Author: Alan Cole

Christmas Day – 1 month Early 1

Christmas Day – 1 month Early

Having been to New Zealand this year we are having to have a less extravagant Christmas than usual in order to save some money. No big four bird roast for us this year, not even a big goose or  turkey instead we were planning to have a £10 3 bird roast from Iceland! Whilst in...

Finished 0

Post Race Season Plans

My last triathlon, which I did about a month ago was the big climax to the year. It was the World Championships in Auckland that I had been working towards all year. It had been a long year of racing and training and when I crossed the finish line ‘finished’ was the operative word –...

Home Grown Pumpkin 2

Mmmmm, Coffee and Cake!

I was going to write a round-up of our trip to New Zealand, what we liked best, some of the best photos what we thought of the country and the differences and similarities between New Zealand and the UK, but I’ll save that for another day. Instead, a post about cake! One of my favourite things about...

Lake view 1

Trees, Gardens and Jetlag – New Zealand Day 22

Well, the day had finally come, our last day in New Zealand – Boo! It was an early start with breakfast in the camper. Well actually it was a double breakfast for me as I had one before the others got up and then another one once they were awake. We then took the camper...

Our Route, Day 21 0

The Firth of Thames and Orere Point – New Zealand Day 21

With our holiday coming towards its end, we had a late(ish) start to the day with breakfast in the camper van at Opal Springs Campsite before driving to Matamata for a Countdown supermarket to buy some final supplies and presents for everyone. Whittakers chocolate, Cookie Time Cookies and Pineapple lumps all round – Mmm Mmm!...

Ready to Go 0

Bike The Lake, Rotorua – New Zealand Day 20

We had an early start on the campsite today, getting up before dawn so as to get to Rotorua in time for the Bike the Lake race. Once in Rotorua I had to get ready, add race numbers and timing chips to my helmet and bike, sort out drinks etc and congregate for the start....

On the shore of Lake Rotorua 0

Canopy Tours, Zip Wires and Kayaks – New Zealand Day 19

We woke up a bit later than usual today, had breakfast in the camper and then had our final soak in the pools at the Waikite Thermal Valley complex before heading ever onwards on our road trip around New Zealands North Island. Rotorua and Canopy Tours We drove into Rotorua again, this time to do...

Puriri Moth 0

Rotorua and Hot Pools Again – New Zealand Day 18

Seeing as we enjoyed the hot pools and the campsite at Waikite Valley so much and we were a day or two ahead of our itinerary anyway thanks to the mad drive from Paihia to Whitianga last week, we decided to spend another night at the Waikite Campsite. Not only would that mean we didn’t...

Thermal Pool 0

Taupo, Geothermal Rocks and Hot Pools – New Zealand Day 17

After spending the night in the car park of my parents holiday apartment in Taupo we had a leisurely breakfast with them and then set off to be tourists in the town. We wandered along the lake-front and then around the various souvenir shops where we bought ourselves some nice hand-crafted coasters made from native...

Steaming Landscape 1

Craters, Coffee, Cakes and Cruising – New Zealand Day 16

Wednesday started as most days in the camper had with a big breakfast, we then packed up, didn’t really make use of any of the facilities at the campsite and headed off to my parents apartment for coffee and a day out with them. The day before we had left the camper on the road...