It’s a Small World

Drizzly rain started last night and continued off and on all day. The mountains were hidden behind thick clouds and the fire in the living room felt like a necessity. We had planned to take it easy all morning, but Heath apparently made other plans in the wee morning hours. He woke me with very little ceremony, handed me an energy drink and when my mutterings didn’t cease he said “we’re going to hike Mt. Sunday.” Well in that case, sure I’d get up. If you must get me up early, suggest a hike.

We took off into the mist and after an hour’s drive, some of it on gravel roads with loads of cows on them, we ended at the famed mountains trail head. If you are a Lord of the Rings movie fan, this is where the second film was made. It’s very otherworldly and wild. The huge mountains were obliterated, but you could see waterfalls cascading down some of the closer ones. Mt Sunday itself is less than spectacular, but it’s a nice easy hike with grass and streams and the occasional bridge. Also copious amounts of large rabbits with tails that were not powder puffs.

It intermittently spit on us, and by the time we headed down it started to rain in earnest. We tried to speed but the grass was slippery and we both managed a somewhat messy wipeout. Muddy, happy and thoroughly chilled, we got back to the house in time to quick change and go to Station Coffee with Zach’s for lunch. If I lived near that place, I am afraid I would become a regular. Good food, terrific play area for kids and fun shopping. Win win win.

While the females napped, Zach and Heath ran Sharplin Falls Trek. They came back determined to take us ladies on a fine day and we had no objections. Camille had put supper in the crockpot, and we all headed out for a warm soak in Opoke Thermal Pools, a mile from the house. That’s a pretty cool place, with lots of pools of various depths, a cave you can swim through, a rock to jump off and even a cold plunge that all of us bar Kindi Lou tried. She rather enjoyed bubbling and drinking through the main pools, learning to swim with her pool noodle and generally leaping off ledges and clingy to people with a joyous death grip. The rain kept falling and the steam rose off the pools. It was about 9*C out, so we’re talking pretty chilly. Supper, tea, cookies and visiting rounded out another delightful day in this land.