Taupo......

Our second day in Taupo dawned promising weather-wise, although there were still some ominous clouds scudding across the sky.....we could even see the mountains we had missed the day before, outlined on the horizon....

Lake Taupo with Mts Ruapehu, Tongariro, & Ngauruhoe on the Horizon

but we were ever hopeful.....there were plenty of patches of blue sky.........and we had lots planned......

Lake Taupo

First port of call for the day was Craters of the Moon, where the Angels got their first real taster of geothermal activity.....

Craters of the Moon, NZ

The glorious earthy colours of sienna, fern, ochre, algae, red oxide, sulphur, and moss are everywhere and anywhere you care to rest your eyes ........

The pathway around the site is very clearly marked by boardwalks, with signs explicitly explaining not to leave the designated paths.........so you don't accidentally stumble into a steaming vent......they are extremely hot and some are very close to the boardwalks......

and if you bent down close to an open vent......and got a moments quietness from the excited exclamations of the Angels.....you could hear the boiling water popping and sizzling in the vent......

Steam never stops rising from boiling, bubbling, blubbing mud pools......bubble, bubble, toil and trouble......

Boiling, Bubbling, Blubbing Mud Pools

there is a constantly faint whiff of rotten eggs caused by ever-present hydrogen sulphide that is found in geothermal areas......where is that smell-o-vision when I need it......

and it was warm.....very warm......it was quite sunny, with just enough cloud cover to provide a welcome respite in this sun trap......thankfully we were visiting in the morning, before the sun beat down with it's full-on fierce force.......but you could definitely feel the warmth rising up from inside the earth.....it would have been a pleasantly warm outing had there been no sun.....although the colours wouldn't have been gloriously jewel-like without the sun to lift and brighten the amazing colour palette .....

Craters of the Moon, NZ

Wow.....what a primordial looking landscape, with a bizarre kind of beauty......and this was just the start......there was more of nature's art to wonder and marvel at later in the day......

-xx-

New Year's Day.....

And so it was that we set off on our road trip up the North Island......heading for our final destination......Auckland.....the weather looked to be on the improve.......the rain had stopped falling.....the clouds were trying to part......letting the sun shine occasional sparkling rays on us......Grandpa had hired a minivan seating 13, so with only 7 of us, we all had plenty of room......despite the back being piled high with all our bags and suitcases...... we only flew out with 4 suitcases.....but we were going back with 5.....packed to the max of our weight allowance.....we had music to listen to.......maps to enlighten the Angels about our journey.......snacks to stave off the munchies.......and sweeties......tons of yummy traditional New Zealand sweeties.....just cos they were yummy.....and to use as the occasional bribe for quiet behaviour when restlessness started to kick in....well, we had to have something up our sleeves heheheh.


Unfortunately the improvement in the weather as we left Wellington was short lived...... somewhere after Sanson it started drizzling......then continued to gain momentum.......by the time we drove through Wairouru......the gateway town to the 3 central mountains....... Ngauruhoe, Tongariro & Ruapehu......it was torrential. The scenery from Wairouru through to Taupo via the Desert Road.........should have been spectaular with the mountains looming up in the distance.......

Ruapehu (left), Ngauruhoe (conical, centre), Tongariro (right)

and the Rangipo Desert........a barren desert-like landscape........through which we were driving.....giving us plenty to marvel at.......

Rangipo Desert, Central North Island, NZ

The Rangipo Desert sits on the North Island Volcanic Plateau, in the centre of the North Island and, despite receiving 1500 - 2500 mm of rainfall per year, it looks like a wild desolate wasteland.......with a raw, stark, harsh beauty all of it's own. Because of a poor soil quality, drying winds and the mass sterilization of seeds during a series of violent eruptions, particularly ignimbrite flows about 20,000 years ago, the vegetation is mainly tussock and snow grasses......while the headwaters of many small streams, which later to turn into large rivers, gouge deep serrated valleys through the unconsolidated ash and pumice rich earth......heavy snowfalls, uncommon in the rest of the island, frequently occurr in winter....and combined with icy, treacherous conditions, the Desert Road......the only sealed road that dissects Rangipo Desert......is often closed in winter. The Lord of the Rings films were shot in New Zealand, and the Black Gate of Mordor scenes were shot in the Rangipo Desert in 2000.....

The Desert Road

But as we drove through the Desert Road with torrential rain falling as vast silvery sheets, we didn't see any images like those above......all the Angels could see was the road a few metres in front of us, and snatched glimpses of the multi-coloured scoured banks that the road slices through, as we drove past at an almost snail's pace......no snow-capped mountains......no windswept tussock plain......no gorged valleys or dark canyons or shadowy slopes.......just rain and road.....it was a huge disappointment to say the least! And to add insult to injury, just a few days later when Grandpa and Grandma G drove through on their way back to Wellington the weather was clear, fine and sunny, with views to be seen for miles around!

It was still raining as we drove around the lake and into Taupo itself around mid-afternoon .....and continued to do so for the remainder of the night......once at the motel where we were going to rest our heads for the night, we unloaded and stretched ourselves...... after travelling for almost six hours......and then promptly took ourselves off to DeBretts Hot Springs.....an outdoor geothermal hot spring complex with naturally fed mineral hot pools, a water slide, water curtains, spa pool.......set in a lush tropical landscape......it can be quite an exotic setting......

DeBretts Thermal Hot Springs on a Glorious Sunny Day

DeBretts Thermal Hot Springs

but as it was overcast, still raining, and the steam was rising from the pools shrouding the complex in a mystical haze, it had an eery, otherworldly feel......it was really very odd sitting in delicious bath-warm water with cool raindrops tingling your face.

While the Angels and I soaked in the healing, mineral rich, muscle relaxing, skin purifying, toxin eliminating, increasing blood circulation waters.......as they are claimed......Grandpa and Grandma G took a little jaunt to find a supermarket and buy ingredients to rustle up a surprise feast for the Angels and I........no small feat in a tiny motel kitchen with barely adequate apparatus and a dodgy hob which became hot.....burning hot.....when the oven was turned on......ouch.....really ouch......it burnt Grandpa's unsuspecting fingers.....all while we relaxed.....again......waiting for our feast to be delivered.......we were so spoilt.....and it was so yummy!

After Little Lad and Little Miss had been settled into bed for the night, Grandpa produced a pile of old photos in the hope of embarrassing the hell out of me.....old photos of years gone by......images of a very much younger me that my Angels had never seen......but in his rush to pack, he hadn't taken the time to check the contents of his pile .......the randomly gathered stack was also littered with plenty of snapshots of a very much younger Grandpa and Grandma G too......in fact, probably more of them than me.....the laugh was therefore well and truly on Dad.....not me......hehehe

Phew......this has been a rather word-heavy post.....but the next couple of days were a veritable photo-fest frenzy, with tons of natural wonders to keep our trigger-happy fingers popping.......

-xx-

NB....none of these photos were taken by me......they were all found on the internet from public information sites

Rain, games & goodbyes.......

Sadly, not all our days were glorious, blue, sunny affairs.....some were downright miserable .....with temperatures the same as the UK were recording in their winter......10 and 13C....it was supposed to be summer......temperatures should have been in the mid twenties......every day .....but some days, the cloud was so low we couldn't see the top of the surrounding hills......

Low Clouds on the Hills of Whitemans Valley

and rain......some days there was more than enough rain to refill all the water tanks that we were fast using up....7 people to wash clothes for, to shower, to use the toilet.....we sure got through the water quickly......most people in NZ live in towns and cities where they are on mains water supply......however, for the minority who choose a more rural life.....they must provide their own water supply.....be that from a bore sunk deep in the ground if they are lucky enough to have an underground spring on their land, a freshwater spring, or from rain collected in vast water tanks......a particularly long and dry summer can be a source of immense concern and difficulty if water supplies run low........but thankfully there was plenty of rain to avert a water crisis for us.......

Looking towards the hills from Big Lad's Room

Most evenings after Little Lad and Little Miss had gone to bed, us big uns had a cuppa, a piece of yummy cake or scrummy cookies and played a game......monopoly, poker, boat races, squatter ......and something so simple, yet so hilarious.....a real good party game.....you start off with an empty open cereal box placed on the floor, and everyone takes a turn to pick the box up using only their mouth.....no hands or feet to be used....and no hands can touch the ground.... then a small strip is carefully ripped off, or cut from all around the top of the box, thus making the box slightly smaller.....everyone takes a turn to pick up the box again.......if you collapse on the floor, or use your hands and/or feet to assist you in any way, you're out ......and so it goes on.....with the box getting a little smaller each time.....the winner obviously being the last one to pick up the smallest bit of box......it didn't take too long for us older ones to realise our limitations and back out gracefully before we either embarrassed ourselves dreadfully or worse, got stuck, or did ourselves a mischief.....but for Big Lad and Big Miss, the game was on.....neither one of them wishing to let the other win ......with both being incredibly flexible.....and being arch rivals......this was going to be a hard won competition......Grandpa, Grandma G and myself could not believe it possible as the box got whittled down to just a flat piece of card......surely they would not be able to get this off the floor with only their mouth.......

Big Miss picking up last piece of flat card

but get it off the floor, they did......both of them......we had to declare it a tie.....well done to both of them.....and strangely, they both used totally different techniques.....Big Miss used a box split technique, as shown above.....while Big Lad used a front lunge technique .....oh to be that flexible again.....hehehe

Big Lad using a front lunge to pick up cereal box

The evenings spent in this fun and gamely fashion were such a joy.....so pleasurable to spend time and enjoy just being together.....we had laughs.....we had competition.......we had tricksters......we had jokes......we had puzzles.....we simply had good old fashioned fun .......and boy, was it brilliant!

With our time in Wellington drawing to a close, I felt the need to squeeze in a very important little outing for myself and my Angels.....a visit to my most wonderful Nana and Pop's grave ....I have such lovely, happy memories of time spent with Nana and Pop during my childhood .....and I just wish my Angels could've met them......well, Big Lad did meet Nana.....but he was only six months old, and she was quite lost in her own little world of dementia......Nana and Pop were both so kind, loving and caring......I would love for my Angels to have just such a relationship with Grandpa and Grandma G as I had with my Nana and Pop.......well they have ......but the distance between our homes does make it incredibly difficult. Anyways, I had not been to their grave, although I had been lucky enough to attend both their funerals.....so on a damp, drizzly day, with the Angels loaded into the car, I drove to the cemetery on Akatarawa Road in search of their grave......once we'd found it, I placed some flowers I'd bought on the way, introduced my Angels, and talked openly to Nana and Pop while the Angels listened......and Little Miss asked lots of questions......it was a sad little space in time.....I was thankful for the rain that was streaming down my face.......mingling perfectly with my tears, hopeful that my Angels wouldn't notice.....but they were not fooled.......they were in fact, quiet and really quite reverent while they listened to my ramblings, holding my hand or putting their arms around me to comfort me......they were just the sweetest things.

I kicked myself when I got home and realised that, in my emotional state......both filled with sadness and bursting with pride.....I had forgotten to take a photo to keep with me, of their grave......I consoled myself by taking a photo of a photo which is hanging on Grandma G's "wall of fame"......a photo of Nana and Pop on their wedding day.......

Nana & Pop

They both look so handsome, don't you think? I took the time to show my Angels this photo ......and a much more recent one before they died.......when we returned from the grave......so they had some idea of who I had been rambling away to.....to help them piece it all together ......I hope it gave them a little understanding.

After the cemetery, I drove the Angels further up the Akatarawa Road......another long and narrow and twisting road.......to show them where I lived during my teenage years...... throughout our time in NZ we had attempted to show my Angels little glimpses of what, and where my life had been before they came into it to share it with me......to hopefully give them little clues to how and why, I am who I am......and the Akatarawas was another little piece of the puzzle......I really hope it has helped my Angels to get to know me better, despite knowing me all their lives.

Then it was time for packing, packing, packing......we weren't leaving NZ just yet.....but it was time to leave Wellington.....I at least, was thankful that the weather was not at it's best......I would have deeply resented spending time packing......and such a lot of packing was to be done.....if the sun had been shining and begging to be enjoyed.

And so it was, that after a couple of weeks we said goodbye to our home from home.....Grandpa and Grandma G's house......

Grandpa & Grandma G's House

and embarked on a real road trip.

We'd all like to say a H U G E thank you to Grandpa and Grandma G for sharing their home with us.....it was S U P E R B ! ! ! .........we all appreciated the effort you made to give each of us our own space......all the rooms and spaces worked brilliantly for us all .......and the little touches......like photos of ourselves in our rooms......to make us smile, feel loved, and feel at home.

-xx-

Caterton......

My very best friend of all times lives in NZ......we've been friends for more years than I care to remember......but her living there......and me living here......does make for a very long distance friendship these days.....we have long phone calls.....reasonably regularly.....and the occasional Skype......but there's nothing as good as being in each other's company...... chatting, cooking, and catching up......so a trip to NZ was never going to be complete without some special time with SA.


So I left Big Lad and Big Miss in the very lovable hands of Grandpa and Grandma G......and took Little Lad and Little Miss on a road trip of sorts over the Rimutakas......a narrow winding road up and over the Rimutaka Ranges......to Caterton, in the Wairarapa where SA lives with her husband B and two children J and K.....they have the most charming piece of land with a cute little cottage sitting in the middle of beautiful gardens they have created themselves, by clearing all the scrubby bush and loads and loads of river stones which they have incorporated into the garden structure......they have retained lots of native trees and bushes and a quite a few gum trees sprinkled through too.....

and they've made several vegetable patches and orchards, which are scattered around, including this delightful cottagey kitchen garden.......

SA's Cottage Kitchen Garden

The day we arrived was quite warm and muggy so J and K couldn't wait to take Little Lad and Little Miss to the water hole.....and then J and Little Lad bogey boarded down the water race......

J and Little Lad Bogey Boarding down the Water Race

Once Little Lad and Little Miss had acclimatised to the quite chilly water and the "wild swimming" adventure, it was a great way to cool down......heaps of fun was had by all participants.

While we were there, we also caught up with my friends from years gone by......R and M, and their children M and K.....we've been out of touch for quite some time now, so it was nice to see them and catch up again.

We all feasted together......all 11 of us......on the most delicious handmade pizzas that SA whipped up while I stood chatting with her......no, I'm not lazy not helping.....her kitchen is very small, and she wouldn't hear of me standing on her toes getting in the way.....so I was content to stand, chit chatting away, sipping on my scrummy cider followed by a delectable glass of bubbles......it was a most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon which slid easily into evening.

The following day the weather forecast threatened rain, but it was still rather warm......the children hadn't had their fill of water play from the day before, and were delighted to be able to get the waterslides out....after some initial re-manoeuvring to find just the right spot.... to get just the perfect slope......for just the best forward momentum.....the four of them were off.......slip sliding away......

Little Lad, Little Miss J & K

Little Lad & Little Miss

Little Lad Slip Sliding Away

Once the excitement of slipping down wet sheets of plastic wore off, the children took themselves and a water sprinkler to the trampoline........and happily bounced themselves silly in and out of the water shower making up all sorts of mysterious games with special rules only they knew......SA and I spent some brief quality time sipping on coffee and chatting......again .....while SA whipped up a couple of Easy Peasy loaves of bread......yum yum.

All too quickly it was sadly time to round up the Angels.....their clothes and things that had been scattered everywhere.....our lovely Christmas presents we had received......and make the return journey over the Rimutakas back to Grandpa's.....it had been the most wonderful thing to have this very precious time with SA......it was so very short......but felt like we'd never been away, separated by 12,000 miles and many years.....may the time come quickly when we can enjoy more happy and comfortable time together in each other's company again.

Before we departed Carterton, we stopped at Harman & Harman.......a most delightful little shop that SA had recently found......she rang the shop in advance to see if they were open...... being a public holiday......and was surprised to be told they were......upon our arrival we were greeted by a young lad.....who had obviously answered the phone......he told us his Mum and Dad......whose shop it was.......had taken themselves and their family to the beach for the day......leaving him at home because there wasn't enough room for him.....poor him.....but he had happily opened the shop just for us, as we were passing and would be returning to the UK .....how nice was that? And what a fabulous little shop it was.......

Harman & Harman

Inside Harman & Harman

Inside Harman & Harman

After a lovely little peruse at all the gorgeous goodies......and a far amount of hmmming and haaaing......a small amount of money changed hands.....and I was the proud new owner of a prettily embossed pink and white heart hanging from a pretty pink ribbon.....

well, I couldn't leave without a little something......for the young lad's troubles, of course.....opening the shop just for us.....so sweet and accommodating.......it now has pride of place hanging above my bed.

Then it was one last stop at Pinehaven Orchards for a most delicious tub of fresh fruit ice-cream made to your very own fresh fruit combination......yummy, yummy, yummy.

And while we were away, Big Lad and Big Miss didn't just sit around twiddling their thumbs .....they went ten-pin bowling and out for an Indian....nice......although it wasn't actually .....the food and service were terrible......at least we had yummy pizzas.....hehehe ......and there were driving lessons to be had in the little truck, the tractor, and the quad bikes...... Big Miss decided the No. 8 wire stock fences were in need of a little rearranging, so took out a little section with the quad bike.....a case of a bit too much power and too tight turning and the fence being just a big closer than she anticipated......not to worry.....Grandpa will fix it.....he likes to keep busy and always needs new jobs to occupy him.....haha.....and then just as it started drizzling, a magic carpet ride was enjoyed......Big Lad zooming round the paddock on the quad bike......Big Miss sitting demurely......or rather clinging on for dear life.......to a piece of sacking.......being dragged along behind .....with just the right amount of drizzled rain droplets to provide the perfect lubricity for a most adventurous riding experience......shame I haven't got any photos of that!

We all had a brill couple of days.....and once again, we'd like to convey our most gracious thanks to all those special people that made it possible.

-xx-

Harbour Cruise & Somes Santuary......

No trip to Wellington would be complete without taking to the water for a cruise around the harbour.....on a gorgeous day there simply is NO better place to be.....we boarded the East by West ferry at Queens Wharf in Wellington's City Centre.........and headed out into the open water of the harbour......Oriental Bay is right in the heart of the City Centre.......it is a delightful little beach....very popular in the summer.......

Oriental Bay, Wellington Harbour

We skirted around the Miramar peninsular.......past Scorching Bay where we went rock pooling with my cousin SL and his children.......

Scorching Bay

heading to Worser Bay (on the right).....the far point of land on the left hand side is Pencarrow Head.....where we cycled to just the day before.....

Pencarrow Head & Worser Bay

before heading back across to Days Bay and finally (for us) onto Somes Island.....seemingly PLONKED, in the middle of Wellington's horseshoe harbour......

Somes Island, Wellington Harbour

Somes Island has been a very important little island in New Zealand's history......in 1860 it was designated for human quarantine purposes, but no facilities were built.....in 1872 the arrival of the England saw sleeping and living quarters hastily constructed after 16 passengers had died onboard due to an outbreak of disease.....any passengers deemed to be fit after six weeks on the island, were able to leave. Over the next 47 years many other vessels had their passengers quarantined on the island due to various diseases like whooping cough, typhoid fever, measles, mumps, influenza, and small pox.....

Somes was recognised as an ideal place to also quarantine animals, and in 1889 was formally designated.....in 1893 the newly formed Ministry of Agriculture set up a stock facility..... this prevented diseases such as foot and mouth, swine fever, rabies, blue tongue, and Q fever being introduced into NZ......

The quarantine station closed in 1995 and has recently been opened to the public as a nature reserve......being rodent free, it is being allowed to revert back to its native flora and fauna....it has some amazing birdlife, and the native tuatara has recently been reintroduced to the island.......as soon as you land on the island, you are debriefed.......and your bags have to been searched for any possible pests.......and even seeds.

After our debriefing and with strict instructions to leave absolutely nothing on the island, we took a gentle stroll up the central hill where we could see the whole of Wellington Harbour.......

Wellington Harbour from Somes Island

From this vantage point, we were able to get a better idea of how far we rode our bikes on the coast road to Pencarrow Head the day before.......all along the base of these hills across the water, from the furthest left all the way to the point......wow......that's a long way for little legs......to the far right of the picture is one of NZ's large inter-island ferries .....although it looks very small in this picture.......

Wellington Harbour from Somes Island

After a wander around the island admiring the spectacular views......and a snack stop......we headed back to the wharf......no, not this old unstable vintage one......

Looking towards Petone & the Hutt Valley

a new modern one just along.....to be collected by the ferry.......

East by West Ferry

and taken back to Queens Wharf in Wellington City Centre......

Queens Wharf, Wellington

Queens Wharf is quite a happenin' place in the City Centre......loads of bars and restaurants to refresh and refuel at......overlooking the harbour......especially on a gloriously sunny day.....but glorious day as it was, we were not tempted to stop on this occasion......we had other plans already booked.......


So zippity-do-day, we zoomed off home for a quick dinner and bathtime/bedtime routines for the Little Lad and Little Miss......and then Grandpa and I zipped off down the road with Big Lad and Big Miss to K and D's for a surprise spot of clay bird shooting in the quickly falling dusk......

Big Lad Clay Bird Shooting - Big Miss Pulling

Wow it's hard......Big Lad, Big Miss and I had never tried this before.......with us all taking turns, and the light fading fast, we only had a taster........so I'm sure we'd like another go sometime.......unfortunately Big Miss didn't manage to hit any of her "birds".......I managed to clip one of mine.......but Big Lad smashed 3 out of 4 "birds".......an absolute superb shot......and it was almost dark for his last one! Thanks K and D for letting us have a go....it was brill!!!

Another fab day all round.....thanks everyone!!!

-xx-

Boxing Day.....

Boxing Day dawned another glorious, sunny day.....but there was no rest for the wicked...... Grandpa's sheep needed to be rounded up......

Grandpa's Sheep

so the lambs could be crutched......that is, their bottoms sheared so they don't get flyblown ......when flies lay eggs on the sheep's dags, and then the maggot infestation eat the sheep's flesh....totally yuk, yuk, yuk......so absolutely essential to crutch the little lambs..... especially in the warm summer weather......isn't farming life just delightful?......

Grandpa Crutching

Once that essential job was done, it was time to pack up a picnic, load up the bikes, and head for the hills......a gently enduring....that is, gentle for the Big Ones, enduring for the Little Ones......bike ride round the coast road to Pencarrow Head was now the order of the day......there was much to take, so everyone had to carry a backpack stuffed full with something for our lunch/dinner on the beach.....and warm clothes in case in got chilly ......Pencarrow Head is one side of the gateway......or one tip of the horseshoe......that creates Wellington Harbour......so is very exposed to winds, especially southerlies.....even Little Miss carried a bumbag while seated on her luxury "tandem" type bike pulled along by Grandpa.......

Grandpa "towing" Little Miss

Grandpa, Grandma G, Little Miss and myself stopped a little short of the lighthouse...... hopeful of being more sheltered slightly back from the exposed tip.....and made camp......while Big Lad, Little Lad, Big Miss, K and D rode the extra way to take some stunning photos......

Pencarrow Head Lighthouse

As it's so exposed, it's understandably quite barren.....

Lighthouse at Pencarrow Head

On Boxing Day, with the sun shining, it was incredibly picturesque.....but don't let that fool you......come a full-on southerly storm.....and this place is very bleak indeed.......in fact, unlike today, back in 1968 the Wahine, an inter-island ferry designed and built specifically for the Union Steamship Company of New Zealand, by Fairfields Ltd Shipbuilders in Glasgow, Scotland foundered on Barrett Reef at the entrance to the harbour, and eventually capsized when two violent storms merged over Wellington, creating a single extratropical cyclone storm that was the worst recorded in New Zealand's history.......Cyclone Giselle was heading south ......it hit Wellington at the same time as another storm which had driven up the West Coast of the South Island from Antarctica...... the winds in Wellington were the strongest ever recorded ......as the storms hit Wellington harbour, the Wahine was making her way past the Cook Strait on the last leg of her overnight journey to Wellington from Lyttleton near Christchurch in the South Island. Of the 610 passengers and 123 crew on board, 53 people died.......making it one of the better known maritime disasters in New Zealand's history.......so, history lesson over......phew, you say......and today, all four Angels are enjoying a spot of beach combing ......marvelling at all the different shells.....

if they were in just the same spot back on 10 April 1968 and looked up from their search, they would have seen the Wahine listing on it's side in the storm.....

Wahine Sinking - 10 April 1968

Thankfully this was not the scene today....a gloriously, warm, tranquil day......just perfect for a little teatime treat on the beach.......the Angels collected some driftwood........ Grandpa made a little campfire......he was very naughty.....he shouldn't have because of the fire risk.....but he WAS very careful......we boiled a pot of fresh sea water to cook some saveloys......pink skinned sausages.....to be enjoyed smothered in tomato sauce and wrapped in blankets of bread......together with some bacon and egg pie, freshly made by Grandma G before we left home.......and all washed down with a welcome cuppa made from water boiled in a Thermette.....storm kettle to the Brits.......yum, yum, yum.......simply the best beach grub going......

Tummies full, the Angels took some time to relax before their long bike ride back to the car ......while the grown-ups cleared everything away back into the backpacks.....they were going to be a little lighter on the way back, now that we'd eaten all the tasty treats.....nothing was left to show we'd been there....leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photos ......is a good motto to live by......

Little Lad Basking in the Sunshine

On a totally cloudless day, it is easy to see the South Island from here.....although despite the light, wispy clouds, you can still just make out hills in the South Island......

Looking towards the South Island

We'd ridden the long and winding road out to the farthest point you can see....

and now we were riding the long and winding gravel coast road home....well, not quite home.....back to the car at least....

It was hard going on the way back.....no southerly today to blow us back to the car.....instead a headwind to hamper and slow our return.....

Grandpa, Little Miss & Grandma G

The Angels managed superbly on their bikes, despite Little Lad coming a cropper in a nose to tail pile up right at the start........gravel and brakes and riding in a bunch take some getting used to......it was a long way there......and even longer back.....but everyone made it......Little Miss didn't even seem tired, having been towed along by Grandpa.....Little Lad, on the other hand was totally knackered, and quite prepared to sleep it off in the boot of the car......

Tuckered Out Little Lad

The housing architecture in NZ is a real mixture.....most homes are stand alone, with large gardens or 'sections' .....because space has never been an issue here.....mostly made of wood, not much brick.....some new modern designs with huge windows of glass....loads of 1930's, 40's, and 50's state.....council.....houses.....mostly bungalow styles with only new modern ones having a second, or maybe third level....... none that are really, really old, as in a few hundred years.....but quite a few Victorian villas and charmingly restored colonial cottages like this cute little one.......

The villas and cottages are my favourites, and I'd seen plenty of beautifully restored examples, but I always seemed to be driving in a car, so never managed to snap a photo......but on our way home from our coastal bike ride we stopped in Petone looking for somewhere to buy an ice cream for dessert......and here, in the middle of the main street.....which is very rare actually......I spotted this charming little cottage.....

Cottage in Jackson Street, Petone

Just along from the cottage is this delightfully renovated police station and jail......

Renovated Police Station & Jail, Petone

and further along still is Te Puna Wai Ora (Spring of Life)......a large granite water feature where anyone can come and collect the free pure artesian drinking water which originates several kilometres up the Hutt River.....the water enters the artesian aquifer (layers of sand, gravel and boulders locked in by clay and silt) and is naturally filtered through the alluvial gravels and sands of the Hutt Valley over several years before reaching Petone and flowing out to sea .....some of the water is drawn into Te Puna Wai Ora.......it is free from micro-organisms and organic substances, and is perfectly safe to drink in its natural form because it has been naturally filtered in its long journey through the aquifer.......and it was just delicious.......

Te Puna Wai Ora (Spring of Life)

Jackson Street....the main street in Petone......has been totally revitalised in recent years, and a special "Walk of Champions" has been laid.....commemorative plaques.....similar in concept to Hollywood Stars Walk of Fame.....have been set into the footpath to acknowledge Petone's sporting heroes......on our stroll looking for ice cream, we came across a very special "Walk of Champions" plaque......for a very special person......Grandpa.....for his participation in the 1968 and 1972 Olympic Games, and the 1978 Commonwealth Games where he competed in cycling.....it was a very proud moment for me and my Angels to see that my Dad had been recognised in this way.

Ice creams were eventually found at Macdonalds...of all places.....actually the only place that was open on Boxing Day evening.....and enjoyed by all......then it was home to bed for the Little Ones......it had been an extremely long and tiring day for them.

It was not however, the end of the day for the Big Ones......Grandpa snuck out with Big Lad on a little jaunt with a .22 rifle......now I know some people do not agree with hunting.....but rabbits, hares and possums cause havoc on NZ farms.......so evening shooting jaunts are quite common place in farming areas......Big Lad had had his first try with a gun......an air rifle......at a target the other day, but it turned out the sights were broken, so there were no bulls eyes achieved......he'd never, ever fired a .22 rifle when he set off with Grandpa ......a hare was spotted in the fading dusk light.....it was tracked as it bounded through the paddock......a shot rang out.....and Big Lad had bagged his hare with his very first shot ......what a crack marksman, or what!!!......and he was soooo very proud of himself.......

Big Lad's Hare

Wow.....this has been a most epic post.....it was a most epic day.....full to the brim with excitement, fun, moments of proudness, and family togetherness......good times!!!

-xx-