Saturday 19th Dec
Despite it being sunny it was freezing cold due to that bloody south wind. Had a good ride to Wairoa and an early night.

Sunday 20th Dec
Sunny again and not to windy but a chilly start, it soon warmed up as I headed inland to Lake Taupo. The road was a very twist gravel road with the occasional bits paved over. It passed another dam and went through a very large forest. Occasional glimpses were all that you could get as the trees were so densely clumped together and even on the sheer drops they obscured the view which was a good thing as the road required your full attention. There were quite a few negative camber corners with lose gravel that mad the going very tricky, plenty of sliding about. It was also quite busy big 4x4 trucks towing there boats on trailers. Not a road I would choose to do again. Absolutely knackered by the time I reached Lake Taupo. Its now bonkers hot again, its so much like England the way the weather keeps changing from one extreme to the other. I have found a really cheap motel as there is a building site next door to it and they have dropped there prices accordingly. So i have booked 2 days here. I had a really nice dinner in town fresh fish and chips and a beer or 3 while watching the sun go down over the lake.
I can't believe its nearly time to go home, I think i'm getting the hang of travelling alone at last.