Saturday and Sunday, October 4-5.  We leave Wanganui for Manawetu and the city of Palmerston North.  No, I do not know if there even is a Palmerston South.  Saturday morning is leisurely.  Joy and I pack for the next homestay and tuck it all nicely in the back of her little Nissan.  We are still amazed that it all fits.  Then we drive downtown to the riverside.  In one area is a farmer's market.  Once out of the car we find that the wind has come up... again... and the clouds are building.  It appears as though this is very common this time of year.  Note:  in the future, try to come in November through February, and not early October.  Anyway, we wander the stalls.  Nothing very unusual.  At least unusual enough to try to fit it into our luggage.  We, as apparently many locals, find that the wind and threat of rain are enough to cut the shopping short.  So we pile back into the car.

Later that morning we gather in a cafe located in an old bank building.  I've noticed that there are a number of bank buildings that have been "re-purposed" in Wanganui.  Sue mentions that 2008-2011 or so was a bad time for many banks in NZ.  Same as home.  We have an early lunch, along with our Friendship Force gang and their home hosts. Then we split up and travel to a nearby town to meet up with our new hosts.

Our new hosts are Barry and Joyce Melody.  Nice car.  A BMW.  Ironic that our luggage won't all fit in the trunk/"boot".  They have a lovely home in a nice area of Palmerston North, looking out over a man-made lake.  Ducks and geese swimming around.  Kayakers paddling about.  No, we're not suffering.
















After a bit of relaxing, we re-joined our group of ambassadors at one of the Manawetu Friendship Force member's home for a welcome BBQ.  Plenty of food, beverages aplenty (but only just enough!) - noisy with conversation.  We have the chance to really get to know our new hosts, and to get to know our traveling companions better.  The winds continue to whistle.  Think that this is the norm here,




The next day we're on our own, so our hosts, Barry and Joyce show us a little of the town of North Palmerston, and then we head out into the beautiful countryside to a rhododendron and azalea garden.  The day starts out clear blue, but clouds thicken as the morning wears on.  Fortunately, the gardens provide nice large umbrellas, just in case.

Barry is set for any rain

It's still a bit early for the garden, but still there is plenty to please the eye.  Not just Rhodys and azaleas, but all types of trees, waterfalls and ponds.

 

Joy heads off deeper into the garden, but David is intrigued by a Carmelia maze.  Barry and Joyce join in.  Somewhere in the middle, David makes a lame Harry Potter comment about "shooting sparks for help".  But Barry leads us out.  Now we've lost Joy.  So we wander around sort of looking for her, but really more checking out the gardens.  Finally we rejoin for a light lunch at the garden's cafe.















Homeward bound in the afternoon for some relaxation and then a delightful dinner.  Tomorrow should be busy.