On the road again

Posted on by J&L
Whanganui

November 14, 2023

So here we are, on the road again. This time a short week day getaway to New Plymouth. But still within our self-imposed slow travel restrictions of two to three hours on the road on any one day. This is not an absolute rule, but one we have adopted to ensure we both enjoy the journey as well as the destination — that’s code for saying that these days, L does the driving, and driving is tiring.

So. Here we are in Whanganui in a very clean and comfortable studio unit at the Astral Motel on Somme Parade. The journey was great. Definitely off Highway One, with our route taking us through Ekatahuna (coffee stop at The Lazy Graze), over the Pahiatua track with its amazing windmills, turn right for Ashurst, bypassing Palmerston North, and on to Feilding, which took us down another memory lane. We lived in Feilding for near on three years when I taught at what was then Feilding Agricultural High School and L was a Massey Uni student and C was a foundation member of the MU creche.

From there it was on to Whanganui, and more memories, this time of the playround park which we remember as a family favourite for daytrips from Feilding.

Best playround ever, above and below
I think it’s had a facelift since the 1970s
But it still looks fun — as C commented: ‘Life don’t get much better than this playground!’
This building caught my eye because it reminded me of a Mondrian painting
I already have more than enough photos of daisies and buttercups in grass. But I couldn’t resist a couple more. They bring back memories of the sculpture park in Milton Keynes. We are the only people I know who have fond memories of Milton Keynes. It’s all in the approach — from the canal, walking through the park to the shopping malls which have everything a narrowboater could possibly want.
If you look closely, you might be able to see my reflection. That’s the Whanganui River in the background.