Update 3 (07/03)

From Rotoroa, we travelled on to Lake Taupo - this is where I went fishing last week, but it was well worth revisiting. Went to a club called the Holy Cow, where our coach driver - called K2 for some reason, but immediately nicknamed Canine (for obvious reasons) spent the evening buying me scotches - presumably to get me drunk enough to take advantage of my tender innocence. Someone should have told her that a) my innocence perished somewhere in the early 1990's and that b) tipping whisky down my throat is like pi**ing down a well. Besides, I don't think that I could ever be drunk enough to be persuaded to eat forbidden fruit quite that rancid.

The Taranaki Falls

In Taupo they were holding the International Iron Man Triathalon - missed that, but gatecrashed the Volunteers party - free food and beer! From Taupo we travelled south, via the Taranaki Falls - spectacular, was a really good 2hr walk, but I managed to re-tear the calf muscle that I did in last summer - it has progressed from angry red, to Imperial purple, and is now black as the inside of my boots.

Stayed at River Valley Lodge that night, which really was amazing. Middle of nowhere, but it was a very nice hostel. Had a bit of a mare though - splashed out 30 quid on an ensuite double, then got smashed on tequilas to numb the pain of the Blues result (less said about that the better. Death to Robbie Savage!). Went to bed, got up shortly afterwards to go to the toilet, and, instead of turning left and going to my bathroom, I turned right and headed out into the night to go to the public toilet next to the main lodge.

Couldn't find my way back in the darkness (and without glasses/contacts), and just stumbled around, barefoot on gravel, with just a T shirt and a pair of boxers to cover my shame. There I was found by some Samaritan, seminaked and confused, who gave me a pair of trousers (it was absolutely FREEZING) cold - was unable to speak due to teeth chattering) and put me to bed in one of the dorm beds. Horrific evening all in.

Went horseriding the next day - very good, weather was great (at last! It's been raining for about two weeks solid!) and the scenery was breathtaking. Went for a canter, but the fat b**tard horse refused to go any quicker than that. Good nonetheless. Bearing in mind that, the last time that I was on a horse, the girth strap on the damn thing came loose and I ended up underneath the horse with my head bouncing on the floor... just haven't got the build to be a jockey I guess!

<< Update 2     Update 4 >>