February 25th Okahune - Stratford

It's raining this morning, everything is covered in thick clouds. We're heading to Stratford via SH 43, Forgotten World Highway. The 155 km road winds through subtropical forests, green hills, waterfalls, and great views. It's amazing, a great road. There are no gas stations or supermarkets on the route, but there are some farms and B&Bs, as well as a pub in Whangamomona. The residents of Whangamomona declared their independence and proclaimed themselves a republic in protest against a government administrative reform in 1989. So now a festival is celebrated every two years.

Near Stratford, which is named after William Shakespeare's birthplace, we have a sensational B&B. The pictures we took in their garden quickly reveal which country the hosts immigrated from. Very nice.