Easter

Riding the log bridge in Whirinaki Forest

Waterfall near the Whirinaki River

Busy

Not much action on the blog lately. I have just put some stuff up retrospectively.

Helen is currently out at sea and I have been busy with work and university. I am taking a computer programming course at Victoria University in hopes of broadening my career prospects.

Lamarche Epic 2011

Sunday a few friends and I went for a little bike ride. It ended up taking us all day and we covered 64km with 2100m of climbing. The route was a bit different from last year in that we stopped at one of the rider's houses instead of a cafe and some of us included a trip to the top of Makara Peak as well. I probably should have skipped it because on the next climb I hit the wall pretty badly. I had to stop and eat some more food so that I could keep going.

Map of the ride

Time and elevation

Wai-OTapu

The geothermal wonderland...

Geyser

Bubbling mud

Rainbow Pool

Oyster Pool

Gatorade Pool

Mum and Dad Come to visit

Mum and Dad arrived last Friday for a one month visit to New Zealand. They will spend a week here in Wellington before joining a coach tour to see some of the south island. Then another week where we plan to visit the central north island.

Mum and Dad near the summit of Mt Victoria

Family Bostock visit

Andy, Clare, Andrea and Annabel came over to New Zealand to catch up and enjoy some warmth and sunshine. We spent most of the time around Wellington, going to the local beaches, zoo, and a few visits in to town to see some of the events going on.

We also went over to the Kapiti coast, about 1 hours drive away, where a friend of mine loaned us their family beach house at Peka Peka beach. The weather wasn't always great - but we still managed to go to the beach every day and build lots of sandcastles and go boogie boarding.

Sunset from the beach house at Peka Peka Beach, looking out to Kapiti Island

Daddy and his little girls

One of the many sandcastles that were built and destroyed by Andrea

Andy and Clare out boogie boarding in the surf at Peka Peka beach

We also decided to enter a team triathlon at the local Scorching Bay. Andy swam, Helen biked, Clare ran. Not the most ideal combination, but Andy didn't have any bike shoes, but could fit my wet suit. Still we managed to do it in 1 hour 25 minutes - 5 minutes faster than when I did it on my own, but I blame trying to get my wet suit off last time!

Family Bostock triathlon team

Scorching bay valentines triathlon

It was a lovely 2 weeks of hanging out around Wellington and spending a lot of time at the beach and relaxing with our nieces (and brother and sister in law). It will be quiet around here without you.

Courgette/Zucchini brownie

Well after my last blog about the over supply of zucchini Aaron went searching on the web to find a good cake recipe.... we taste tested this one today and all agreed that it is delicious! It is even vegan/lactose free (apart from the icing/frosting)

Zucchini brownies

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1 1/2 cup white sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups of plain flour

1/2 cup cocoa

2 cups of zucchini grated

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

Mix all together - don't worry if it looks dry - once you add the zucchini it will be nice and moist. Cook in a brownie tin at 175C for 25-30 minutes

Icing/frosting

6 tablespoons cocoa powder

1/4 cup margarine

2 cups of icing sugar

1/4 cup of milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Mix all together and lather on top of the brownie. Yum.