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.

So, as what turned out to be a regular theme of our week long road trip. I got to have a thoroughly enjoyable lazy start to the day, while Mhairi (mb) headed off on some hour long run/bike. I did bike once while she ran (up the steep road) and actually quite enjoyed the cycle. But I kinda wished I’d had body armour and a helmet which fitted – as I was way too scared to go at speed down the track.

Anyway, leaving our tent in the company of the pigs…

…headed off climbing. Firstly to The Plateau, where all the easy routes were in use, so off to the other end of the bay, to Sunshine Butress, where we did some really really easy climbs to get me back into leading again. I was quite happy with my leading. I didn’t lead anything harder than a 19 (mostly 18s and 17s)… but still, good going I thought. Totally stunning spot though, and friendly climbers all around the place.

Off up to Palmerston North on Thursday evening. Collected at the airport by my Aunt Mary and cousin Thomas. It’s just great being with family, esp when so far from home. Had the beginnings of a catchup over a game of scrabble (and some Baileys). So it’s actually cluster munitions (not just mines – if they even exist?) that Thomas is campaining against. It’s fascinating listening to the stories of how the UN meetings that he sometimes attends work. How you make a ‘statement’ and an ‘intervention’ and what the differences are. Quite a different world really.

Did manage to loose at scrabble (though not part of Thomas and my ongoing championship as it wasn’t just the two of us). And that was even after cunningly positioning myself between Mary and Thomas in the hope that I could nick all the triple letter squares that Mary would open up.

I’m talking too much about scrabble.

Hmmm, ok, so Friday lunchtime took a bus up from Palmy to Tauronga by Lake Taupo, where I met my (wondefully / terribly? / savagely? impressively?) fit and fun friend Mhairi. I’d been trying to find a climbing guide book to Whanganui Bay for the last week, as it was supposed to be a hard place to find. Even with detailed directions from Daniel (a guy whos website had some info on the bay) we still drove past it first time.

They warn that you need a FWD to get down the road. And for once, they were totally right (they always are, aren’t they). I was *so* glad that
A) Mhairi was driving (more on driving later)
B) It wasn’t my little car attempting to get down the track – it would never have made it.

The bay itself is held in Maori hands, and they look after it well. A totally stunning spot on the western shore of Lake Taupo, very rugged, it’d be perfect in the summer with a little more heat (though we did get 3 sunny days). We found what a lovely camping spot down by the lake, and early enough to bed to get some quality climbing done the next day.

So tomorrow I’m off to the N.Island for just under 2 weeks. Really really looking forward to it. There are two reasons for heading up… one is to see my cousin Thomas

He’s one very amazing guy (he is related after all). After doing 1 year working in Geneva working for the NZ mission for nuclear disarmament (UN stuff), he then did 1 year working in Canada with anti landmine work. He somehow managed to engineer a position co-ordinating anti clustermine work for NGOs around the world (at least that’s my understanding of it all)… and now can work anywhere in the world (currently Cuzco in Peru…). Yeah, kinda puts my work to shame.. It’s funny – mum has a brother and sister.. Thomas is the youngest of my Aunt Mary – and my cousin Catherine is the youngest of Mike (6 months between each of us). Cath is now doing some sort of aids related work in Africa (after doing 1 year in Tanzania), and Thomas is doing the anti clustermine work.. makes you think sometimes.

Anyway, really looking forward to catching up with him, has been far too long.

The other reason is to take in a weeks climbing with my friend Mhairi

– who’s been having lots of fun on the N.Island since she left ChCh back in Dec.. Hopefully get good weather so that we can get some routes done at Whanganui Bay. Should be fun!

So that’s the plan for the next two weeks.. then it’ll be back to work trying to get everything sorted out for leaving in Julyish.. (when hopefully two friends will be visiting – Domhnall and Lorcan..) So I imagine there’ll be an amount of skiing done :) Seriously… can you imagine how hard it is going?!?! to be to leave (if and when)… There’s just far too much fun to be had here.