Camping for Easter

We had a little break for Easter and we went camping with our new friends from GA. Zach and Mallory are from Alpharetta, GA - so close to home!!!! They also are mutual friends with some of my good friends from Columbus so when we met we sort of felt like we already knew each other. Anyway, when we met, we became instant friends which was inevitable really. :)

We went camping together at the famous Piha site which is just West of Auckland. Piha is generally a surfers dream which is why we chose that spot - however, it wasn't so much the surfers dream over Easter. Dalton didn't surf once. The only day the waves were good, EVERYONE went out. No fun to surf crowded waves. Luckily, Piha is still an extremely cool place even if you don't surf. Lots of fun walks, beautiful scenery, quiet little family campsite and the local Piha shop (which is the only shop in Piha) with their freshly baked cinnamon donuts and the infamous custard loaf - that is literally a bread brick with custard in it - heavy as a car but sweet on the tastebuds.

It rained a little while we were there but our new mansion of a tent kept us nice and dry. Dalton froze the first night, but we remedied that up quick the next two nights with more blankets. Baby Lifsey really enjoyed his first camping experience - he thought the food somewhat different, the sleeping arrangements a little more uncomfortable than what he's used to, the walks nice - but kind of hard work for the little guy - all in all, quite enjoyable. He's a trouper!

Here are some shots from the trip - enjoy!

We camped pretty much on the beach - we could hear the waves at night - delightful

Proof that I did make it to the top, belly full of jelly and all!

Our awesome timer photo - the waves crashed right when the camera went off - epic

Feedin' little bub some good campin' grub

Chef Zach cookin' the grub

Walk number two - the beginning of the adventure

Mal and I psychin' ourselves up for the journey ahead of us

The top in all it's glory - ah the serenity

Zach filling up his water bottle with "Pure Dew" - not ordinary water - super natural one might think.

Walk number three - destination - bottom of the waterfall

We watched some folks repel down from the top - which wet Dalton and Zach's appetite for some good climbing. They began planning our next camping trip right after watching them.

Dalton giving me a "I'm so proud of you honey" kiss on the forehead for all my intense outdoor excursions over the weekend.

And there they are - The Wheelers - you can see why we like them so much can't you?

Fish and Chips - we'd be crazy not to - the best chips in the country in Piha - they were outstanding.

The End.

*I also find it important to note that pretty much the whole weekend we put on our thickest southern accents possible. I know you're thinking we're all from the south so what do I mean "put on" - unfortunately, none of us really have southern accents - Zach probably the most out of all of us and he's not even originally from the south. But we all love and appreciate them and there's just somethin' about being out in the wilderness - it just brings the southern out of ya. In fact, while I was typing in all of those captions under the pictures - they were southern in my head - so, it's probably best that all readers read them with a southern accent to get the full effect. Also, not just any southern accent lest you begin on the wrong foot and end up sounding like a southern bell - if this is where you end up, you've missed it. It's okay, just try again. It's more of a smokers southern accent - a little rough, a little grungy - a good ol' boy if you will. Go on, give it a try, you won't regret it.*