Saturday dawned with the threat of rain that fortunately did not materialize. My plan had been to take State Highway 2 to the set of the Anduin River where the Fellowship first became aware of Gollum, then north along the winding, twisty Akatawara Road to intersect with Highway 1 at Waikanae. Pegah's reaction to the hairpin curves of the Nelson-Picton road convinced me that she didn't like twisty roads at all! Since we had already seen the sites of Isengard and Rivendell, the main reason to take the Akatawara, I decided to stay on Highway 1 along the coast from Wellington. Either way would have led us to the charming Red House Cafe. Pegah really liked it, so much that she took 13 pictures of it!
	The Red House building used to be the Te Horo Post Office. It was purchased by Wendy Reid, the proprietor, in 2004. She converted it into a world class roadside dining establishment. The cafe can accommodate groups of up to 70 people in their warm and comfortable dining area inside, with an additional garden and deck areas outside. Their menus range from finger food and children's plates to a full dinner or formal breakfast. They advertise that they use local produce, "prepared imaginatively and presented in a character setting by a team who are passionate about their roles." In addition to serving the tourist trade, they provide specialized functions such as wedding and corporate dinners.
	It really is a charming little place, with something for everyone. A customer can drop in and enjoy a full meal at resonable price, a glass or bottle of wine, or a Saranwrapped fresh sandwich to take away. There are little rustic touches here and there, from the "Dodge City" clock to the old plow propped up against the wall next to the fireplace. The restrooms reminded me of a grandmother's house. Our coffee was served to us with the New Zealand style powdered sugar, milk and chocolate, but with the additional treat of a KitKat cookie and a vase of two fresh rosebuds, no extra charge. They certainly deserve their advertised motto: "Fresh, wholesome dining with a contemporary twist."
	Our next stop was the Gravity Canyon, formerly Hightime Bungy (New Zealand's highest bungy), and a view of the Rangitikei River used as one of the sites of the Anduin in The Fellowship of the Ring. The modern highway bridge stands beside two enormous concrete towers that appear to be the supports for a previous suspension bridge, which is a common sight in New Zealand. The Rangitikei gorge here is over 260 feet deep, forming a natural location for thrill seekers whose idea of fun includes bungy jumping, swinging out into space with a 50 foot free fall, or flying along a zipline at 100 mph. Three of these adventurers can be seen on the right as a blue dot against the impressively steep chalky banks.
	Here they are close up as they zoom under the bridge from which we were taking the pictures. The location is impressively beautiful, and would be worth visiting for that reason alone. But while we were enjoying what would otherwise have been a tranquil and natural example of the beauty of New Zealand, we would be startled periodically by screams of pure terror and a loud zinging and whizzing as three more patrons of the "Flying Fox" jacked up their adrenaline levels. Having completely satisfied what there had been of my thirst for this kind of experience while jumping out of airplanes in the Army, I decided to pursue an activity more appropriate to my mature years by taking beautiful pictures.
	We left the Gravity Canyon early to arrive in Ohakune in time for Saturday evening mass. I had been assured by Wendy Silver at the Diocese of Palmerstown North that it would be at the Maungarona Marae, a Maori cultural center not far from the Top 10 Holiday park where we were staying. I was determined not to let another weekend go by without going to church, and thought that the services at the Marae would be a cultural education as well. I had budgeted plenty of time to get to Ohakune, so we had a pleasant trip through the Rangitikei Borough past Taihape and the New Zealand Army Museum at Waiouru. I had planned a visit to the museum, but Pegah didn't want to see anything military.
	We found the Holiday Park without any trouble, and were greeted with a motorcycle convention that was passing through. After paying for the night and getting our assigned spot, we started out on foot to find the Maungarona Marae, only to find out that services were not scheduled, and the closest Catholic services would be at St. Mary's Church in Taihape tomorrow. Pegah suggested that maybe God just didn't want us to go to church in New Zealand. The day ended on a bright note, however, because the Holiday Park turned out to be the most luxurious we had experienced. Pegah was particularly impressed with the rustic wooden accents in the ultramodern showers and restroom facilities.
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