Labour Weekend at Himatangi

Now that we have joined the ranks of the retired, we were able to get away to a weekend rally in the daytime, instead of being one of the last to arrive after a long day at work.  What bliss!  Don and Pamela, and Carol and Graham came a day early and were all ready well set up.  We settled into our site to a camp already almost bursting at the seams.  It was the last long holiday weekend this side of Christmas, and everyone and their dogs, kids, dune buggies and quad bikes looked set to enjoy themselves.

Himatangi Motor Camp

Peter and Elaine arrived soon after but had a problem getting power.  Dennis the boss called around to sort it out.  Seems it was just a matter of replacing one of those fuse fittings, and it was all fixed. 

Problem soon fixed

We had an early morning rendition of Happy Birthday sung on Saturday morning by Peter and Elaine clad in their matching white terry towelling robes.  I was a little slow getting the camera out and only managed a photo of them when the song was completed.  Thanks very much for remembering my special day.

The serenading songsters on the  way to the showers

We had bought a chocolate birthday cake for  morning tea to celebrate my birthday.  The cake was duly cut, and slices  passed around.  Another quick verse of Happy Birthday , and we all settled down to enjoy our chocolate treat. 

Happy 65th Birthday

Once Geoff and Eileen arrived in the afternoon, our full complement was here.  We strolled around the busy camp looking at the large number of cabins and caravans with permanent awnings.  This camp is extremely popular with families who enjoy the beach lifestyle and with fishermen in particular.  “Port Corner” is typical of the type of holiday homes in the camp.  Full of rustic down-to-earth Kiwi charm but perfectly comfortable for weekends away from home to do some fishing.  Port Corner is obviously owned by a keen fisherman and has a sign up stating “I fish – therefore I am”.  And a second one, “A lucky fisherman and the catch of his life live here”.  Wonder if the wife bought that one?

Port Corner – fisherman’s holiday home in the camp

Walking further around the camp we soon came across the other caravan club booked in for the weekend.  We chatted away to the members of the Egmont Club sitting in the sunshine and they invited us to join them later in the afternoon for 4zees. Not for the two of us though, we had an important family dinner date up at the farm in Kiwitea, so we left everyone else to their 4zees  together while we travelled north.