Okiwi Bay
Daycare had a personal development day on Friday January 11 and so we headed out for the long weekend to Okiwi Bay, 83 km northeast of Richmond and a 1.5 hour drive. This is bach country at its prime in the kiwi summer. There was no internet and cellphone reception only out at sea. On the ride out I saw a small goat eating native bush on the side of a mountain. We arrived at the kids' bedtime, but Nico had fallen asleep in the car and when we arrived the kids were super pumped and tearing around the house. Mathieu was thrilled with the pool table.
Prior to leaving, we had bought both the boys' little trigger rods and Friday at 11am was Nico's first kiwi fishing trip in the ocean. We took the strollers down the hill to the ocean and stopped at the only shop in Okiwi Bay for ice cream. Nico went out with Granddad and Shawn in the boat, while Grandma, myself and Matheiu played in a little freshwater stream leading into the ocean. We made a sandcastle, saw a baby eel (eellet?) about half a cm wide, which Mathieu transported further upstream, and we saw a skink. When the others arrived back Nico proudly told me he had caught a 'cowboy', but then they showed me: two kahawai. Nico had also caught a baby snapper and a gurnard. Granddad and Shawn said Nico was pretty quiet on the boat, not wanting to let go of his rod.
Later in the day, I went 'swimming' in the ocean with Dad/Granddad. It was beautiful; quickly gaining in depth, the prefect temperature, and I could almost float without trying. At night, we found a stick insect on the toilet, which we released outside. When I asked Nico if he liked fishing he said 'I caught a gurnard' and appeared to be trying to name and count all the fish he caught on his fingers. That evening Shawn and Granddad went out fishing again and using Nico's kahawai as bait landed a blue cod which Nico ate for lunch the next day. Mum and I played 500 and tied one game apiece.
Saturday started with the traditional morning ice cream. We played in the ocean. A cicada landed on me. Mathieu went in, but everyone got spooked when we saw a large ray swim by. The boys' threw rocks and wood in the ocean. I saw two quails on the road. Nico went out fishing again and caught a kahawai that took quite a while to land on his weeny trigger rod. Shawn and Granddad kept fishing and caught 4 huge snapper on the long line. We had fish n' chips Sunday night for dinner with Grandma and Granddad.
Sunday Shawn and Granddad headed out fishing early in the morning, but it was a bust, and I took the boys' to the ocean (later joined by Shawn) and we found a cool trail and ate the morning ice cream, but it was a bit 'chilly' (possibly <20C, maybe) and I hadn't bought sweaters, so that was mostly a bust too. We headed back after lunch, the kids slept on the way home and I got car sick! (I wasn't kidding about 83 kms and 1.5 hrs - windy roads are a staple of NZ driving.)
Prior to leaving, we had bought both the boys' little trigger rods and Friday at 11am was Nico's first kiwi fishing trip in the ocean. We took the strollers down the hill to the ocean and stopped at the only shop in Okiwi Bay for ice cream. Nico went out with Granddad and Shawn in the boat, while Grandma, myself and Matheiu played in a little freshwater stream leading into the ocean. We made a sandcastle, saw a baby eel (eellet?) about half a cm wide, which Mathieu transported further upstream, and we saw a skink. When the others arrived back Nico proudly told me he had caught a 'cowboy', but then they showed me: two kahawai. Nico had also caught a baby snapper and a gurnard. Granddad and Shawn said Nico was pretty quiet on the boat, not wanting to let go of his rod.
Later in the day, I went 'swimming' in the ocean with Dad/Granddad. It was beautiful; quickly gaining in depth, the prefect temperature, and I could almost float without trying. At night, we found a stick insect on the toilet, which we released outside. When I asked Nico if he liked fishing he said 'I caught a gurnard' and appeared to be trying to name and count all the fish he caught on his fingers. That evening Shawn and Granddad went out fishing again and using Nico's kahawai as bait landed a blue cod which Nico ate for lunch the next day. Mum and I played 500 and tied one game apiece.
Fishing selfie! Nico's first red snapper.
Stick insect - so cool!
Saturday started with the traditional morning ice cream. We played in the ocean. A cicada landed on me. Mathieu went in, but everyone got spooked when we saw a large ray swim by. The boys' threw rocks and wood in the ocean. I saw two quails on the road. Nico went out fishing again and caught a kahawai that took quite a while to land on his weeny trigger rod. Shawn and Granddad kept fishing and caught 4 huge snapper on the long line. We had fish n' chips Sunday night for dinner with Grandma and Granddad.
Amy's cicada and a view from the beach in Okiwi Bay.
A few nice snapper from the long line. Fish & chips!
Sunday Shawn and Granddad headed out fishing early in the morning, but it was a bust, and I took the boys' to the ocean (later joined by Shawn) and we found a cool trail and ate the morning ice cream, but it was a bit 'chilly' (possibly <20C, maybe) and I hadn't bought sweaters, so that was mostly a bust too. We headed back after lunch, the kids slept on the way home and I got car sick! (I wasn't kidding about 83 kms and 1.5 hrs - windy roads are a staple of NZ driving.)
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