More Hot Water

To Motutere and Taupo, New Zealand -- March 11-12

With cloudy skies and the forecast once again calling for rain, we chose our activities accordingly. Yesterday, we decided on a Trout farm at the National Trout Center in Tongariro, particularly after the woman at the bakery recommended it.  Unfortunately, with our expectations set by our experience at the prawn park, we actually thought we'd be able to fish. When we got there, the attendant explained that you need to reserve days in advance, have a fishing license, pay a sizable fee, etc., etc. As we were regrouping and figuring out our next move, we inadvertently walked to the end of the lobby, which was apparently part of the small attached museum that we hadn't paid for. He scolded us and then demanded to know who had told us we could come there to fish.  Surprisingly, we have run into quite a few of these surly folks during our couple weeks here on the North Island.  Hmm, maybe not enough sun….

Despite not being able to fish, we stopped by one of the holding ponds purportedly containing 4000 rainbow trout. Trout, like so many of the other animals in this country, were introduced in the 1800's and the brown and rainbows have flourished given the abundance of rock strewn rivers and, most importantly, crystal clear water. Unlike most of the other introduced animals, they seem not to have had any detrimental effect to the native wildlife.

Yesterday, as a treat, Meg decided to buy all five of the kids rigid foam, Star Wars light sabers. In general, the kids have had a great time running around playing a modified game of tag, until ... Dex "accidentally" hit Kylie in the face. She proceeded to pummel him with her's so hard she hurt her hand. Fortunately these major escalations are fairly rare, but there were some grumpy faces for quite a while.

After the Trout Center and again today, because of the weather, we took advantage of the local hot spring, of which there is no shortage in these parts.  Yesterday was the Takaanu Thermal Pools. Unlike the do-it-yourself “pools" at Hot Water Beach, this was a swimming pool with 100F water and was almost deserted when we arrived. An hour later, it was just like a big bath tub … only with forty of your closest friends.

This morning we debated two rain compatible activities, theTaupo museum, which had excellent online reviews, and a nearby spa with hot pools and water slides. (Guess which one we did?)  The rain never really materialized, though if it had, we figured getting wet was of little concern when sitting in scalding hot mineral water or rocketing down a waterslide. All in all, it was a good day. When not cooking in the large 106F (41C) pools or playing on one of the three large slides, we were in one of the smaller, cooler pools playing a low key game of tag.

The Pfyffer clan has really become like family and we’ve gotten use to our long slow days. Even when we know what the plan is, it seems to take forever to get all nine of us headed in the same direction. As soon as the last one or two are rounded up and ready to go, the first few have wandered off to find something better to do.

Generally, when we're in camp, the kids are happy to run around on the playground, or if there’s a playroom or TV room, occupy themselves with other activities. This gives the adults a chance to try another bottle of wine or some local beers. The Pfyffer’s have been getting a workout with their English. It is really impressive how well Louis, Arno, and Matilde can speak. For more complicated stories or jokes, Anne will quickly translate. Matilde has taken it upon herself to teach me colors and numbers in French. She’s very patient but sometimes gets frustrated with my poor pronunciation, exaggerating the sounds for this inept American.

To help celebrate our last night together, as we forced them into another round of Hearts, Anne pulled out two of the fifty Ovalmatine chocolate bars they had received from Swiss friends a couple months ago. They’ve promised to take us to a chocolate factory near their home in Switzerland and treat us to all the other favorite Swiss activities, most of which, curiously, seem to revolve around food!  The chocolate factory tour finishes off with an “all you can eat”tasting. Ahh, I can hardly wait!