Volcanoes and lakes

[vilakins]

The weather was a lot better today--sunny but still very windy--so we went for a long walk and explored the town. We've marked several restaurants and cafes down for future meals out, and there's a cinema so I'll finally get to see The Queen andHot Fuzz.

In other news, late yesterday the top 10% of Ruapehu's crater lake burst out and the resultant lahar rushed down the mountain and the Wangaehu River and out to sea. The early warning systems worked and there were no lives lost, unlike the disastrous occasion in 1953 when a lahar took out a railway bridge and a train full of people. The scenes on TV of the huge flood of water, mud, and rocks was very impressive though. BTW we can see those volcanoes in the distance at the other side of the lake--which is itself an enormous volcanic crater. :-P I'm trying not to think about that.

And Roger Walker so is a young Vila, what with considering his rescue from the lake too quick and getting Peggy to rescue him several times more, and finding a comfortable bit of ground to faint on when he twisted his ankle. Awww.

Oh and happy 75th birthday to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. You carry your age (and all that traffic} very well.

Comments

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

This is all so interesting - including the names. And as for Ransome´s books, I still love them, have all of them ( I hope) from my childhood translated into Czech and YES, Roger is VERY Vila-like. Mind you, these books are not read here in CR. I asked - mostly answered that they had been TOO ENGLISH!!! :-))))))

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Oh, I'm glad you agree about Roger. Yes, the books are very English, but I grew up reading English novels so I was very used to it. Still, we used to sail as kids (it's a common pastime here) so that's made it much more familiar. What I find intriguing though is how well the children get on together; my sister and I fought all the time.

[vjezkova.livejournal.com]

Oh yes,, you are right - my brother is 8 years older and I was the one who didn´t leave him alone. We loved each other but I usually used an dirty trick on him - I licked his glasses and without them, he was helpless...
I wish I could have sailed. My adventurous character found a substitution - I founded an Amerindian tribe and we played, taking all very seriously and fighting our enemies - till my 17!
But I visited Lake District.
By the way, reading Ransome among vulcanoes is MORE than romantic!

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Amazons! I played games like that way past 17, right into university. The trick is to call them RPGs (role-playing games), then it's all right if somewhat nerdy. I was very warlike and most of mine were based on WW2 or Star Trek.

And yes, it is! I actually learned to sail on a lake, but a smaller one than Taupo: the Hamilton lake.

[trixieleitz]

When I was at school in Waiouru, in addition to the earthquake drills, we also had eruption drills. I seem to recall they both involved crouching under one's desk.

Sitting by a lake reading Arthur Ransome sounds just perfect :)

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Duck and cover!

It is! We have access to kayaks too, but no yachts.

[reapermum.livejournal.com]

I thought that crater was in the same general area as you, but not too close. But also thought vilakins has more sense than to go looking for trouble, and the reports said no one hurt. Good job the warnings worked.

Have I recced Hardyment's Arthur Ransome and Capt Flint's Trunk to you? It's a mixture of visiting the sites of the books, summarising the families who were the inspiration and laying out the timeline through the books.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Like Vila, I like to play it safe. :-)

You haven't, be we saw it on the Wikipedia and will order it from the library.

[jomacmouse.livejournal.com]

Hot Fuzz is a lot of fun. We recommended it to my parents, and they enjoyed it too. I hope you do as well.

[vilakins.livejournal.com]

Cool! We'll save it up for a wet day (there are sure to be more).