Some serious "Whanau" time

Ive got a 2 day job up to the beautiful Bay of Islands........and its School holidays.......so what better way to take advantage of the situation of me being away than to have Keiko and Mana follow me up in the car (may as well make full use of the hotel)

Made it up to Pihia just in time for lunch and while my group was off busy organising optional stuff for tomorrow we had a bite to eat at "Franks Cafe" of Pizza and Chips....yummy!!.

We arrived to find Dad,Rylee and the dogs walking down the driveway to which Mana announced that she was getting out of the car and walk with them........and that was pretty much the last I saw of her (I say "last I saw of her",but I definitely heard them playing on the bikes,in the trees and in the hammock laughing,screaming and just making "KID sounds".....)

After a couple of hours of running around like headless chickens Pop took us on a tour to the Manginagina Forest to get up close and personnel to some of the local "Giants" (The mighty Kauri tree) then abit more driving......some more twisting 'n' turning down dirt roads to arrive at a small town in the Waihou Valley for a ice cream and a LOTTO ticket....it didn't win by the way,but the ice cream was well worth the drive.

Then out to a place called "Matauri Bay" now home to the wreck of Greenpeace's "Rainbow Warrior" which was bombed and sunk in Auckland harbour in 1985,towed up here and then re-sunk as a divers wreck.

A beautiful beach of "untouched" stones and lots of rock pools full of crabs,seaweed and other sea creatures to explore.

Our final stop was at one of Dad's mates orchard.....to pick oranges........and it was

probably the highlight for Mana,she just couldn't get over how many oranges there were on the trees (and the ground) and I don't think the car had stopped before the seat belt was off,the door was open and she was off..........

It was so funny to see this little pink dressed girl running from one row to the next yelling and screaming "Orange,orange......ipai orange..." ("Ipai" Japanese for lots)

Mana found that Daddy makes a useful "extension" when it comes to picking the ones right on the top (never mind the perfectly good ones arms length away on the ground)

She also discovered that she could only carry 2 in each hand at a time....so up with the skirt and you could easily double that.

All this work makes you hungry and Poppa became the official "Orange Boy"..........and for the record, 2 full shopping bags of beautifully sweet juicy oranges only lasts 2 weeks in our household.

Peace talks 07

So there is 1 remaining Chocolate biscuits and 2 Marshmallows on a plate and two very hungry Chocolate biscuit and Marshmallow eaters,lets call them Party A and Party B.....What a dilemma we have got ourselves into.

Who gets what?

Are they to be divided up and shared equally?

Do they play a game of skill where winner takes all?

Does either party deserve them?

I'm happy to report that no tears were shed during this negotiations and both parties shared fairly and even showed affection to one another with a kiss...........sadly Party A (Poppa) played the "Can I have some of yours?" card and the smaller and "YOUNGER" Party B of course worshipping the ground party A walks on submitted to his request.

LOVE this photo....

Dad called me last night and said "Haven't seen you guys for awhile.......Is it alright if I "Pop" down tomorrow?"

As you can tell we are all pretty "STOKED" to see my Dad,K's Father in-law and Mana's Poppa and for him to see his Son,Daughter in-law and Mokopuna......

Karekare DATE

Our Wedding anniversary is coming up soon and I thought it appropriate that K and I venture out to where it all began.........way back in 99.

K and I had just finished a 5 day tour together and I ever so casually mentioned that I was going to this beach called Karekare out West.......(Nudge,nudge)

To which she said "That sounds cool... can I come?"

Ha....so simple and look where we are now.

Today was abs-so-lutley stunning weather wise and after we dropped off Mana at school (we kinda got the feeling that she wasn't too impressed that we were going to the beach without her) we headed out.

It was so beautiful and peaceful when we arrived to face the first obstacle...."The Stream" and since this was a "Date" I guess it was up to me to provide the transport over said obstacle (I think I did the same in 99 too)

We both arrived on the other side and I couldn't wait to until to sink my toes in the sun heated black sand (fresh waters cold!)

Then it was "Let the exploring begin" the rocky outcrop was alive with sea life,different types of shellfish of various size, crabs and birds all just "Hangin"......like they do.

I glad that here in the Waitakeres all roads off Piha Road have a ban on taking shellfish so that everyone can see and enjoy the treasures that Tangaroa has to offer.......sure you could grab a feed......but to me that's just wrong.

A bans put in place to protect it for everyone....you,me and the future.

Oops sorry,anyhoo it was a great date.

Tent

What better way to be stuck indoors than pitching a tent in the lounge......almost like real camping but without having to deal with the unpredictable weather Gods or the bugs........and having the added bonus of having Mum make snacks!!!

So........what can you do in a tent.....well first of all you can do a kinda yoga bridge thing......you can just relax and "Hang".....draw or read......but best of all you can eat SANDWICHES!!

Whatipu DATE

And the dating continues........the weather started to really pack in as we drove out to West.
It was about 1hour drive thru Titirangi past Cornwallis and on to Huia and a a further 7 kms to the remote wilderness of Whatipu.

(Web site Caution - the Whatipu Road is a narrow, winding gravel road and prone to flooding .)

Ummmm yup I certainly can confirm that.

We walked for about 20mins to the caves & then a further 30 mins out and along the beach, the wind was a fair blowing and the weather had cleared up (abit) but there were still the odd rain bomb here and there but all in all it was a fantastic to see and feel the power of the West.

We managed to shelter from the wind (which by this stage had got to the "Blustery" stage) and as we "snugged" behind a large outcrop of rocks overlooking the entrance to the Manukau Harbour we could see "The Bar" with huge pounding surf smashing its way onto the shallow and shifting sand bar.

Wow an amazing place.....

KItekite DATE

Its been pretty quiet at work recently which has been a blessing in disguise as K and I have had time to go "Dating" and with my days off (yes plural "DAY's ") linking up with Mana being at school we have managed to go on a number of DATES........(and sneak in a few surfs too.)

So we headed out over the Waitakere ranges to Piha, right into Glen Esk road follow that to the end,found a park (which today being a weekday.......was no problem) to enter the Kitekite Falls track.

The walk itself is actually quite easy, all the pathways are well formed & sign posted and wide enough for two (if you get the urge to hold hands)

The stream is gently "babbling" and the banks are lined with hundreds of Nikau's,ferns and other lush native scrubs.

We made our way up and away from the stream the dampness was replaced with the sweet aroma of the Manuka tree with its small white flowers in full bloom and with the occasionally piriwakawaka darting and twittering about our feet and the beating wings of the Keruru perched in the branches its hard to believe we are only 50 minutes from Downtown Auckland.

We took our time as we wandered on back making a "B" line for the "Piha Store" for a top up of freshly made coffee a Honey and nut cake for K and a Chicken and avocado roll type thing for me and with food and drink in hand we sat on the warm black sand and soaked in the "WEST" that is the BEST........Kau mau te wehi.