This weekend we were blessed to be able to celebrate more than one birthday in the family. The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3 had a birthday on Friday and Son#5 has one tomorrow. As part of The Most Adorable Granddaughter#3's birthday the family were invited on a small walk/tramp. Unfortunately Son#2 had to work and The Most Adorable Granddaughter#6 had acquired a very large thorn in her foot the previous weekend which had necessitated a trip to Hospital (and subsequent hopping around on one foot), and Son#3 and his family had plans already, but there were still twelve of us willing - or silly enough - to attempt the walk on what was going to be supposedly one of our hottest days so far this summer.
I have so many photos (just from DH and I alone) that I want to share so I've decided to split this into two posts. This first post will be the first stage of the walk - to Alice Nash Hut and back to the car - along with photos of the two birthday celebrations that occurred on subsequent days; and the second post will be the second part of the walk to the Limestone Creek Reserve Glow Worm Caves (voted by DIL#1 and myself as the best part of the walk).
The person initially responsible for the walk …
Approximately 35 minutes after leaving the carpark we stopped and ate lunch at the hut. Although I had been teased that my choice of food to pack was not "tramping food" there was nothing left of the flavoured breads, popcorn or cherries I had packed and which Son#5 had obligingly carried in his backpack. View from one side of the hut ...
Back at the carpark and able to look back on where we had been with a profound sense of relief ...
From here we visited the Glow Worm Caves and then, a long drive home where no one fell asleep (perhaps I may have had a snooze except we had two newly-teenagers in our car who talked non stop the whole journey) and then onto birthday celebrations with the rest of Son#2's family who were able to join us.
Youngest in both of their respective families plotting something perhaps ...
The Most Adorable Granddaughter#6 looking adorable ...
What is a birthday without cake … regardless of age ...
I have so many photos (just from DH and I alone) that I want to share so I've decided to split this into two posts. This first post will be the first stage of the walk - to Alice Nash Hut and back to the car - along with photos of the two birthday celebrations that occurred on subsequent days; and the second post will be the second part of the walk to the Limestone Creek Reserve Glow Worm Caves (voted by DIL#1 and myself as the best part of the walk).
The person initially responsible for the walk …
I'm not sure if the reason she is looking so pleased with herself is because she managed to con so many of us into making the tramp into the hut or if there was some other reason. While not a strenuous walk, it was quite warm, and the climb out was, well certainly a climb at times. But back to the start ...
(It's not easy to spot in the photo but between my niece and The Most Adorable Granddaughter#4 is framed Mount Ruapehu in the distance. Mount Ngauruhoe was also visible from the carpark.)
We began with lots of energy ...
Approximately 35 minutes after leaving the carpark we stopped and ate lunch at the hut. Although I had been teased that my choice of food to pack was not "tramping food" there was nothing left of the flavoured breads, popcorn or cherries I had packed and which Son#5 had obligingly carried in his backpack. View from one side of the hut ...
Back at the carpark and able to look back on where we had been with a profound sense of relief ...
From here we visited the Glow Worm Caves and then, a long drive home where no one fell asleep (perhaps I may have had a snooze except we had two newly-teenagers in our car who talked non stop the whole journey) and then onto birthday celebrations with the rest of Son#2's family who were able to join us.
The Most Adorable Granddaughter#6 looking adorable ...
What is a birthday without cake … regardless of age ...
Coming in the next post: photos from the Glow Worm Caves.
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