What am amazing weekend - but we're all absolutely bushed. And the next long weekend isn't until late October. Jeepers! How will we make it? Lucky we have our ski week planned.
My parents are off with Jamie on a cruise for the next 10-12 days. What excitement for them. I hope they all have a lot of fun.
Mike and Toby collected me from work at about 6.30pm on Friday and we left Wellington immediately. We must have double bluffed the exodus from Wellington for the long weekend as we had a trouble free drive up to Waikanae where we stopped for a cup of tea at the Tabor household. They were all very well and looking forward to the long weekend.
We left there at about 8.30pm (a long cup of tea I have to say) and found our crib accommodation at Foxton Beach about 35 minutes later. We managed to find the key and get in, but the first lights we tried didn't work so we thought we needed to turn power on. Blundering around in the dark was weird, then I decided to try another set of lights at the same time Mike decided to check the light bulb. The result was a smahed light bulb on the kitchen floor and the realisation we did have electricity after all. Hooray.
Mike pitched the tent and we made beds and we retired to the tent. I vaguely heard the Sampsons arrive from their Auckland drive but I couldn't rouse myself for anything at that point. Next morning we were up before them and made a cup of tea for them. Kicked breakfast off and then they were away for their first orienteering event (the whole reason we're in Foxton Beach).
The Gilberts lounged around reading and eating for the main part of the day - conserving energy for the hectic evening schedule. Heheheh. We left the crib at 2pm and wandered to the Adventure Park in Levin. Toby had it to himself as it was raining a bit. Mike and Toby played on the hamster wheel a lot. Then off to Otaki to look for jeans for Mike. But we got waylaid by cafes and ate more. Mike needed industrial strength coffee.
Eventually we dragged ourselves away from the wonders of Otaki to head to Waikanae for dinner. It was a great BBQ of sausages and salad. Very nice, thank you. After an hour or so there (with me filling in Aidan on my work escapades from Friday and made me feel a bit better) we piled Duncan and Emerson into our car and Josh followed behind in Moby. We drove to the Zoo where we had a Cub sleepover with Waikanae Cubs and Karori Cubs and Keas.
The Keas were taken away to the smaller venue and we filled the Archibald Centre with our gear and about 50 people (lots of Cubs and a few leaders and parents). Then Alex took us on our Zoo tour. Alex is a Zoo staff member and took us to explore parts of the zoo you don't normally see. We saw the kitchen where 2 fulltime chefs prepare the food from 4am to 7pm each day. There were two fridges - one for fruit and veges and one for meat. We tried to feed the giraffes but they were too busy sleeping by then. We made breakfast for the spider monkeys (egg cartons filled with porridge and raisins).
Back to the centre to get ready for bed. Phew! Late for some of the younger Cubs. Josh took a Cub and the attached parent home to Waikanae as he was sick! We had supper and went to bed. I guess it was around 10pm for lights out. Mike kept watch but they all went to sleep without any bother. I slept well.
Up at 6.30am and I went to buy more milk for breakfast at the local New World. Interesting life on the streets of Newtown at that time.
By the time I got back, breakfast was almost done and dusted. Tidied up and the last bit of the zoo tour. We fed the spider monkeys and enjoy some acrobatic antics. Then packed up and left. We grabbed Maccas on the way home and fed the boys (Duncan and Emerson) and then drove them home. We had lunch there and then back to Foxton Beach. The Sampsons were already home.
We had a leisurely afternoon and cooked tea (a Wally lasagne special - scrumptious). There was a game of 500 and Lelsey tried to mark her students work. But apart from that, it was very relaxing.
Off to bed in our tent quite late, and then up early in the morning clean up and to say goodbye to the Sampsons. Then we packed up and headed home. What a great weekend!
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