Yesterday was our last full day in Taupo and in spite of very strong winds it couldn't have been nicer.
It was early Sunday morning here but Saturday afternoon back in the US. It's kinda cool to roll out of bed between 6 and 7 and the afternoon slate of football games are already on.
While the Fla/LSU game wasn't on TV (they were showing some Big 10 game) I was able to keep up with it on the internet and through text messaging with my "Gator Boy's".
We have a running thread of texts all season long that would no doubt seem silly to outsiders but is pretty darn special and funny to the seven of us. The friendship with these guys is something I will cherish forever.
There were some very anxious moments but the good guys pulled it out in the end. At one point Beth turned to me and said "you look very stressed out and you're shaking". As usual she was right on both accounts.
So after the game was over we set out to explore the rest of Taupo.
First up was their botanical gardens which had several really nice short walks through magnificent azaleas and rhododendrons. If the Masters golf tournament was played down here it would be that time of year.....spring is in the air.
Next up was something a little unusual but very interesting to watch. The Aratiatia Dam on the Waikato River is opened four times to provide water to the hydroelectric power plant. Watching 21,000 gallons of water per second being released to fill up and flow through a narrow gorge is kind of mind boggling and amusing. The dam is open for about 8-10 minutes creating monster rapids that begin to recede within minutes of closing. If you're a fan of The Hobbit movies there is a scene in The Desolation of Smaug that was filmed here.
There are tons of outdoor "extreme adventures in New Zealand. We love these but only as spectators! We were able to watch a few folks pay $169 each to bungee over the river. Better them than us!
We finished the day with one final thermal walk at the Craters of the Moon. I ran into a little issue while on the walk. Seems my lunch disagreed with me and as you can see from the picture I had some major flatulence! I'm feeling much better now.
Taupo was a great base for four days. We stayed at a very nice 13-15 room motel called The Gables. The owners, Peter and Penny could not have been any nicer. They would greet us or wave goodbye as we would come and go and were very helpful with tips on where to go and what to see. Our last evening there Peter visited with us for about an hour sharing stories about the farm that had been in their family for generations, his kids, technology, sheep shearing (he made big bucks doing this) and of course a little post election discussion!
We left this morning heading for Auckland. Made a short detour to Bridal Veil Falls and then the coastal town of Ragland which has a reputation as a "surfing and hippie town". Neat little place. We had some great fish and chips right on the wharf where the boats come in. Saw a bunch of surfers but only a couple of "hippies". It was only around noon so I guess they were sleeping in.
Tune in next time for fun stories of the never ending cricket match I've been watching for five days, American TV shows down here, finding the hotel, returning the rental car and other Auckland adventures!
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| That was a hot one! |
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| Bridal Veil Falls |
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| The Aratiatia Dam on the Waikato River |
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| Ragland Beach |
