The plus side

Lake Taupo, NZ

Yesterday was a long day of travel, from Linkwater at Smith’s Farm on the south island, to the Picton ferry, to Wellington on the north island, to Lake Taupo. Somehow during my turn to drive, I got off our route from SH1 (State Highway One) and veered too far west. It turned our 4 1/2-hour drive into a 5+ hour drive and didn’t arrive to Tony’s B&B Lodge after dark, nearly 10pm.

A terrible listener but thoughtful host, Tony, the lodge’s owner and caretaker, brought us out near the lake last night after our arrival for an amateur yet thrilling tour of the southern hemisphere’s night sky full of stars. He pointed out two little cloudy patches: galaxies! As a lover of planets, constellations, and space travel, Josh loved it. A bonus to accidentally driving out of our way.

Returning to SH1 from getting off track yesterday also brought us serendipitously along the Volcanic Loop Highway and past Mount Ngauruhoe (Mount Doom from Lord of the Rings). Leo was able to then snap the only photos we managed to get since today’s hike to nearby Taranaki Falls was a cloudy bust.

Neat how I can turn a mistake of mine into a series of wins. I wonder if I am as generous with others.