Fish, eventually.
Salty Sea Dog reporting.
Kate received a telescopic fishing rod for Christmas and to christen it we chartered a boat for the day for guaranteed results? A guarantee was what was required after Kate catching nowt around Australia. We motored 10kms offshore got the bait on and within minutes a snapper was over the side followed by 16 Kawai, good smoked but not cooked. We kept a couple and put the rest back. More than once they caught two at a time, brisk work getting them off the hooks and returned.
To change fish we moved nearer to shore for some Terayki and they didn't disappoint. Some 12-15 later we hauled anchor after the cool box was full with 20 odd x 2kgs a piece. Naturally a major fish gutting ensued at home followed by fish & everything for days. For the afternoon we went up onto Matakana island for some water sports. Jack & Kate were first out on the biscuit behind the boat hanging on for their lives. Mine host wasn't obviously concerned about bad press of the type,”Fishing charter operator has licence suspended after breaking children's bones”.(and wills)
When it came to my turn he decided that an old hand like me could take the 6g's trip. My god he was keen to meet the copy deadline at the press. After tearing all muscles I slipped under to the cheers from J&K safely onboard. After 10mins recovery I was back out on a mono-ski, bad mistake. Once my pride had been dragged around the bay enough I was winched on board like a wet rag. Another 10hrs sleep followed.
We kept up this “fitness” regime with a few hikes to the stage that my wasted muscles eventually wouldn't get me into the espresso bar without the bath chair.

Sand Boarding at Hokiango

We took a drive one day to catch a boat across a bay to a huge sand spit that was probably 50m high, all sand. Jump off at the other side and grab a boogie board, up the dune and come belting down but making sure you stop before the sea. Jenni used a new braking technique first(and last) run, she braked using her nose and lips, very ineffective. The rest of us stuck to traditional sledging methods sticking in you toes before entry into the sea. Kate failed on one run and in she went. Another exhausting expedition runing up sand dunes.

Gary