A great Christmas day - it's TRUE - children make it. It's not about the presents but proud grandparents watching their seven year old grand daughter without prompting thanking the band at a Christmas eve service. And dressing up for our smiling Canadian grandson who couldn't visit Santa this year due to covid.
Then we left cold and wet Wellington to drive to Rotorua. Good trip up (we did leave very early) in time for a picnic lunch and cycle around the picturesque thermal area before heading to Lake Tikitapu. It started to rain and turn cold and I went for a walk to the music of thunder clouds.
Monday started off sunny and we walked around the lake for the first time. Also managed a bike ride in the Whakawerewa park which turned out be the border of the mountain biking park. After 2 kms up hill (Harry thought close to the gradient of Ngauranga Gorge) and 2 kms down we decided to turn around. Great riding through vast numbers of redwoods. Lunch at Lake Tarawera, soak in the hot pools, bbq tea - what more could we ask for.
Another sunny but coolish morning and we headed for our second walk around the lake. And then onto our bikes in the redwood forest once again.
We all enjoyed the ride though we managed to lose Harry somewhere along a well signed path. Ride through the thermal area took us to the lake for a picnic lunch and coffee. Haz and I then went to Waitangi soda springs. Nice surroundings and lovely warm water but the poo like algae floating around didn't really make it an enjoyable soak. Bbq dinner, chat in the sun and game ends a good day.
More biking, walking and eating and it was time to come home.
