all taken yesterday on this route during our usual exercise – walkies with Pumpkin – to illustrate what to expect.  On our leisurely 75 minute walk at peak time between 3 & 4 pm, we counted about 40-50 walkers, four anglers, about ten bikes, ten dogs, many huge trout, ducks and rabbits.

We returned invigorated and refreshed all set for the next alternative option – tomorrow TRM Daily Report will feature a 2 hour loop track around a beautiful hidden lake.