Napier

We now headed south east to the Hawkes Bay Region on the south east coastand stopped at the main town of Napier. This region is a big wine making region due to it's hot climate and as we arrived we could see why. The day we arrived it was hotter than that in Lake Taupo without a cloud in the sky and as we drove into the town we were surounded for miles by Vineyards. The town is a small and very clean town, the first thing we did was go down to the beach as usual, this time the beach was just made up of stones that hurt your feet and got stuck in your flip flops. also the sea was very rough if not brutal with high waves and a reef right below it, so we decide against the swiming option and instead went with Sonya's choice of Rollerblading along the walkway adjacent to the sea. Yeah great idea Sonya. Not only did i look a pillock in the blades, i looked a bigger pillock when trying to get my feet to work. Eventually i just about mastered it, doing alright when no-one was about, but when passing someone the pressure obviously got to me and most of the time i had all on staying on my feet. Sonya though just rolled off into the sunset like Easy rider. finally we sat down on a bench to rest and like a fool, i let my feet roll under the bench forgetting i had no brakes, i ended up just about braking my nose again as i ended up face down on the concrete much to Son's amusement. Thankfully we headed back and handed the damn things back. In the evening i got my own back, while i was washing the pots, Sonya was talking to me before turning to walk out the patio door, only it was CLOSED and she went with an almighty bang as she walked straight into it, unfortunately for her the kitchen was full of people as was the patio and everyone fell about howling. Some one tried to make her feel better by telling her she wasn't the first.

The following 2 days were bitterly cold, i even had to wear my jeans for the first time in weeks, rain followed and then wind, for a minute i thought i was back in the U.K. so we pretty much hung around the hostel watching the TV and the soaps so Sonya could catch up with Coronation St etc even if they were 2 years behind, she swore she hadn't seen these perticular ones. (yeah right) and we went on the odd drive with Clifton being one destination. At all locations Sonya refused to move from the warmth of the car. So we just sat in the car taking in the scenery.

Lee