iwannagotonz: Getting Caught up.

Yay! Getting caught up (hence the title) and am now only one week behind in my blogging.

Last week Sue had a wedding to celebrate up in Hanmer Springs. As Phil was working, we two took off on Wednesday afternoon after I had finished with the Wednesday service in Papanui and driven out to Darfield. We went directly to the Anglican Church (Church of the Epiphany).

They rent a room in the parish hall cum what is known as a 'batch'. It comes with shower, kitchen, etc. After the rehearsal, Sue and I got our bathing stuff gathered up and went over to the Hanmer Hot Springs.

The 'Batch"

It was pitch dark by then and very cold--a really damp cold. We both purchased a two day pass and set off to get changed and go into the spa. The average spa temperature seemed to be about 34 degrees, but we moved our way up the temperatures ending up in the 46 degree pool, then cooling down in the 42. We had started out with flip flops, but soon gave up and carried them, as it was quicker to move quickly to the next pool rather than stand around trying to get the sandals on. We had showers, threw on clothes and went out for something to eat before heading back to the batch. Sue makes a killer fire and she did that night; we heated up hot cider and had it as a bedtime drink while watching a couple of "Big Bang Theory" on the computer.

As the batch cum parish hall by the church was already rented out for the Thursday, we moved over to a motel nearby, then grabbed a bite of breakfast en route to our second day of the Hot Springs When I say grab a bite of breakfast, I mean just that. When you have a scone or something, it will cost you about four dollars. A salmon bagel (very good) is about six dollars. If one were to have two eggs, bacon and toast, the price will generally start around fourteen dollars, and coffee is not included in that price.

We started out in a hugh freshwater salted pool that was 28 degrees by doing several laps, just so we felt that we were exercising, thus justifying the morning lounging in the hot pools. There are about 15 pools in the spa, as well as a hugh splash-down site. We thought better of sliding down the big tubes--they are so high up and it was so darn cold. Pitter-pattering between hot pools was the most exposure to the elements that we cared to experience.

The Hanmer Springs Thermal Springs, found about 1859, are low temperature springs produced as a result of the fractured rock bed along the Hanmer Fault. The thermal water originates from rainwater that fell 180 years ago, which seeped down through fractured rock in the Hanmer Mountains to a depth of about two kilometers below the Hanmer plains.

Heat radiating from the Earth's core raises the temperature of the rainwater in the underground reservoir. This heated water then rises to the surface through a series of interconnecting fractures in the greywacke rock.

In the late 1800's a sanitorium was built near the hot springs
Methane gas collected from the springs was initially used for lighting and to heat the baths' waiting room and then in 1898 a gas-holder (Gasometer) capable of holding 1,800 cubic feet of gas was erected near the pools. This enabled the sanatorium to run more economically by using natural gas for heating, lighting and cooking.
The Gasometer has considerable technological value in its size, construction and early date. It is the oldest surviving structure associated with the pools and enquiries to date in New Zealand and Australia indicate that this is a very rare example of a gasometer. There is no other known example of a structure of this small scale or early date.
After an exhausting day at the spa, Sue went on to do her wedding, I was the 'roadie' for it, having the onerous job of pushing the I-Pod four times.

Sue was invited to the dinner--as the tag along I was (thankfully) not.
I took myself out to dinner having lambs liver and bacon and a glass of decent red at a nearby pub. Next day we packed up and went out for another quick breakfast.

Before leaving I hooked for an hour in the room and Sue did some needlepoint--mainly because we had packed the stuff with us. I include this picture for Fran.

Another quick breakfast, and then on to a hike. We took the Conical hill walk. This starts at the northern (top) end of Conical Hill Road. Steep at first, this broad track steadily climbs to the summit of Conical Hill (550m) with its wide views over the Hanmer Basin and encircling mountains. It takes about an hour and a half to complete the walk. and we did it in that time. Although it was about 10:30 when we started the walk it was a bit tricky--the roads and paths are really slippery and it is very difficult to tell.

Sue took a picture of a leaf covered with frost.