NZ Day 8

May 13

Day – Taupo Bay (surf)

Night – Charlotte and Kevin’s House

We woke up to a decent swell in Taupo Bay.  Waves were shoulder high to a foot overhead.  We laid around lazily for the morning waiting for the tide to come down some.  Around noon we headed down to check again.  Nice A-frames in the middle of the bay, and a more definable right on the south end of the bay.  All four of us suited up and paddled out for a long session.  We got some memorable waves.  If you looked carefully and happened to line up on the sandbar just right, a barrel was possible.  I watched U'i make a pretty big drop on a left A-frame.  I was further outside and I turned to see her hold her line and slip from view into the belly of the beast.  She made it pretty far before the closeout caught up with her.  Again, we didn't really get any photos since we were all in the water together.  You'll just have to visualize it.   Good times.

We got back to vans around 3 or 4pm.  We ran into Charlotte who told us to hurry up and pack in the vans.  We were instructed to head over to her house for dinner, hot shower, and a real bed.  Over joyed after a good session, we packed our things and drove to the next block, down a long driveway and parked in front of their new old home.

We felt like we were home for the holidays at Grandmas.  The house was charming, tastefully decorated, cozy and warm.  We got our own guest rooms with steaming hot water in the bathroom and thick comforters on the bed.  Dinner was amazing, thick sirloin steaks, potatoes, a huge salad, hot chocolate and cold Heineken.  We were so appreciative.  After dinner we watched half a rugby game with Kevin (an ex-rugby coach), and retired to the HOT TUB till our fingers turned to raisins.  Best night of sleep we've had and probably will have since leaving home.

JV doin the happy dance

The ladies preparing a feast

 What a meal!