Page 34 - NZ Ulyssian December

ARTICLES

aihi ha es alley
ESCAPE AFTER

COVID

Bonnie and I wanted to escape as soon as we could
after being locked up because of Covid.

s we don’t live in Auckland and
soon as I thought we could
escape, I decided to advertise
Aon Ulysses WTV Facebook
page a four day holiday. Being locked
up, I had plenty of time to think about it
and what I wanted to do. Go to Taranaki
to ride some of those great narrow roads
around Mt Egmont. Well that’s what it
was called when I last rode those roads.
The other thing I wanted to do was walk
along the waterfront in New Plymouth as I
am always seeing it advertised and I had
never done it.
Step one, find accommodation at a The team of
reasonable price, walking distance to escapees
places for meals etc. and not far from the
waterfront. Ducks and Drake Boutique could not have a group more than ten. we were told we were in for rain. Next
Motel / Hostel. Done. Now all go, six of us confirmed and leg was straight down to Tokoroa and on
Step two, write to the President of the booked and Monday 20th September to Whakamaru for a break and separate
Taranaki Ulysses Branch to see if they was our day to escape. Wayne on his into two groups as I wanted to do a
had any retired members who could Beema, Chris on his Guzi, Philip on his 20-minute walk to see the Matia trees
take a group around some of those Beema, Karel and Howard on their Duke’s in the North Island. Only Philip decided
very narrow roads up on the side of the and of course yours truly on Bonnie. to join me. Wrong decision Philip as
mountain, visit Egmont Visitors Centre, first I took the wrong road and got lost,
Dawson Falls and go through one of Day 1 and second I made a stupid decision to
those famous narrow tunnels. Done. We all met at the Bottle in Paeroa go walking anyway, even if not the one
Step three, advertise on our branch 8:30am, everyone knew the planned planned. The road to get there was a little
Facebook page. (I must say I felt just a route which was really just to keep off the gravel, a lot of potholes and wet muddy
little guilty as every other time I organised main roads where we could. As my body clay. I stopped to look at a sign which
such a tour I always invited friends from is not what it used to be, I arranged stops did not really tell us anyway, and Philip
Auckland, well that really was not going every hour to stretch the legs. Putaruru had a little slide. Some people camping
to happen.) Always going to limit to eight was our first stop for morning tea. The there came to the rescue, and after a little
people in case the government said we weather was behaving itself even though panel beating and duck tape, we were
Phillip & Trevor
took a diversion

Trevor not exactly
hugging a tree, but
close!

34 | Ulyssian DECEMBER 2021