Day 54: A Day with the Hapi Family

Sunday, January 22

I woke up to dark, rainy, windy weather, and managed to sleep in a bit, which was wonderful. So far I couldn't have been happier that I wasn't in a hut in Tongariro. After eating some breakfast and drinking some coffee I put my clothes in the washing machine and used Gail's computer.

There was a job I wanted to apply for so the computer made everything so easy. When you're backpacking you get really used to trying to do everything on your phone, which isn't always the most convenient. By the time I finished the application, hung my laundry to dry, and ate some lunch the weather still hadn't improved much. Every once in awhile it seemed to clear for a few minutes, but the cold temperature, wind and rain quickly returned.

Everyone who lives here seems to be saying it has been a really rainy and cold summer. It has actually rained much less than I was expecting, so if the weather gets as good as Kiwis are used to it's going to be amazing!

Carol made some delicious homemade bread and gave me a few warm pieces with a yummy spread. Jams are so much better in New Zealand than they are back home.

After that great snack I laid on the bed a bit to get caught up on writing blogs but the rain lulled me to sleep. That has to be the first nap I've taken since I napped on 90-Mile beach to walk through the night.

Carol made a delicious dinner again and we all watched some Australian TV shows. First was The Block, a show where teams of two compete to remodel and design apartments in an old building. Each team has an apartment in the same building and they all remodel the same bedroom or living area in their designated apartments at the same time. There's awards for winning a room, but the real way to win is to have your apartment auction for the most money at the end of the show.

Then we watched 800 Words, a drama about a columnist and dad (his column each week is 800 words) who lives in a beach town with his kids. While we were watching it, Carol gave Junior and I ice cream cones with great lemon cheesecake ice cream. After that I was ready for bed. Gale and I were leaving early tomorrow to drop her horses off at her friend's house and go to see her sister Jo at the Mount.