Archive for ‘Roaming’

Posts about our travels…

Khotso Horse Trails Campsite

While we were waiting for the Taniwha, we did a little road trip. We went to a place near Underberg called Khotso Horse Trails Campsite. On the drive there were lots of pot holes in the road, Daddy had to swerve them or he said we could break the hire car’s axle. Then it started to rain, that filled the pot holes up and made them difficult to see. It rained ‘rhinos and hippos’ and there was hail too. The hail was so hard we thought it might dent the car!

It stopped raining when we got to the campsite. We slept in our new tent and it was a bit strange to be so low to the ground. At night there was a big storm and there were lots of lightening flashes.  There were also lots of frogs, some were really big!

IMG_7507

The next day me, Vivi and Mummy went horse riding. My horse was called Baby Socks and Vivi’s was called Tess. Mummy had to lift me on my horse because I was too short. My horse was brown, with a black mane. I had to put my feet in the stirrups and hold the reins tight. To make your horse go you had to make a click click noise with your mouth. The horses were very good at following each other. We went up a big hill, and had to lean forward. It was a bit scary. Then we went through some fields and saw antelope in the distance.  When we came back some of the horses rolled in the dry dusty mud. There was a foal too.  It was very fun and I would like to do it again!

We went for a walk along the river. We were looking for the ‘Blues Pool’ but we walked too far and didn’t find it till we were on the way back. It was smaller than we expected. The walk was bad because I got scratched by some wild raspberry thorns.

The campsite had two border collies and a three legged dog called Boris. My favourite was the cat called Pebbles. But Vivi liked to throw sticks for Boris.

New Zealand

It was a 29 hour flight to get to New Zealand. We stopped in Singapore and saw butterflies in the butterfly garden. Then we had a quick stop in Brisbane. Finally we landed in Christchurch. Grandma and Grandpa picked us up. We were really tired.

In Christchurch we went to a cool cafe where the food came from the kitchen to your table through pipes on the ceiling. When it was close a bell would ding. Then you opened the pipe and took out a cylinder, and in the cylinder was your food.  I had mini hotdogs and chips – but the chips were curly! Your food had your name on it, so you knew it was yours!

We also saw our cousins, Clementine and Molly. We had a BBQ at their house, and played with lots of lego. We also went swimming at Corsair Bay. Clementine jumped off a jetty into the water. It was awesome, but I would be too scared. Molly collected lots of shells and crabs and sea snails. Clementine and I made a little bath tub on the beach and the sun warmed up the water.

cousins1

We stayed two nights with our friend Nigel.  We got to collect the chicken eggs. He lives on a deer farm.

We left Christchurch and drove to St. Arnaud along the Rainbow Road.  It was very dusty and bumpy.  Daddy went fishing in Lake Tennyson. Vivi and I played in the water.

One day we all tramped around Lake Rotoiti and stayed the night at a place called Coldwater Hut. We saw lots of birds, such as fantails, tui and bellbirds.  We also saw a bush robin. There were eels under the jetty. The walk was nice but Vivi got stung by a bumblebee on her ankle. Then I got stung on my shoulder by a wasp. It hurt a lot. We had yummy nachos for dinner. The next day we walked out the other side of the lake.

In St. Arnaud, Aunty Cat came to visit. It was so hot we went swimming in the lake. We found some rocks which were painted. They were painted white and had a coulour written on them in English and in Maori. Aunty Cat had some special pens so we got some new rocks and painted them too.  Then we hid them on a little track.

Grandma and Grandpa took us to a beach near Nelson. The beach was beautiful. It had completely yellow sand and the sea was turquoise. There were lots of shells and Grandpa helped me make a collection.  Some of the shells were curled like unicorn horns, and some were blue mussel shells. We even found live crabs. We went swimming and I hung on everyone like a limpet.

Daddy took me fishing at a salmon pond, and I caught a fish. It was delicious!

We went back to Christchurch and stayed with lots of different people. We stayed with our friend, Karla. She had a really nice massaging chair that squished your feet and a bump that went up and down your back.

karla

Then we drove to Invercargill to stay with Granny. We went swimming at Splash Palace. We saw tuatara’s, that are like lizards. We found some more painted rocks in Queen’s Park. We also painted more rocks and hid them.

Our other cousins, Arleigha and Caylee came to visit and we played with the Sylvanian Families. It was a lot of fun. My favourite Sylvanian house is the windmill. Aunty Cat and Uncle Stephen were there too. Aunty Cat did park run with me and Vivi. It was very wet.

New Zealand was amazing, it is really pretty.  The best bit was playing with all our cousins.  Our next adventure will be when we are in Africa!

 

 

Belgium

*** Delayed posting 10-12/1/19 ***

*** If viewing on Facebook then click on the link to see more photos ***

We spent a night in Luxembourg and it was a bit cold. But we walked around the centre and had McDonalds for dinner!

img_7110

Then we went to Belgium. First we went to a World War 1 and World War 2 museum in Mons. We saw lots of interesting things from the wars.  We saw lots of uniforms and there were some trench boots. We also saw a victoria cross, which is the highest military award for bravery. Daddy liked the jeep!

After that we went to Waterloo. This was a battle fought between the English and the French. The English were led by Duke of Wellington, and wore red. The French were led by Napoleon, and wore blue.  The museum was really good. There was a 4D movie where we were part of the battle. The ground shook when the horses were running towards us! It was a bit scary. Then we climbed up a hill that had a statue of a lion at the top. We could see where the whole battle was.  There was even a skeleton that was found on the battlefield and you could see the bullet that shot him!

After that we went to Jim’s house. We had fun playing with his boys, and I read them stories. Mummy, Daddy and Jim went to the Stella brewery. Mummy said it was amazing!! Then we drove back to the Eurotunnel and England.

11

img_7194

Versailles

***If viewing on Facebook, click on the link to see more pictures***

Today we went to Versailles. I had a delicious pain au chocolate for breakfast.

At Versailles, we looked around the palace and then went to the gardens.  In the palace we saw a movie about how it has changed over time. We saw the state apartments and lots and lots of pictures and statues.  There was a hall of mirrors, with lots of chandeliers. Daddy liked the gallery of battles with pictures of all the battles that France has won. I learnt about King Louis XIV, who was called the sun king.  He moved his whole court to the palace. so there were 10,000 people there. I even saw his bedroom. Then there was a revolution and a lot of people had their heads chopped off.  Then there was an emperor called Napoleon, and his wife Josephine.

We had lunch in the gardens and chased all the crows. There were lots of fountains but they weren’t working because it was winter. I liked the topiary trees that were shaped like snowmen!

We saw the Trianon Palace, which was their summer house. There was a Grand Trianon and a Petite Trianon.  Every room was a different colour. I liked the library best.

We really liked walking round the Queen’s hamlet which had farm buildings.

At the end we visited the coach gallery and saw coaches and pretend horses that were used in processions and funerals. There were TV screens that let you look inside the carriage.  My favourite was the gold one with grey horses. It was used by Napoleon.  Even the children had coaches pulled by goats or sheep. There were also sleds that they used in winter.

We walked 27,000 steps today, so now I am tired.