Taking the team off the beaten track

Many many times we have driven through the gorge, past Tauranga Bridge. The new Waioeka Journey signs say there is a hike into the back country to where the settlers tried, but failed to establish a farming community. So this year I determined that we should all head back into the gorge to follow this trail. Although the track is only 5k or so it did warn that there would have to be two river crossings of the Tauranga Stream.

Millie dances over the stones in a small tributary.

 It was difficult to know just how much warning I should give them about this. Lyn was worried about the uphill, Jill and Millie were worried about fish in the water, however it didn't seem like there was any obstacle that we couldn't overcome together. I had the advantage of taking my tramping boots and stick. I gave them the standard talk about sticking together, and although Alex was often in the lead with his walkie talkie he was always mindful of us older folk behind us.

 And being more steady on his feet was able to be sent back through the water to help others.

The second river crossing was much deeper - well up our thighs and if you didn't move graciously you would have wet your knickers!We all looked fine at the end. It was a bit of a challenge to those not used to going into the bush, but the tracks were in excellent condition and I would thoroughly recommend it.

It also meant that we could enjoy our wine and nibbles that night knowing that we had earned them. Its great now that Millie and Alex are a bit older and we can do this should of activity without too many grizzles from Millie - whereas Alex just loved it.

Checking it out - The Bucket List

As you may well know, Duncan and I wrote our bucket lists for this New Years Eve. Duncan got the exercise off with a bang by declaring he wanted to play - at least one song -  on the saxophone! He has another mind boggling item on the list - an alcohol free month, but this is probably in tandem with the desire to do the Gold Coast Half Marathon within 2 hours 10 mins. Which is probably related to another item on Duncan's Bucket list - to get his knee looked at. He also wants to play golf at 5 overseas venues and to visit Vanuatu. So although we had some travel items the same there were some of my list which Duncan does not share enthusiasm for. One is to go down the Rere rockslide. I am enlisting the help of my grandchildren, and hope to accomplish this next Christmas. On Monday, after staining all our outdoor furniture and trimming the hedges we went out to Rere to Investigate.

This is Rere Falls  - very pretty - just up the road from the rockslide.

There are two passage ways down - one on the left, and one on the right. The pool is quite deep and I will have to practice up my swimming again.

The big tyres are one way of getting down. Others include body boards, but they really get up some speed and catapult you into the pool at the bottom - one guy even managed to stand up on his board! The problem with body boards is than sometimes you lose your grip on them and you end up going down on your tummy. I will definitely be looking for something to grip onto.
So now I have replaced the fear of the unknown with the fear of the actual act. Jill has suggested I practise on the hydroslide. It was gratifying to see that larger people - or two people on the same mattress or tyre went slower than little light people.
There were some guys - Devin Super Tramp and Fun for Loius - from America making videos for U Tube there too.

Other items on my Bucket list include a hot air balloon ride, WOW (world of wearable arts), a road trip to Ngawi - its the journey, not the destination that I am interested in. I also want a food and wine trip to Tasmania, watch the Black Caps overseas - preferably India,  And one last proper tramp with the girls.

Shared ideas were: one last trip to Europe, hopefully combining a few of the destinations we want to go to. A trip to the Galapagos Islands, the Train trip from Wellington to Auckland, and a carvanning holiday in the South Islands

So lots to look forward to and prepare for. We'll review each year and may make some changes.

Back at the campsite

 Here we all are on Christmas Day with Alex's "Salad shots" as entree. If we all have a slightly glazed look on our faces it's because Duncan tended to take a while taking the photos.

I organised a pass the parcel game based on the Wright Family (pass it right) who had nothing left (pass it left) to do before Christmas. Millie won a jaunty cap.

One of my usual holiday past-times is to do a jigsaw puzzle. This one was a 1,000 piece puzzle looked like  I wasn't going to get it finished before we left. Even Duncan put in some pieces. But we did it! The picture was of a French street scene, so when we had finished, and finding a bottle of french champagne unconsumed, it seemed right to put the two together. The puzzles were 2 for $20 so I will have to put myself through that torture again next Christmas.

The birdlife was incredible this year, as well as many pesky rabbits. This weka got more and more brazen as time got by. One day when I was working away on the jigsaw in the awning it poked its head around the door to suss things out. With my bird phobia I was petrified! Johnny and Ann tell us that some well-meaning person introduced the weka to the district, unaware that they eat the eggs of the near extinct dotterel.

And this picture of the wood pigeons is taken without zoom. They just sat there and chatted to one another while we had drinks.

2015 - At the Beach

Jill has done such  a splendid job of most of the Christmas photos I will just add some other selections.

 Theo has improved a great deal with his putting shells on sandcastle skills.

 The water was so warm this year, but Theo still thought this was the best place to be  - he went into the water up to Simon's knees. We swam most days and the waves  provided some good surf

No, Grandad its too rough.

Millie proved a great little baby-sitter

Theo is really into the sand.

And when its time to rest Millie had a comfortable double layer bed in her tent - decorated with one of her birthday lanterns.