Forgotten Highway

Day 31 - 10/11/23

On the way from 800m above sea level. at 100m above sea level N. we drive in the sunshine through landscapes that are simply magical and create “good vibrations”. The volcanic hills are covered in green, as if a green carpet had been laid over the cooled lava. We cross and accompany rivers and I am often reminded of my wonderful childhood and youth, because the landscape in the valley areas is often similar to that in the Kochertal between Schwäbisch Hall, Untermünkheim/Übrigshausen, Geislingen and Braunsbach.

It's becoming increasingly clear to me why we're driving through New Zealand for seven weeks, because Karin has apparently taken on a government contract to count every - but really every - newborn among the sheep, goats, rabbits and calves and record them in photo documentation. I have to be careful not to twist the steering wheel when Karin immediately gasps at every young animal she sees - "oooooh - look - how good" - and there are really a lot of them.

We particularly recommend a route that is probably no longer very advertised, the “forgotten highway”, which is really worth it.

According to Karin, the name of this highway comes from the fact that they forgot to put road surface in the middle of the route

Among other things, this highway takes you to the only independent republic in New Zealand, the “Republic of Whangamomona”, where Tai the Poodle actually served as president from 2003 to 2004.

How such a republic could come about is reminiscent of the flowers that our administrations in Germany also like to produce.