(written on January 29th from notes taken previously)
I was late getting going today and didn’t… didn’t really do much today.
Veged out a bit this morning, used the bathroom, and headed out.
Seemed like the whole world was there, so many boats in the water (the Waikato River again, though a fair bit less clear and beautiful than it is way back in Taupo).
Obviously, I’d accidentally stumbled upon a major recreation destination in the area.
I drove up to the Hobbiton movie set tours home base, parked, debated buying a ticket again, but ultimately decided against it, thinking that one day I’ll drag my brother back to New Zealand, and we’ll go together.
Snapped some pictures of the hills near Hobbiton (you can’t actually see Hobbiton itself unless you take the tour, as it’s away from the parking area.
Got gas and then headed to a place called Putaruru Blue Spring, a crystal clear spring, beautifully colored with blues and greens. I think the water that comes out has been filtering through the Mamaku Plateau for 50-100 years before it bubbles up and creates this pristine river.
There’s a walkway along the river for many kilometers, so getting in the water, though.
Again, being a Sunday, it was super crowded.
Even still, it was beautiful. 😊
It was a super long walk, and I missed the map at the beginning, so I didn’t know how long it was. Eventually, I learned that it was a track that went from one car park to another, so I went a little ways further than where I was when I learned that, and then headed back.
Looked for a place to stay for the night and headed there, not even realizing until getting there that I was going to the same place as last night.
Once I got there and realized that, I headed over to Moana Roa Reserve, just a handful of kilometers away, parked on a hill overlooking the river (another Freedom Camping place, gratefully), also jam packed with people enjoying water sports on their day off, veged for a bit, and then called it a night, but not before getting a surprise message from the Canadian girls, telling me that they really enjoyed one of my suggestions (Hot ‘N Cold), thus proving, I think, my unfounded fears.
Funny.
Lift the world.
Bring it on.
~ stephen
Lift the World 