Return from Sydney

Well we have made it back to NooZilland from the big S . We arrived OK but are recovering from our stinkers of colds we picked upbefore we left

This blog starts a while ago

R was hurriedly taken on to fill the gap in the "Determinators" which was a team of 4 who wanted to take on the Oxfam 100km chauPenny's know how and support. R had resisted taking any part in the thing this year but when one team member was forced to drop out, had a go. Apr 4 was an abolutely lovely day. We started in the dark at Taupo central at 06:00Note all the lovely smiles!

At first we encountered fog as we walked alongside the Waikato River

finally clearing as we walked across a thermal area. notice still smiling!

Through bush

and some fantastic lake views. Yes this is the lake.

And this is Mt Tahara

The supoport crew worked hard during the fuel stops. Penny's fluoro top was useful later!

Gradually the walk got harder

And harderInevitably, just past halfway it got dark, and chilly.

but after trials and tribulations, and lots of walking, after 24 hrs and a minute or so The end of the trail!

Get my stripey tights, havent had to wear them before!!but after a quick sleep and an hour in the hot pools everyone was back to normal!!

home we went and after a couple of days We were winging our way to Sydney!

It was time to relax with a book

perhaps a light sabre fight or two

In town to see the Starwars expo at the Powerhouse museum,

remember this?after this we had a quick lego race

And then a bit of hard construction work

There was soccer training to do

And new Gear (The Bears) to wear

Of course it wasn't all work. we went wine (and food) tasting in the Hunter Valley

Yummy!Of course bags got heavy doing this browsing Then it was time to hit the motorway only too soon
And even sooner it seemed it was time for our big tea out on our last evening together

And then the next morning it was off to stay in the City so we could get the early flight tomorrow

We always love Hyde Park

There's my favourite fountain

Didgeridoo players at Circular Quay

The charming "Rocks" district

The Opera house hasn't moved

Neither has the Harbour Bridge
And in the Botanical Gardens the fruit bats still gather in their hundreds

And of course we had to sit on Mrs McQuarrie's Chair


Just for Nicola the Ibises are still in the park, their beaks are just as long!


And as the sun went down on our hotel while we were having our Sauna on the roof, the UFO came to take us back to Auckland

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And as well as Neil and Tabatha coming to pick us up at the Airport, someone else was glad to see us home!

The end