Onto gold mining town of Ross on the coast

TV weather says rain for the next few days, so it was a relief when I opened the curtains and saw blue skies...  we shall see how long that lasts!

Once again, Maggie takes on the burden of all my gear and we say goodbye to Hari Hari and head for the coast.  there's still mountains on the right - with glimpses of snow capped peaks in the distance.  it sorta had the feeling of maybe Switzerland - including a mob of black and white cows being driven along by 4 kids on horses!
there was a long straight section and can you believe??  A tail breeze!!!
there were beautiful lakes, fringed by NZ flax, wide glacial rivers as well as the usual little creeks and more forests with their wide variety of ferns, ferns, ferns!
about 10km out of Ross, I took the detour towards the beach along a dirt country road.  there were farmlands and a little bit regrowth forest that was mainly briar and gorse, but still filled with fantails.  I met a rather puffed out looking red border collie trotting along - I hope he knew where he was going...  and I could hear the sea roaring in and actually feel some spray but there was no access to the coast - and then back onto Highway 6 and we rolled into Ross - an old gold mining town, that has certainly see better days...  being Saturday, all the young hoons were hanging at the pub, so it was good to turn into the Ross Motel and get the key for 4 and get settled in for another night on this holiday.
and easy pedal and it didn't rain!  no wind and no real hills today either!  bonus!!

Can you believe, a bath in the en suite at Hotel Hari Hari!!!  nice!!

looking along the main (and only) street in Hari Hari

cute little craft shop in Hari Hari - but closed!

Wanganui River

Ianthe Lake - before the speed boat arrived!

new fern frond!

typical one-lane bridge - I got over this one without any competition

farmlands right by the coast - that's spray from the sea, not dust!!

 

man made lake in the middle of Ross - must be from past gold mining

There was a small open-air museum with examples of machinery etc from the old gold mining days!  The rest of Ross was so run down and things for sale everywhere.  its not a town one would wish to live in, for sure! 

the old gaol - necessary in a wild west gold mining town!

strange motor bike shop???

and a very comfy motel room, complete with a little kitchen...  no more pub chips!!