We’ve just finished a week up north with Buddie. The weather was warm, if a bit windy and we managed to get out on the kayak to go fishing.

We have now travelled south and are on the northern edge of Lake Rotorua, and since arriving here it hasn’t stopped raining. Well not so sure about yesterday as we went back to Hamilton for lunch.

Sitting outside at sister Jenny’s it was a warm 23° C and the sun was out. However on our return the closer we got to our house sit the more cloud there was in the sky and the lower the temperature became. So much so that when driving into the front yard the sky was completely grey and the temperature was down to 17° C.

Overnight I was awoken by torrential rain, which started to make me worry. I had recently read up about the lake and how it was formed along with a few other facts. The main one that was swirling around my brain at 2:00 in the morning was the fact that there is no outlets to the lake……With all this rain and all the water now entering the lake, how long will it take the water to reach our house…..

Perhaps I’ll find out when I get up in the morning…

Keeping up with our fitness regime we have arranged for Lynda to come round to us for a walk around Leamington. First of all we had to go and meet a couple regarding a possible house sit. On the way back we saw Lynda on her way to meet us so we stopped and gave her a lift.

We let Lynda lead the way. Three hours later and 11.5 km we were back home. Along the way we walked through the rugby ground and cemetery before going down through an area of bush towards the river.

After the river walk it was a road walk going past the house we had been to earlier regarding a house sit.

Having had a quiet Sunday it is now time to have a busy Saturday.

We are currently house sitting in Leamington which is just over the Waikato river from Cambridge, New Zealand. Back onto health and fitness and looking after a dog the first trip of the day is a walk to the park with the dog.

On our return and after breakfast it is a nice bike ride to Lake Karapiro. Although this is along a road it is a cycle / walking path. The lake was formed by the damming of the Waikato river to enable electricity to be generated.

After returning and having a shower it off out again. This time in the car to Rotorua, well the North side of the lake, to visit a potential house sit. The couple are very nice and the two dogs friendly. After all this travelling it must be time for a drink when we get back.

Another Sunday is here and we have nothing planned.  Today will most likely end up like so many others ending with nothing done. 

Still in bed and Lynda has turned up to take Jean and Bryce to Auckland.

 Jo gets up to say hello and then pops her head around the door and tells me to get cracking as we have 5 minutes to have breakfast and a shower before we leave. Apparently we are going to Auckland to see Precilla the musical.

Not quite 5 minutes, but fairly close to it we are off and on our way.  Lynda will stop part way for a break and will wait for us.

We arrived at the meeting place and I lead the way to the Civic theatre. As we approach all the roads around the theatre are closed. Luckily Jo spots an entrance to the car park. I do a quick u-turn and with a shocked look on her face Lynda follows.

Jo and I rush round to the box office to see if there are any seats available.As usual we are organized(not) and don’t have any tickets. 

Unfortunately the girl at the box office doesn’t know us and gives us a choice of seats. After many umms and ahhs we finally make our choice. It ends up that we couldn’t have made a better selection. 

We end up sitting next to an American couple who arrived at midnight. They are telling their friends that they flew from Washington to Auckland just to see Precilla.

Today we have decided is the day for a longer walk. We have trialed the walk over the last few days and have managed to walk half way before turning back. In due respect we didin’t start the trial walks until the afternoon and we had already done our morning walks.

So it was up at the crack of dawn and on our way. Well I was up at 7:00 to feed the cats and chickens.

Eventually we were ready to leave at 9:00. Jo went to her wallet to get some money, just in case we needed a ride back, only to discover hat she was missing a credit card.

So after cancelling the card we eventually left at 9:30.

The walk is along footpaths travelling roughly along the course of the river Itchen and is part of the Itchen Way a 30 mile walk the length of the river.

The track also forms parts of several other track namely St Swithun’s Way a track from Winchester to Farnham. The Pilgrims Way and the Monach’s Way a 615 track taken by King Charles II after his defeat.

This week-end we are also looking after Jazz. He is having a sleep over with Jeep while his owners are off to Italy for a short break.

Today has been one of the few mornings that the sun has shone and we managed to get up and walk the dogs without getting rained on. As it remained sunny after we had eaten breakfast I decided that we should go for a bike ride.

We left the dogs home alone, well nearly they had Fuji looking after them, and headed off towards the dunes. Part of this ride we have done before, but then we were loaded down with panniers full of clothes, food and camping equipment.

The ride out was easy, up hills a breeze and the down hills going on forever. Then we turned around and hit a head wind which we had to endure all the way back. No wonder the ride out was so easy.

Having seen some of the sites in town we have decided to take a walk in the park this morning. We had been near it yesterday and it seemed to be nice and quiet
Jo, Lynda and I headed off leaving the others to make up their minds
First stop was some large rocks. These have come from the 5 continents wirh it’s partner stone placed in it’s home continent. Special celebration are held on 21st June to unite the world.
While there we heard some music and decided to investigate. After a short detour we came across hords of children. There appears to be a massive race on today and there are thousands of kids running everywhere. So much for a quiet walk.
On the plus side the main route to the Brandenburg Gate has been closed and gives us the chance to walk down the middle of the road and get an impressive view of the victory column.
We eventually find a refreshment area for lunch. After which we find a walk along the canal and the zoo.