Lewis Tops, NeuseelandHot pools, easy daynighter and snow? That sounded good for me and I decided to join the Lewis Tops- trip. After starting at 5pm on friday at the UCSA carpark we first headed for a bottle store. It equipped us with vine, beer and scotch. The next stop on the way filled our stomach with fish & chips. Like real tramper, we sat outside to enjoyed the fresh cood air. After some more time spending in the car, Sylvia flats came close. Tents (6 for 9 of us) were erected at the restarea, just a few meters form the hot pools. At 9pm, eventually, my foot touched for the first NZ - hot springs. That felt good! The smell was not too bad, just a little bit of sulfid in the air. The pool was not really comfortable, but after some digging and throwing out stones I managed it to be mostly covered by hot water. Sometimes it got too warm under the feet, the hotwatersupply of the pool comes up through the stones you lie on. According to the number of us + Bill + someone else and the size of the pool it got a little bit cosy (footmassages...). Who is Bill? Someone you meet at might in hot pools. Worked for a outdoor company, climbed some mountains, skiing, cycling... At 4am the vine, beer and scotch was exhausted and the last of us cleared the pools. Seven hours in healing water. Now I must be able to live till an age of 100. After 4h of sleep it got to noisy outside and I got up to get something between the teeth. We vacated the restarea and drove a few minutes to park the cars at the start of our track. One hour uphill to the bushline. Even with only 4h sleep no problems. © Rafael Bräg |