Our Saturday

At 10am on Saturday, we caught the ferry over to Tiritiri Matangi Island, a birdlife sanctuary just off the end of the peninsula we live on.
We went with our church Music Team, which I am part of. All up, there were 18 of us, ranging in age from 3 to 50-something.

The weather started off quite windy, but it soon turned into an absolutely gorgeous day.

We arrived on the Island around 10.30am, and walked over to Hobbs Bay:

This was our “camp” for the day. We set up our picnic blankets and had some morning tea, before 16 of us headed off on a hike up to the lighthouse:

Somehow Rob and Ethan got separated from the rest of the group, and ended up taking an alternative (shorter!) route to the top. I had Tyler with me, and he was such a trooper! It was a 40-min walk, but no toilet stops were needed, and I only had to carry him for the last 50 metres. Both boys walked all the way back again too! I was impressed!

On the walk, we saw and heard so many native birds: takahe, bellbirds, stitchbirds, wood pigeons, tui, saddlebacks and parakeet. The island is about 60% bush, and it’s just beautiful. So peaceful and untouched.

When we got back to the beach, it was time for lunch. A very cheeky takahe, ostensibly named Greg, spent most of his day trying to steal our food. He succeeded a couple of times, making off with one of Dad’s sandwiches and Catriona’s half-eaten apple!

After lunch, we had time for a swim before heading back to the ferry:

Getting dry after a swim:

Ethan collecting shells:

Tyler and Aunty Leah:

The ferry left at 3.30 and we got back to dry land around 4pm.

Then it was off to the rugby for our family! We’d already decided to go to the Super 14 game (Blues vs Force) at North Harbour stadium. Kick-off was 5.30pm. It was about 5pm by the time we drove in there, parked the car and walked over to the stadium. Just as we were about to buy our tickets, a guy came over and GAVE us 6 free ones! Woot!

It was Tyler’s first live game, and Ethan’s third. Of course Tyler wasn’t very interested in the game, but he loved the Blues’ mascot (who happens to be a Pirate).

Ethan, on the other hand, was really enthusiastic about the game. He watched intently, shouting “Go, Blues!” and constantly checking out the scoreboard (which was just behind us).

Unfortunately, the Blues didn’t do well in the second half, and we lost.
I really should have taken a photo of Ethan at the end :: lying face down on the grass, totally depressed! It was quite comical, really. I told Mum (who *feels* rugby losses quite severely) that he obviously takes after her! But then I heard her saying this to Ethan as we walked back to the carpark: “Come on, we just have to pick ourselves up, and carry on.” ROFL!

It really was a fantastic way to spend our Saturday!