Happy Birthday (again) ...

...and then it was time for ANOTHER birthday!

Olivia is now a teenager (goodness help us all!!) Yep, 13 years old - really, WHERE does that time go??!! Here is how we celebrated...

Actually, we started the day with some indoor rock climbing at the AC Baths complex in Taupo. We took a couple of carloads of Olivia's friends (AND her sisters!) and everyone had a great time climbing. There are some fearless girls in this group!!

 After a couple of hours of climbing an apetite had been worked up so it was off to the lake front for some fish n chips 'al fresco'.

 The day was gorgeous, although there was a brisk breeze, and the view across the lake was just as gorgeous. Taupo certainly can turn on a great day!

 And here are all the gorgeous girls!

 Of course, no meal at the lake front is complete without the extra 'guests'! Luckily we had enough food for everyone :)

 Then it was back to the AC Baths for a swim and hydroslide...oh, and a play on an inflatable structure!

Eventually we made it back to Tokoroa where there just happened to be a cake waiting :) This year Olivia chose a Cookie Monster-themed cake (I have NO idea why!!)  but it was SO easy to make so I wasn't complaining :) 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to our second teenager!! Love you, bub xxx

Girls on bikes!

One Sunday in early June we decided to do a short cycle trip for a couple of hours. We loaded up the ute with all the mountain bikes and packed enough food to last a week!! We started our journey keen and eager, with loads of smiles!

 We conned Jeff into driving us all to Waimangu Valley where we would start our ride. It took approx. an hour to drive there through some lovely countryside between Tokoroa and Rotorua.

 Waimangu Valley is a hidden paradise! It is a beautiful valley in the middle of nowhere with geothermal activity and bush walks. We topped up with a delicious early lunch at the café (yeah, just HAD to save that food we packed in case of emergency!!)  and decided to leave exploring Waimangu Valley for another time as we were all keen to get underway.

 OK, so we were doing the trail backwards from what I had read in a book so got a little "directionally challenged" when we first left Waimangu. Jeff eneded up driving us about 8km up a road that it turns out, we should have been cycling on! Oh well, we still had...ummm...over 20km to do!! :p

 

 Once we found the sign that reassured us we were in the right place, we set off! This was the only time we were all together until the food stop as both Olivia and Briar had to be leading and spent all their time being "first"!

 

 

 
The track was fantastic for cycling on...mostly it was tarsealed and reasonably flat so very little effort required. The photo above was the only 'hill'!! So a great ride to do for beginners as there is no offroad action (although you are OFF ROAD!)

 

We stopped about 2/3 of the way along to eat our food :) Except we hadn't really worked up much of an apetite so we ended up feeding the rooster and hen that had obviously been dumped on the side of the road and left to fend for themselves. They had found the perfect spot though, in a  large rest area where loads of people must stop as they looked very well fed and certainly weren't shy!!

 

I forgot to get a 'finish' photo but we ere all still smiling-yay! We finished at Waipa Mill end of the Redwoods on SH 5 so we didn't have to brave the Rotorua town traffic. Jeff picked us up and took us for a couple of pizzas and some sushi, and we all agreed our girls bike day out was a success!! :)