Rain slog south

KIA Ora,
I really wish I could say I had fun today, but it was a wet slog south through the country. I was very sad to drive by waterfalls and nature walks and why? Because the whole north island was enveloped by a cyclonic weather pattern that dropped endless rain. I took frequent breaks, and I was very happy to find that the west side of the island was much more flat so the driving was much easier.  However after seeing the grand beauty of the native rainforest I am saddened to see so much of the country deforested and converted to pastures for cows and sheep. Progress is a terrible thing everywhere it would seem. 
After about 6 hours of driving here I am as exhausted as about 10 in Florida, and I only moved a fraction of the distance with a strict 100kmph max and everybody drives slower, sometimes much slower in the rain.  
Anyway I finally arrived at a camper park in Taumarunui and met six retired couples from Australia on a joint camper van adventure for a month.  It can be nice to be retired! 
After my poor dinner last night and also facing scrutiny that I eat well enough in front of several motherly ladies, I cooked a dinner that was delicious and healthy. A new your strip, some peanut chicken kebabs, a salad of tomato cucumber and tangerine, and a potato and carrots.  Not bad for for traveling in a minivan.
In the north there were more cows than sheep, but in this middle country sheep dominate and are everywhere!  Conveniently most are inside fences but I saw many escaped sheep and cows eating grass alongside the roads. I look at them and wonder if all they do all day long is eat grass.  I also saw goats that may have been wild. I have also seen rabbits and quite a few large red hawks.
Cheers,
Mike