Recovery Day

Wednesday 19 February

The morning after the day/night before… birthday Boxing Day… whatever you call it, it was a quieter recovery day!

After a stunning sunrise I took Nickie & Russ downtown to catch their bus back to Queenstown airport, then popped into see Jeanette & Peter and their terrible Camplify rental van (it was worse than imagined- poor things) to say farewells as they headed off on their travels.

Did a cheeky bit of laundry in the free machines at Abby & Jez’ digs, went for a stroll up to the Monument with Abby while the guys sought out coffee and energy drinks then we went for a bit of a wander along the lakeside, before having lunch in town (pie for the boys, sushi for the girls). Louis and I did not go as far round the lake as the others as there was washing to get back to and a golden retriever taking a dip in the stream to play with!

After lunch the boys went to play virtual golf while Abby & I hit the op shops including the bonkers “Wānaka Wastebusters”. Abby was quite restrained but I came back with a fair bit including some free shorts and black jeans for Louis, a thermos cup for him for takeaway coffees, and a funky T-shirt for me and one for Amy!

After a siesta and some googling for the best F&C in town we hunted down Johnny’s Fish & Chips in a container pop-up in the retail area out by the sports centre. Johnny was from Dunfermline and was a stickler for proper British traditions, serving vinegar with the chips and tartare sauce with the freshly battered and fried fish. It was all absolutely delicious - possibly the best fish & chips EVER which we ate by the lake at The Wānaka Tree as the town basked under a rainbow.