We left for Tarunga after multiple phone calls to the rental company (Share-A-Camper), the independent operator, and the vehicle owner. Eventually, the van owner, Michael, arranged for us to visit an electrical shop in Mt Maunganui. As expected, the batteries in both cars were tested and found to be bad, but, to our dismay, Michael and the shop owner could not agree on the replacement battery. The shop insisted that a more expensive “deep cycle” battery was needed, while Michael was only willing to pay for a cheaper standard battery.
It turned out the wiring on the car was not too good. The battery connections were made with hose clamps and the wires to auxiliary equipment were just twisted and stuck in the clamp. Interestingly, the water hose runs right over the battery. We were finally ready to go by 4 p.m. Unfortunately, despite the new battery and improved connections, the old refrigerator still did not do the one thing it really should do -- get cold! The plastic housing on the back did get very, very hot, but that did not translate into cool air inside.
Meg picked out a paid campground in Rotorua for the evening. After a few nights of free camping, the paid site would give us a chance to charge the computer and camera battery, and perhaps wash clothes and take a shower. Roturua is located in the midst of hot springs, geysers, and boiling mud pits, evidence of the geothermal activity that is all around this area. In the campground, right next to the playground, was a boiling mud pit and we saw steam rising from many spots just along the main road as we were driving in. Dexter and Kylie talked to a local resident, right next to the campground that told them that he really likes getting hot water for free.
Poor Matilde, during Anne and Etienne’s quest for inflatable air mattresses, hit her head on a store shelf. The mattress search suddenly turned into a hospital search where the doctors were fortunately able to fix her up with a little glue. Etienne lamented that if he’d known she didn't need stitches, he could have just used a little duct tape.
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