When you have a run of very wet days, eventually you just need to get outside no matter what. Around here, in the shelter of the trees, with the dramatic Aira Force, this makes for a perfect outing. 
The bubas are ready to go! 
After a good walk around we finished at the base of Aira Force, which we agreed was the most dramatic that either of us have ever seen it.
Back at the car and the fresh air was obviously exhausting for Evie and Oliver! 
After a morning of art we just about had time for a little fell, so with Claire and Oliver we decided on Glenridding Dodd, somewhere in close proximity that we hadn’t been up before.
A steep climb up with some pretty views on route
Although not a high summit the views from the top were great, and even better when shared with friends.
Then time to head back down the steep path with care, a great way to spend the afternoon.
A special fell for both Lou & me, (Tim & me walked up this fell just after getting married on our wedding day) we decided to head up on this beautiful winters day to show our children.
Lou explains the history to Evie and Evan.
Is Evie a Christmas angel come slightly early??
The beautiful old St Martins church where Evie checks out the acoustics!
Finishing the day off with a stunning sunset over Ullswater, and then heading home before it got too cold.
A treat from Grandma for the cousins, we headed out on a damp November day to Derwent Water and onto a ferry.
The ferry was pretty full so we all jumped onto a small seat and cuddled up!
Grandma gets her cuddles to….
After a nice ferry journey seeing Derwent Water from a different perspective, it was time to move on to the 2nd part of the day.
Alpaca feeding!
This is a must for kids and adults alike and I think we all loved it, especially Sam once he got used to the alpacas coming close!
Evie just wondered what an Earth was happening all around her!!
Thanks Grandma – what a treat of a day .
A cracking autumnal day perfect for going and bagging a Wainwright with the babies.
Setting off with Claire & Oliver, Helen & Bella and two dogs, we went up the main track up from Askham Fell – a steady climb up.
Making sure the babies were well and truely wrapped up to keep them warm on a cooler autumn day- even when little they start to fill the pack.
Stopping at an old shepherds hut for lunch and using the shelter for nappy changes all round out of the wind.
Enjoying the view at the slightly off-top cairn. I love looking down the length of Ullswater from here.
Evie is actually awake at a summit!! 
Having enjoyed the summit it was time to head back down.
Another lovely day out in the very local fells.
Another of our favourite fells for the views and relative ease of making the summit.
That said, whichever way you go up there are steep steps or a scramble. On this occasion we went for the steps so as not to risk slipping with Evie in the sling.
A nice new cairn at the top to tell Evie which mountains she is looking at!!
And a cracking view as always to enjoy
And then down for well deserved cake!
15 October 2018 – Mummies & babies hike Cat Bells
Monday’s is normally a day we go out with a buggy walks group, but thi October Monday the weather was just too nice to not go up high.
Heading up Cat Bells with Claire & Oliver, Chrissie & Ederle,we decided on the ridge ascent and the tackle the scramble at the top. Not easy, but manageable- just. 
Getting to the top Evie was still asleep, but woke up for the picnic.
Chrissie and Ederle enjoy the view
And Oliver takes a stroll on the summit.
The three of us pleased to have managed to get out beautiful but heavy loads to the top.
And finishing the walk along the undulating lower path, still enjoying the view, but glad to be off the steep stuff for the sake of knee preservation!
An hour out of Christchurch, on the Arthur’s Pass road, and this area of amazing rocks was our final trip out in New Zealand.
It looks pretty spectacular from the road and makes you want to go and run around in it
Climb the rocks
Hide in the rock holes
Walking to get the views
Relaxing 
And generally enjoying the views
What a great day to finish our New Zealand trip with !
So we decided on Wanaka for the final week of our big New Zealand trip. We knew we liked it as a place, and feeling pretty exhausted by this point, a place we could relax. Whilst we were here the first snows arrived on the tops!
We got an Air B&B house with a garden and set about having a few easier days.
The Bike
There are some great bike tracks that run along the lakeside, and some mountain bike tracks that connect up with them.
Evie has taken to bringing her helmet to me to indicate that she wants to go out on the bike, and if she can’t go on the bike, she also loves riding the washing basket!
We went off a few times along these lovely paths with great views and even had a go at one of the tracks but we had to go super slow so she wasn’t bouncing all over the place.
On one track we came across this little hedgehog that was collapsing. 
We fed it some of Evie’s milk which it stood on its hind legs and caught the drops, and left it some food in the hope it survives (to later discover they are considered pests in New Zealand).
Rob Roy Glacier
Up over 30km of gravel road and through a couple of fords, 
you arrive at the car park for the Rob Roy glacier track and the Mt Hutt track.
With beautiful views even driving to the car park, it’s a walk that remains spectacular throughout.
Over a swing bridge and up through forest. 
There are a couple of impressive rock overhangs that you wouldn’t want to walk underneath at the wrong moment.
A river with massive boulders.
An impressively high waterfall
And then the beautiful glacier. Here Evie demonstrates her new mountaineering skills clambering over rocks 
and along footpaths, showing utter determination at ever stumble!
Back down, noting the geology of the mountainsides, more lovely scenery.
It’s clearly exhausting!
Swimming 
Lake Wanaka and Lake Hawea are beautiful lakes to swim in. Absolutely crystal clear, a refreshing dip in these is a must if you love swimming.
The Blue Pools
An hours drive from Wanaka, these were not (in our opinion) worth driving to. Stopping at if you are headed along this road up the west coast then definitely yes.
They are about a 10 minute walk from the road, but the are stunning – the water clarity is something else again.
To make matters worse for our long drive out, this is one of the only, and the worst places, where we have terrorised by sandflies! Enough that all you wanted to do was get back to the safety of the car.
Mt Iron
A short walk just on the edge of Wanaka up a small hill. However, although the hill is small, the 360 degrees panorama is big with great views all around.
Wanaka town
A small and touristy town sitting at the end of the lake, with a gorgeous backdrop, 
some nice cafes to sit and enjoy the view from and lots of outdoor shops. There were also parks and a great skateboard park – this was Evie’s favourite place to hang out in town!
A bit of a longer drive to get here than anticipated from Christchurch – it looks so close on the map.
It was worth the drive though. 
After driving up the saddle road we decided to descend down to Duvauchelle and walk the short peninsula. 
Little did we know that the rocks were going to have such amazing patterns.
After this we drove up and over to Okaine Beach for Evie to have a walk 
And to enjoy a swim.
It was sadly then time to head back again, but nice to see it and definitely worth a longer visit.
In the middle of what is otherwise a desert at the moment due to the excessive heat wave, are the Hamner Springs, full of hot pools as well as slides, a lazy river and a kids area. It felt like a little oasis and was lots of fun for all of us for a few hours.
Then Evie slept well!!
Around the world with Evie Bean 