Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Back to Basics- and then some!

With a lovely five day weekend, who could resist battling traffic to go camping over Easter? Rach and I didn't get an early start to get stuck on the highway parking lot like everyone else. In doing so we had three lanes to ourselves to the Sunshine Coast on Thursday night. Our destination: Paradise Dam. For anyone who knows the area, this is nearish to Biggenden and about an hour from Bundaberg. We struck out with the Briggs' crew in the morning which included Rodney and Bev Briggs (Rach's parents,) Matt, Mel, Angela, Matilda from Malaysia, Nate, Rachael and me. Quite a crew. It was at this point that I discovered there were in fact no showering facilities and only long drop toilets. 

We arrived in full sun, a beautiful day and were very lucky that our whole trip was sunshiney in a very unlikely Easter tradition. The water was already filled with boats and all manner of other watercraft were scattered on the shore line. There was plenty to do, setting up camp and after doing so in full noon sun and heat, lying down in the shade seemed like a good idea if I was to continue without falling over completely.

Pictures! I'm sure you want pictures! Well here comes a heap...you may regret asking...

Travis chilling on the tube

Single ski in action

 Rach getting coached by Steve on how to jump the wake...

Sunset 

Rach with glow bracelet

Before the screams echoed across the water...Ang and Matt

Matilda and Rach (with towel headdress)

Steve with a new hairdo...guess the stylist?

Matt's impressive stack

Travi and Matilda accelerate!

Nate on the wakeboard

Boy Wonder cooking dinner

Matilda

The dam had a sandy shoreline and about a half metre into the water until the thick squelchy mud started. In our very first swim this of course ended in mudballs being tossed, mud spa treatments, mud pies, mud thrown and unwillingly eaten and ended in Rach copping an eyefull where all such activities ceased.

Many games were played over the course of the 5 days, 500 tournaments in which I was probably a terrible partner and Nate resorted to playing a few rounds of misere. Nighttime brought out the camp favourite; Werewolf. This is a card game for a large group and ideal to include the kids that were there as well. A game of accusations, lying, bluffing, second-guessing, assassination, and mob hysteria. Very fun.

The night sky was a majestic display of stars- full of constellations we couldn't identify but wonderful nonetheless. Shooting stars and a warm fire with toasted marshmallows...happiness indeed.

Me prancing about as usual

 Me, Nels and Ang

Travisty, Me, Matilda, Nelson and Angela

Chris in ballerina mode

Some fluffy pink clouds over the camp

A small selection of the games that were played and chocolate that was consumed

On the way home...hot showers and clean feet await!

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