And Relaaaaaaaaaaaaax
Trip Start
Dec 06, 2006
1
40
188
Trip End
Ongoing
Hanmer Springs, New Zealand
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
I forgot to mention that yesterday I went to have a look at Port Robinson, just a bit down the coast from Gore Bay. I didn't wander too far down as it didn't look very interesting so wandered back up to my car. The gate was a bit of a faff to open and close so I thought I'd just jump over but caught my trousers and ripped a hole in my crotch. A messy one so it wasn't going to be possible to just stitch. So I cut a patch from a pointless pocket on the side of my right knee (perhaps this was the point of the pocket) and used it to cover the back of the rip and stitched a bit of the rip so it wouldn't get too much worse
001 rolling hills on the long and winding road
. Maybe I'll start a fashion trend.I decided to head around to Hanmer Springs a little bit ahead of the schedule I'd planned because there's not a lot to Kaikoura.
There's not a lot to Hanmer Springs either as it goes, but as the name suggests there are some hot springs there. Unfortunately it was drizzling so I just moped about a bit. I took a walk up to Conical Hill and wandered back through the forest. Not the most exciting of days but I thought I'd take a chance on the weather clearing up so stuck about for the night.
The next day the sun put his hat on and so I made myself a tasty packed lunch. It was time....
I unleashed the Speedos.
Hamner Springs is a cracking day and well worth the 12 dollar bills. They've a selection of pools of different temperatures and types. My favourite was the rock pool which, as well as containing a lot of healthy minerals, was a nice temperature of 35 degrees
002 Modern art???
. The sulphur ones were a bit on the toasty side being either 40 or 41. Of course, the advantage of the sulphur pools is that you can slip out an eggy one and no one would know. There was also a 25m pool, coming in at a freezing 28 degrees, which meant I could do a few lengths and get some exercise in before heading back to the comfort of the warmer pools.I spent about 4.5 hours there lazing about, and although I didn't realise at the time, I think I've managed to give myself a particularly interesting tan as I've a blotchy red belly. I only put sun cream on my shoulders and the top half of my body as I figured the rest would be far enough under water. It seems I then spent a little bit too long lazing on a rock which raised my belly close enough to burn. It also seems that my left shoulder must have been out of the water. Excellent, I like a good even tan: one shoulder and my belly to add to my classic t-shirt tan of my forearms and the bottom half of my legs, perfect. I wouldn't be surprised if tanning salons pick up on this beauty.
