So a fun few days in Palmerston North, hanging out (and loosing the scrabble championship to Thomas.. 2:1.. ahh well) I’ll look forward to visiting him in Peru sometime within the next 2 years (hopefully) (this pic of Thomas and his wife Paula)

Had a delicious family dinner last night – really was excellent food and company… One does look forward to seeing ones family again ;)

Often in Wellington I saw stencils on the pavement.. I did think this one was quite clever though.

Anyway, now back in ChCh, and it is good to be back, though I will miss the N.Island a bit.. but now getting slightly itchy feet (more than usual ;) to travel..

Back Northwards then, via a walk at Cape Kidnappers. We’d not checked it out, so didn’t know getting all the way to the gannet colony was dependent on tides. Mhairi ran most of the way to the end and did see the colony.. I had a good walk, but didn’t try to get all the way.. next time. There were tractors ferrying ppl up and down the beach.. and I’d hoped that one might have taken Mb to the end (as the tide was coming in).. but not that time. I think it was there to rescue another engine which had broken down.

After that, on to the Mahia Peninsula. We were really lucky, as driving along we passed a lovely wooden chalet with an ‘accommodation’ sign up. Luckily they had space, and for $20 pp we had a huge room to ourselves, looking right out over the Pacific. It really was a great place.

Then the next morning, mb discovered the crafts shop, and we got to talking with the owners. Bill is a total craftsman. He’d made the chalets himself. Almost all the fabulous furniture he’d made himself

They had a collection of spoons from all around the world (they’ve lapped it twice)… including one from a wreck sunk just off the peninsula.

This pic..

is of an octopus lure. I forget from which island it came from, but perhaps you can see it looks like a mouse? Well the legend does, that the mouse asked the octopus to ferry it across the water.. and the octopus (being an accommodating chap) said ‘OK’ (in the way that octopus’ can’t), with the idea of eating it midway. However, he got too close to the land, and the mouse jumped off early and ran away (with the octopus snatching at him). And ever since, he has wanted to get the mouse, hence the lure.

And a million other excellent memorabilia.

So after leaving there, time to make our way to Gisbourne, where we played more mini-golf (this time ending on a draw, which was perfect I think) And out for a fabulous meal at ‘The Marina’, a quick stop into Scottys Bar (Mhairis nickname, unfortunately the bar wasn’t quite as cool).

And then a bus back to Palmy at 9am the next day. So a really fun week all in all (ta mb)… wonder where to next!

The next morning, mb again off on her run (about a gazillion miles.. tri-athletes these days.. I don’t know) while I went on a leisurely hour long stroll through Napier, learning what art-deco style really is (a celebration of technology and power really).

I’ll just show 4 of the buildings..

1) As you can see, the daily telegraph buildings, the most ornate one in the city. You can see Ziggurat etc.

2) This building was build a year prior to the quake. At the time the young architect was ridiculed for building something too strong, too expensive. However, when everything within a 1/4 mile was levelled and his was still standing.. one imagines he felt slightly vindicated perhaps?

3) The architects were free to add little touches to their buildings. In this one – the Munster Chambers, there were shamrocks to show the Irish connection

4) And in this one – with a Scottish connection – you can see the Lion rampant, and thistles as ornamentation.

After the tour, I wanted revenge at gaming. However, after taking 17 strokes on a single mini-golf hole, it wasn’t to be. Back to the arcades it was, managed to even the score at car racing (in an admittedly slightly underhand way – I kinda 1/8 mentioned the fact that I’d seen a ‘Press Start button for Turbo’… it’s the little things).. and I think evening up the score at air hockey. I must say though, I think we both enjoyed the co-operative Area-51 (shoot the bad guys) game the most. Funny to play games with someone as competitive (and downright talented ;) as me.. hehhehe, joking joking.. But yes, lots of fun was had.

That night on to Hastings.. a quieter, less art-deco town. I did sing ‘American Pie’ karaoke. I think it’ll be my choice next time if I ever have to do it again. No amount of cocktails would entice mb up onto the stage though. At least, not that time.

So the first half of the week was energetic (for me), and the second half was even more relaxed (but lots of fun). Spent the day in Taupo, played mini golf (quite close, but still managed only an honourable second), went to the Huka Falls – it’s a controlled flow for a hydro dam.

The whole area is hugely thermal too, every 10km for a 60km stretch (ish) There’s either a hydro station, or a geothermal one. Under one of the footbridges there were a bunch of people in togs in the water, with steam all around them. So dabbled toes in. It was really really hot. Way hotter than many of the hot pools I’ve been in on the S.Island. Lovely though.

Then on to Napier (lovely drive from Taupo actually – def. reccommend). Napier is a great place, destroyed in 1931 with a 7.6 and resulting fire, the whole town was rebuilt within 2 years in modern style – Art Deco. That evening headed out for dinner (delicious) and then a film (Hitch. I did enjoy it, even though I was recovering from being hammered at a car racing game.., enjoyable film, but just way too cheesy at the end. Roll on Star Wars episode 3 and the Hitch Hikers Guide to the Galaxy…

Next day more climbing, this time at the Plateau. The rock is quite interesting, different to anything I have climbed on before, lots of interesting pockets, good friction and quite steep. I did have my trad rack with me, but besides the one easy trad route we did, I didn’t lead any more. There’s a beautiful looking 16 (Tibia) that I’d really like to come back and do when I have friends (climbing gear – not friends friends) Or, if and when John Loane gets back here and wants to go on a trip ;)

The pigs again were left in charge of our campsite… only this time they made a runner (if pigs do that) for the inside of our tent… and when we got back found that mb’s camelback had been taken (with the 3 apples inside it). It was slightly more distressing as the car kays were *also* in the bag. After a good 1/2 hours searching, found the bag in a bush covered in mud – sans apples, but with the key. I must say though, pigs are highly intelligent creatures, they left all of my gear intact ;)

Wanted to go for a swim in the evening (I’m getting old and need showers on a more regular basis than once a week on climbing trips!) but after putting my big toe in the water, after which it turned blue and ran away screaming, I thought better of it)

one more days climbing on Monday, before leaving in the evening and going to Taupo. That evening we joined in a table quiz in the local irish bar (they’re everywhere, and usually quite good). Good times, fun climbing, will be back.