Before getting into sharing about the road to Taupo I've got one more story from Rotorua.
I think I've mentioned previously that for around 10 years Beth has been my barber. She does a great job keeping me looking suave and debonair. For this trip we brought clippers and I've had haircuts all along the way.
So last night I noticed it was time for a trim and we set up shop. When she turned the clippers on they made a really loud noise but were working so she commenced to trimming. About 30 seconds in she said "they're smoking"! Thankfully she was referring to the clippers and not the few hairs I have left! Part of my hair is cut, part is uncut and the clippers are smoking!
We turned them off, unplugged them and let the smoke clear. Still needing to finish the haircut she'd trim quickly for about 30 seconds and we'd repeat the unplug and wait process. Every time we'd plug it back in the smoke would come quicker and the handle would get hotter.
After about 5-6 times repeating the process of plug in, turn on, unplug, clear smoke I was semi-suave and debonair looking which was good enough for us.
We left Rotorua this morning with a little lighter load and some hot clippers in the rear view mirror.
Hottest and fastest haircut I've ever had!
The drive from Rotorua to Taupo was a pretty simple hours drive. It was through some typically fantastic countryside which is actually where scenes from the Lord of the Rings movies were filmed. The drive today was made even more spectacular because we were still in the geothermal area. Smoke was rising from the meadows and trees all along the drive.
As usual we turned the drive into an experience stopping at the Waikite Valley Thermal Pools for a multi hour soak.
I think after today we have a new favorite. These pools were located in a lush green valley. Cows were mooing on one side of the pools and sheep were baying away on the other side.
In between the livestock choirs 42,000 gallons an hour of boiling hot water was rushing to the surface. The water was cooled to a manageable temperature of 100-105 degrees and pumped into five different hot pools.
Like at the Polynesian Spa earlier in the week it was cool, rainy and misty. The rain and mist combined with the steam
off the water and made the whole place look like a scene right out of the Lord of the Rings. Instead of Gandalf, Frodo or Bilbo making an appearance we were surprised by a weather element suddenly showing up.....HAIL!
Now this wasn't the softball size, come through the roof and knock you unconscious type of hail we'd get in Texas. This was the pea size stuff that only stung slightly when it would hit you type of hail.
We weren't going to be run out of the water by this stuff which actually provided a little bit of a massage. I looked over at Beth one time and she was kicking back with little tidbits of ice in her hair as happy as she could be. As for me, I loved it but it wasn't sticking in my hair...I had a haircut the night before!!
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| Boiling Water coming out of the ground-let it cool a bit and you have a perfect hot tub! |
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| Thermal River! |
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| Before the Hail Storm! |
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| Looks like a scene from Lord of the Rings! |
