We awoke early as usual and enjoyed boiled eggs using the egg carton as improvised egg cups as on previous camper van journeys - works very well.
This morning it is time for the LLW's first ever mountain bike ride which is through the Hanmer Forest and is accessed only 100 metres from our camp site.
We decided to do the ride this morning since the forecast is for rain mid afternoon and as we set off there was brilliant sunshine. The ride was excellent but slightly tricky in parts with some real ups and downs and lots of tree roots and tree stumps to negotiate. The Douglas Firs all around us are magnificent and it was a lovely ride.
Close to the finish the LLW stormed past me with an acceleration of which Laura Kenny would be proud, and triumphed by a margin of several seconds. As you can see she was pretty pleased with herself!
Safely back at base camp, we decided that the thermal baths were next on the agenda and we walked up the 200 metres or so up the hill to the resort. This is a real money spinner for Hanmer Springs and was very busy. We had a choice of numerous pools and slightly different temperatures, some with aqua massage, others for boisterous children and others for just relaxing. We started with a pool of 37C to 40C which was very pleasant but after 10 minutes of so seemed a little too hot. So off to another with temperatures on 35C to 37C which seemed perfect and was indeed very relaxing. One more try for a pool at 35C to 37C but with aqua massage and after just over an hour we were done!
A short walk into town for a few provisions and then we returned to the camper van just ahead of the forecast rain.
We are seeing some extraordinary weather forecasts at present; for example one day is forecast to be 29C maximum during the day and -2C during the night! We have never experienced this huge temperature range before in NZ and this evening there is even the possibility of snow! Hanmer Springs is an alpine resort and is fairly high but that is a bit extreme since we are now in what is effectively NZ's July. The LLW has located the extra blanket just in case it happens.
This morning it is time for the LLW's first ever mountain bike ride which is through the Hanmer Forest and is accessed only 100 metres from our camp site.
We decided to do the ride this morning since the forecast is for rain mid afternoon and as we set off there was brilliant sunshine. The ride was excellent but slightly tricky in parts with some real ups and downs and lots of tree roots and tree stumps to negotiate. The Douglas Firs all around us are magnificent and it was a lovely ride.
Close to the finish the LLW stormed past me with an acceleration of which Laura Kenny would be proud, and triumphed by a margin of several seconds. As you can see she was pretty pleased with herself!
Safely back at base camp, we decided that the thermal baths were next on the agenda and we walked up the 200 metres or so up the hill to the resort. This is a real money spinner for Hanmer Springs and was very busy. We had a choice of numerous pools and slightly different temperatures, some with aqua massage, others for boisterous children and others for just relaxing. We started with a pool of 37C to 40C which was very pleasant but after 10 minutes of so seemed a little too hot. So off to another with temperatures on 35C to 37C which seemed perfect and was indeed very relaxing. One more try for a pool at 35C to 37C but with aqua massage and after just over an hour we were done!
A short walk into town for a few provisions and then we returned to the camper van just ahead of the forecast rain.
We are seeing some extraordinary weather forecasts at present; for example one day is forecast to be 29C maximum during the day and -2C during the night! We have never experienced this huge temperature range before in NZ and this evening there is even the possibility of snow! Hanmer Springs is an alpine resort and is fairly high but that is a bit extreme since we are now in what is effectively NZ's July. The LLW has located the extra blanket just in case it happens.
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