Day 9. Last night after dusk Dot and I went for a drive to see the glow worms that are just a couple of kilometre’s away down towards the Wanganui river. The road runs into a mini ravine where the glow worms live on the sheer bank’s. Over about 500m’s there were hundreds of these insects glowing a shade of blue. Very impressive.
We were in no great hurry to leave “Rawhide” our camp site for the last 2 nights. Barbara, the owner, was very obliging and a perfect hostess. After sorting out the water and waste tanks we headed off towards Ohakune. We stopped at the Makatote railway viaduct where some major underpinning had been done in 2006. This is a very impressive viaduct on the main trunk line. I knew there was a train in the area, probably working up the Raurimu Spiral and was hoping to photograph a train crossing it but we left about 30 minutes too soon.
Makatote viaduct. Nearly 80m above the Wanganui river built in 1905/6.
At Horopito we called into the famous “Smash Palace” auto wrecking yard. This was the yard used in the movie “Goodbye Porkpie”. This coming Easter there is to be a re-run of this event from Cape Reinga to Bluff with at least 43 Mini’s taking part.
Smash Palace in Horopito.
The yard is massive covering 17 acres with vehicles dating back to the 1930’s and earlier.For a gold coin donation you can wander among the rusting relics and check out the huge warehouse of dismantled parts. The latter was mind boggling with all parts marked as to their make, model and vintage.
Humber Super Snipe and Austin Princess at Smash Palace in Horopito.
Smash Palace parts warehouse in Horopito.
Rear lights
Anyone for a hubcap?
This Mini is still registered, expires today!
The old part of Smash Palace's yard. Real old stuff here.
Two PAX Vauxhalls at Smash Palace.
Two Austin A55 (Somersets?)
A Vulcan Truck!
This fire engine won't be fighting any more fires.
Fordson Ute.
After a quick bite of lunch we were back on the road heading for the Waimarino Golf Club at Ohakune. Another lovely site with all services. Robin and Peter opted to play a few holes after dinner while the rest of us took on less energetic activities.
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