March Caravan Trip - Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st.

Robin came to the caravan for breakfast and then we packed up and left Hamilton for Taupo. We liked the look of the cafes in Tirau and in the end chose the "Loose Goose" but it was absolutely abysmal! So we didn't stop again until we got to the Taupo Top 10 Motorcamp and had lunch about 2 after we had set up.

This camping ground is just over $50 per night, but it does have a fantastic swimming pool complex and free showers.  We had a rest and restocked the fridge and headed for the pools. When we were suitably prune-like we went back and cooked butter chicken for tea. Duncan won the scrabble.

Duncan in the pool with the bar on the right

Lots of waterfalls and spa areas

The pale grey area is a cave - very deep.

Heaps of sunloungers by the bar

My first panoramic picture! Nice not to be the fattest one in the pool.

Quite cold overnight (had to get up and put a rug on) but brilliantly next day. Duncan went for a run and my task was to change the sheets! We went for a walk along the waterfront with the mountains - with a little snow - clearly visible in the background

Past the Wave sculpture - there was a para-sailor just above it (small orange blob)

 We watched a few people try the Hole in One challenge into the lake (No, Duncan wasn't tempted this time) We drove to Kinloch where the Jack Nicholas golf course did not impress Duncan - but the size of Kinloch did and some of the houses were very flash.
Back to Taupo for lunch - Duncan had a Lakeman Pale Ale. After looking at this photo he went for a haircut. After a short nap we went to the pool complex again.

 To night we decided to cook a leg of lamb on the Baby Weber BBQ which we have bought for the caravan. It turned out beautifully but the larger potatoes could have done with a bit longer. Sadly my enjoyment of this meal was short lived as my hernia was playing up and by about 9.30 we were heading to A and E in Taupo. The doctor, Dan Fox, was American but superbly calm and controlled and got it back quickly and I immediately felt much better. I don't know why they torture people to make them talk - when I'm in pain I just cant string a sentence together!