Hilly blogs again!

Guest editor: Hilary Hodge

2nd /3rd January 2012 – Trip to Rotorua and flight to Christchurch

Rotorua
Roger and Ross called for us at 9.30am to drive us to Rotorua - about 3 hours journey through delightful countryside – well it would have been if we had been able to see it all – still overcast and drizzly in Napier. However, after about an hours driving the weather brightened up and the sunshine so long promised materialised. Roger acted as tour guide and stopped to show me the geothermal bubbling mud pools – an amazing sight. We were then dropped off to experience the spa waters – several pools with water at different degrees of warmth which you can relax in – very pleasant.
On the return journey we stopped to admire stunning waterfalls and Lake Tapau. By this point the effect of the sun had achieved what it always does – prickly heat causing my skin to become red, inflamed and swollen. I was desperate to cool down so said I wanted to swim in the lake – a suggestion met with utter horror by Roger and Ross but with longsuffering tolerance by Luke. It will be freezing I was warned but coolness was what I longed for. Poor Luke felt he couldn’t let his old Mum go in alone so he valiantly plunged in with me – it was utter bliss! (just in case you are wondering we did change into our swimming costumes first). A gin and tonic was my next requirement on our return despite Luke reminding me that we had said it was to be an evening without alcohol. We gave in (reluctantly of course) and added some local red wine to the event, sat on the veranda after dinner and put the world to rights – very enjoyable.
Christchurch
The time had come to set off for our trip to the South Island. Luke and I went into Napier to get a few last items we needed but it turned into yet another shopping trip for me (Sarah and Elspeth don’t faint). My swimming costume had split yesterday so I had to get a new one - but it finished up with me also buying the swimming shorts and top that is worn here to give some protection from the sun – so I will have to have another trip somewhere hot to make this purchase worthwhile! Roger picked us up at 1pm and took us to Napier airport where we caught a flight to Christchurch – which was also overcast when we arrived with everyone saying it has been lovely and sunny until now! Against my better judgement we are spending 24 hours in Christchurch despite the fact that they have had earthquakes on each of the previous two nights – ah well I suppose you have to live dangerously sometimes – James says he wants to experience one – not a view I share having done so many years ago in Italy. Anyway we are now off to an Italian restaurant for dinner.