Snow storm

[MIXONE]

On Sunday I had the misfortune to be travelling between Tauranga and Wellington.Due to the snow the Desert Road was closed so we hooked off at Turangi and came home via National Park.I was in my wagon with wife and kids on board.Probably the last car to make it through before the road was closed.

At National Park the snow was probably a foot thick and coming down heavily.We followed a couple of cruisers before they stopped at Raetihi and met up with another 6 or so bikes.I guess they weren't going any further and wondered if they were kb'ers.


It was the worst storm I have ever driven in even during my 12 years of living on the Mainland.Thank goodness for 4wd and snow mode on the auto.ABS came in handy once or twice too!

I really felt sorry for any bikers riding in it and can honestly say it was one of the rare times when I was more then glad to be in the car.

Anybod else out and about in it?

[Maha]

Yip, we came through the Desert rd at about 12.30 on Sunday, maximum speed of 50kph all the way through. It started snowing just north of Taihape, we stopped there for brunch and fuck it was cold. There were a couple of ploughs working on the Desert rd, but when got to Rangipo they had a truck across the south bound lane and were closing the gates.

[YellowDog]

Sounds pretty freaky.

Like you say, it is rare to ever get to use your 4WD properly.

I wouldn't envy the bikers either.

[Beemer]

We still can't see the Tararuas from our place - usually we see them as clear as a bell but for the past two days it's been snowing so we only get glimpses of them through the snow cloud.

[Movistar]

Had the (mis)fortune of travelling to Taupo after work on Friday evening.
No snow that day but when I left New Plymouth there was thunder, lightning and torrential rain...all the way to Taupo.

Spent the weekend drying the gear off with the forecast set for a fine Monday morning...

Monday morning came, along with wind, drizzle and snow. Now although the forecast changed over the weekend, it's always advisable to hold on to a glimmer of hope that the Metservice people are wrong.

Well, not this time!

Left Taupo around 7.00am, struck snow just after the Kinloch turnoff. Man was it colder than cold! Thankfully it was quite slushy as there had only been around four cars previous to me going in the same direction judging by the lack of wheel tracks

From then on it was drizzling, that horrible clingy stuff that just sticks to your visor.

Got to Piopio for gas and a caffeine fix (more so to get some feeling back in the hands), dude there said it was 4 degrees, I thought he was being generous!

The drizzle subsided around Awakino and the wind kicked in, it was like riding around a 45kph corner at 100kph but going in a straight line...

Interesting ride, and despite all this, was quite fulfilling!

Home by 10.30 to dry the gear out - again...