Chillin' on the Beach

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On Sunday...with 3 of us with very very sore muscles, we left Waitomo. We were all limping and hobbling along. Moaning and groaning about our aches and pains. For once, Dennis was in the best shape of all of us. We drove south towards New Plymouth. It was a beautiful, scenic drive...although like most roads in NZ very windy. We were following Mom and Gary in their van. We made a few stops along the way for beach walks, photos and most importantly beer. We came across New Zealand's "Smallest Organic Brewery" We got to sample different all-natural beers and ales. We purchased a 2 Litre bottle of the lager to save for dinner that night. It was the first time any of us had ever purchased beer in a plastic pop-bottle type bottle. Later in the afternoon we arrived in a little surf community south of New Plymouth called Okura. We settled into the beautiful beach-front sites. Mom and Gary with a camper-van site and us with a little cabin. We arrived with plenty of time left for an afternoon on the beach and a swim. After dinner we saw probably the best sunset we have seen since we got here. It was beautiful and just kept changing colors as it got later. It was a nice relaxing day after our caving on Saturday, and I think by the time we went to bed, we were all feeling more refreshed.

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Photos

Windy NZ Road
Following Mom & Gary

Pit Stop # 2
Black Sand Beach

Sunny Deck on our Cabin
Okura Beach

Comments

[From Dennis's Mom]

All I can say is WOW
I think this is the best journal entry ever and I thought I had seen everything in NZ, but the Lost World and Ruakuri caves was not on my list. Dennis...before you go back to the caves, wait for me, Bobster says 'No Way Mon' I'm staying up top to drink with Melissa and you two go. Melissa...I'm glad your mom and Gary are enjoying their travels....New Zealand is soooo beautiful and both of your journal is proof of that statement. It just makes me proud to be a 'Kiwi' WOW!!!