Weekend run to Taupo on 6th and 7th June 2009
Several of us met at 8.30am at the BP service center on the southern motorway and chatted for a few minutes before heading south.
We cruised down over the Bombay's and turned towards Thames on highway 2. The roads are much better now since they have done most of the roadworks finally.. Matamata was the first stopping place for a well deserved coffee and cake. I hadn't realised Matamata was "Hobbittsville"
From there we travelled down to Rotorua where we had planned to stop for lunch but as we drove in the cloud covered the sun and the wind howled so after parking around the lake we stepped out of our cars for at least 3 mins before deciding to carry on to Taupo and the hot pools.
As soon as we had checked in at De Bretts we went up to the hotel for a beautiful late lunch. The food was very good. The rest of the afternoon was spent by most of us soaking in the hot pools in the valley behind the hotel. So good, so relaxing.
Time to change and then it was drinks, cheese and crackers in our motel unit until 7pm when we re-entered the hotel again for an amazing evening meal. The food couldn't be faulted at all. By 10pm everyone was starting to wilt so home to bed.
Next morning was freezing. Heated seats were essential. Everyone met along the lake edge for a photo shoot. I was stunned to see a middle aged man strolling out of the lake after a swim not even wearing a wet suit. He strolled over to get his towel and we all froze even more watching him. The wind chill must have taken the temp to minus 2 at least, even though the sun was out. Grahame and Judy were staying on for another night, Michael and Jan headed out to check out the car track, Clive and Julie went to visit friends and Ken, Heather, Christine, Keith, Yvonne and I started on our way home towards Tirau. We met up there with Michael, Jan, Clive and Julie and had a very nice lunch and a wander along the main street looking at all the shops there.
Homeward bound at last and with cars dropping away from Hamilton north it was around 4pm when I finally got home. All in all a lovely relaxing trip with some wonderful company.
Till the next time.
Pauline :)
We cruised down over the Bombay's and turned towards Thames on highway 2. The roads are much better now since they have done most of the roadworks finally.. Matamata was the first stopping place for a well deserved coffee and cake. I hadn't realised Matamata was "Hobbittsville"
From there we travelled down to Rotorua where we had planned to stop for lunch but as we drove in the cloud covered the sun and the wind howled so after parking around the lake we stepped out of our cars for at least 3 mins before deciding to carry on to Taupo and the hot pools.
As soon as we had checked in at De Bretts we went up to the hotel for a beautiful late lunch. The food was very good. The rest of the afternoon was spent by most of us soaking in the hot pools in the valley behind the hotel. So good, so relaxing.
Time to change and then it was drinks, cheese and crackers in our motel unit until 7pm when we re-entered the hotel again for an amazing evening meal. The food couldn't be faulted at all. By 10pm everyone was starting to wilt so home to bed.
Next morning was freezing. Heated seats were essential. Everyone met along the lake edge for a photo shoot. I was stunned to see a middle aged man strolling out of the lake after a swim not even wearing a wet suit. He strolled over to get his towel and we all froze even more watching him. The wind chill must have taken the temp to minus 2 at least, even though the sun was out. Grahame and Judy were staying on for another night, Michael and Jan headed out to check out the car track, Clive and Julie went to visit friends and Ken, Heather, Christine, Keith, Yvonne and I started on our way home towards Tirau. We met up there with Michael, Jan, Clive and Julie and had a very nice lunch and a wander along the main street looking at all the shops there.
Homeward bound at last and with cars dropping away from Hamilton north it was around 4pm when I finally got home. All in all a lovely relaxing trip with some wonderful company.
Till the next time.
Pauline :)