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Weekends away
  • Shelley Gilmore
  • Shelley Gilmore

Weekends away

Un’avventura di 179 giorni di Shelley Leggi altro
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  • Inizio del viaggio
    1 agosto 2024
    Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    At last

    1–2 ago 2024, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Finally we have a weekend away. Our last couple of weekends away have felt a bit like work (probably because I was preaching) so no notes were kept. We decided to go to Hamilton and walk around the lake before a nice lunch at the cafe then off to overnight at Lake Ngaroto. This was a new freedom camping spot for us and we are so glad we found it.

    This is the largest peat lake in Waikato and located just 5 mins north west of Te Awamutu. It is a natural wetland and the 5.5km track around the lake was very easy although we did it the next morning in very cold temperatures on a somewhat frosty boardwalk!

    It seems a popular place for dog walkers, boaties, cyclists and campers although plenty of room. We had a nice chat with a homeless guy who normally stays st Karapiro. We were keen to make him dinner or coffee or a blanket but he was very comfortable in his car and not worried about the cold.

    After our walk we decided it was such a beautiful day that we should find a spot to view Ruapehu so off we went to Taupo. We came in to the town from a different angle to normal so missed the lookout and found ourselves in the middle of the main street with hordes of people everywhere and a change in the road layout to last time.

    It didn't take long for me to say, let's get out of here and head back out to the lookout. It seems we had arrived in the middle of a marathon or similar. The lookout was a great place to make our toasted sandwich and enjoy spectacular views.

    Eventually we meandered into the Huka Honey Hive centre and bought the inevitable ice cream sundae - our regular treat from here. We love staying here overnight. $5 that goes to charity, safe and quiet. No other vans and a cosy night waking up to - 2 degrees. I think we are getting our head around the complicated diesel heater and it worked a treat.

    I sneaked a peak out the window and saw the surreal scenery. Very quickly it was, get dressed, get moving, the lake will be awesome! Off we went to the lake to take photos and join the other strong walkers in the freezing cold.

    We had breakfast at Cafe Baku and Tony looked around the market we had conveniently parked outside. A stop off at Huka Falls and another one st Lake Rotorua then two tired but contented people headed home.    Leggi altro

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  • Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    Friendships

    20–25 ago 2024, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 14 °C

    What a fabulous week we've had. Two days work was enough for me. I was so excited to get home to our Aussi visitors. John and Andrea have been our friends for 43 years but left NZ just over 20 years ago.

    Wednesday was spent walking along the boardwalk at the Mount. Lovely way to do 12,000 steps. Brunch at the coffee club and lots of talking!

    Thursday we drove to Rotorua and walked along the lake front. It is so beautiful along there now. A fancy spa has been built if you like mud baths and exercise but at $130 per person according to a local probably not in our budget.

    We had to take our friends to our favourite Rotorua cafe. Ciabatta has the most yummy sandwiches that are big enough to share and cronuts that are too nice to share. After that a walk through the redwoods and back home for more talking.

    Have I mentioned the talking?

    Friday morning time to say goodbye. How wonderful to have friends you can just pick up where you left off, feel so comfortable and enjoy one another's company.

    The afternoon was spent packing the van and heading to Putaruru to our other awesome friends' farm. They have had a tough time recently losing a close friend and having another one in hospital in a coma. It was time for us to just be there for them.

    We had fun visiting the cows and the chickens and feeding the lambs and visiting with my niece and her husband who is our friends son and live on the farm as well. I used to flat with our friend Sandra and now we're sort of related. How precious.

    Sunday I preached at Putaruru Baptist. My sermon was about legacies. I really enjoyed preparing this one. Feel free to listen on the church website. It was so appropriate for the church in light of the loss they had recently had.

    Anyway a very busy week with friends and lots of talking, so much so that we really enjoyed the quiet when we got home. Cant wait for when we can do this full time. Travelling and visiting friends is so much fun. But back to work to earn the money for 'one day'.    Leggi altro

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  • Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    Anniversaries

    7–9 nov 2024, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    7 November was a very auspicious date 43 years ago. What a ride it has been. I really hit the Jackpot. I am so so blessed.

    After work we headed to our honeymoon destination for dinner up the top of the Gondolas. I have never seen Rotorua look so milky. You would have thought there were bush fires somewhere close. No rain, just very 'close'.

    Skyline have really outdone themselves with their buffet. The meat particularly was tender and tasty. Dessert was a bit predictable so I settled for bread and butter pudding and cheese and crackers. Tony made himself an interesting looking Sundae.

    The parking in town was full sadly so we reluctantly went to the NZMCA park in Ngongataha which was very full but you could have heard a pin drop. Tony's shoulder giving him heaps of pain so a bit of a restless night.

    This morning we walked along the beautifully revamped walk by the lake then to our favourite place for early lunch. The sandwiches at Ciabatta are to die for and a couple of cronuts were purchased for later on.

    Our next stop is the Aratiatia rapids, another stop on our honeymoon years ago. We have snuck down the back where no one else is and read, knitted, and played on the iPad, had a beer/cider and chicken salad for dinner. Hopefully a peaceful night.    Leggi altro

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  • Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    Honeymoons?

    8–9 nov 2024, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    It was a peaceful night although we woke up a number of times due to shoulder pain, sound of screeching tyres way in the distance, loo breaks and possum on the roof maybe? After looking at the signage this morning we decided that maybe this wasn’t a freedom camp anymore. All the camping is in the main car park now so this will be the last time we have this idyllic place to ourselves - shame.

    We drove into town and parked up at the top car park where again there used to be freedom parks. Another shame to have that removed however there are many places we can go so shouldn’t moan. We had breakfast at our favourite cafe Baku. French toast for me and Pikelets with banana and bacon for Tony. Not a lot of difference between them. Both delicious. We were walking by the pubs and wondered why they were so busy at this time of the morning only to realise that the Irish were playing the All Blacks. Shame we hadn’t realised that earlier or the pub would have perhaps won out for brekkie.

    Nevertheless we walked along to the 2 mile Bay yacht club where we grabbed a ginger ale and the last ten minutes of the game. We won, yay and had a nice chat to an Italian tourist. A slow walk back and found we did way over our 10,000 steps. Up to the rest area on the way out of Taupō for a snooze and a read before going to the place we must visit each time we come to Taupo- the Honey Hive for a delicious ice cream sundae.

    The forecast was for rain the next day so we decided we would head home so we could go to church and catch up with family. A lovely couple of days to remind ourselves why we love this life.    Leggi altro

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  • Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    71 Years

    24–25 dic 2024, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Last year 70 years since the Tangiwai Disaster happened was commemorated. Tony's grandfather was on the train on his way to visit family whilst his wife was in Europe on an art tour. Walter Murray's body was sadly never found. He was in one of the carriages that went into the river and was swept away.

    We had not known until after the news last year that this event is remembered every Christmas Eve at the time it happened by the local community so we made it our mission to get to it this year. You never know how many tomorrow's you have.

    We left around 9.30am from Tauranga and decided to be spontaneous by having breakfast up the top of the gondolas in Rotorua. It was a great stop especially knowing that our day would end in what we expected to be a moving ceremony.

    We stopped off at Turangi to put some air in our tyres -damn potholes - then again along the desert road for coffee in the van, finally arriving at Tangiwai around 2pm where we had a good look round and then a snooze.

    Around 6.30pm while we were eating a yummy chicken salad a couple of guys arrived and started setting up tripods. We got a bit excited thinking finally they are getting things ready - there had been no sign of anything going down but when Tony finished gulping down his dinner to talk to them they said they were there to film the last train of the night.

    Unfortunately they didn't mention that until a minute beforehand and we had to run up a hill real fast and only just managed to capture it. If you want to see that check out geoffmackley on YouTube. However they were also wrong as two more came by but more on that later

    Finally a couple of guys arrived around 8ish and started setting up. One was Fred the Lions Club President who I had corresponded with and the other an Historian also with the club. They were fabulous to talk to.

    The service itself was lovely. Local iwi welcomed us, a bell was rung and a few incredible stories told. We sung Whakaaria Mai and Silent Night and wreaths were laid at various spots. Names were called out including Tony's grandfather Walter E Murray. Very moving.

    After it finished we waited for 20 minutes for the real final train to arrive. It slowed on the bridge and let out a very long toot. That was the undoing of both of us.

    We had thought we would stay in the carpark for the night but after we got into bed we saw lights and a car stopped at the loos then slowly drove past us obviously looking in.

    We decided to move rather than be a temptation and headed to Waiouru museum where lots of other cans were parked. Very quiet and much safer.

    Up the next day before everyone else to race home for Christmas lunch with Kelly and the boys.

    We will never forget this special occasion.    Leggi altro

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  • Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    I do

    16–19 gen 2025, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C

    This will be my last entry for weekends away - the next trip will be our ‘on the road for good?’ adventure….but more about that later. This trip wasn’t in the motorhome but I thought it deserved a mention. We were off to a wedding which I was officiating and Tony came to keep me coming.

    We flew down to Dunedin ( via Wellington) since Air New Zealand doesn’t think Tauranga deserves a direct flight. It seemed to take all day but the flights were good. Our lunch was very unexciting at Wellington airport which was disappointing- I cannot stomach cold chips. We were surprised how far away from the CBD Dunedin airport is. A good 30 minute drive in the shuttle which I was very glad I booked. Our hotel was brilliant - very central and a bed each. Just a heads up. If there are two double beds in a room, take the one furthest from the bathroom. It will be firmer- just saying 😉. Of course we didn’t work that out till the last night.

    We decided to try Filipino for dinner since the bride had recommended it and she should know. The food was simply divine. A nice 15 minute walk and Futomaki provided excellent service and too much food to fit in dessert.

    Friday we thought we’d go for an early morning walk and find the sea but it turns out I truly am directionally challenged and the sea didn’t really want to be found before deciding I really should buy a more feminine watch to wear at the wedding so headed for the shops. At 10.30 we met up with Myca’s parents who were delightful and headed to the rehearsal. This was at Glenfalloch Gardens and went well. After this the whole wedding entourage and Tony and I went to lunch. This was at the top of a hill and had an amazing view. Back to the Victoria Hotel for a snooze then another walk eventually heading to a burger place near the Octagon. It was quite late but we were surprised how quiet it was for a university town then remembered that this is January!

    Saturday morning we headed to the local markets by the railway station and tasted a few cherries but couldn’t really justify buying anything so walked along the edge of town admiring all the beautiful buildings, back past the Octagon and towards the university finally heading back to the hotel after a nice stop at a cafe. There was a bus 2 minutes from the hotel where the entourage were collected at 2.30pm and dropped back at 11.00pm. The wedding went well although the sound system failed but after checking everyone could hear I managed to project my voice and get these two lovely people married. They had a gelato van making ice cream while the photographer did her thing and there were plenty of friendly people to chat to before we headed inside for dinner. Such yummy food and a lovely atmosphere and I got to sit with the parents and grandparents which felt like a real honour.

    We were collected at 8.30am by the shuttle on Sunday and home in Tauranga via Christchurch by 2.30. What a weekend!    Leggi altro

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  • Shelley GilmoreWeekends awayViaggiatore

    Sweet!

    7 dicembre 2025, Nuova Zelanda ⋅ 🌙 20 °C

    Today we met up with one of our closest friends from Auckland days. Andrea and her husband John shifted to Australia not long after we shifted to Tauranga. We miss them immensely. Andrea and son Mark and his wife Erin and their son Escher were over for their Mum/Nana's 90th birthday.

    We met at the Chelsea Sugar Cafe, an icon of Auckland with lovely views out to the sky tower and a different view of the harbour bridge.

    Sweet treats and lots of chatter and man was it hot. Very thankful for our rechargeable fans but really would like to swim in a lake - not too many of them in Auckland!

    So lovely catching up with dear friends - we are so blest to have them.    Leggi altro

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    Fine del viaggio
    26 gennaio 2025